the las vegas wash: a multi- agency stakeholder process to...
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Working to stabilize and enhance the valuable
environmental resources of the Las Vegas Wash
The Las Vegas Wash: A multi-agency stakeholder process to
protect and enhance a key ecological and hydrologic resource
SER-SouthwestNovember 10, 2016
Jason R Eckberg
Water Flowing into Lake Mead0.81%
0.26%
2.16%
96.77%
Virgin River
Muddy River
Las Vegas Wash
Colorado River
Las Vegas Wash
Primary drainage channel for ~1600 sq. mile Las Vegas Valley watershed: Discharges urban flows and storm run-off to Lake
Mead (~200 MGD) Return-flow conveyance
Once ephemeral; perennial since the1950s Increasing flows created wetlands, but then
incised the channel and eroded them away Increased sediment flow and nutrient discharge
caused water quality concerns in Lake Mead
Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee (LVWCC)
~30-member stakeholder group formed in 1998 to stabilize and enhance the Las Vegas Wash; SNWA is lead agency
Developed the Comprehensive Adaptive Management Plan (CAMP), with 44 action items, to achieve goals
• Basic Management, Inc.• Bureau of Reclamation• Citizen Members• City of Henderson• City of Las Vegas• City of North Las Vegas• CC Department of Air Quality &
Environmental Management• CC Parks and Recreation• CC Regional Flood Control District• CC Water Reclamation District• Colorado River Commission• Conservation District of Southern
Nevada • Desert Wetlands Conservancy• Lake Las Vegas Resort
• Las Vegas Boat Harbor• National Park Service• Natural Resources Conservation
Service• NV Department of Wildlife• NV Division of Environmental
Protection• NV State Health Division• Southern Nevada Health District• Southern Nevada Water Authority• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers• U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service• U.S. Geological Survey• University of Nevada, Las Vegas
LVWCC Community Partnership
The Comprehensive Adaptive Management Plan (CAMP) 44 Action items across 9 categories
Biological Monitoring Local Oversight Water Quality Monitoring Grade Control Structures Bank Protection Administration Environmental Compliance Outreach and Education Revegetation
Key 1st step - Channel Stabilization
Impede channel down-cutting
Reduce stream bank erosion
Balance sediment transport
Help restore ecosystem functions
Pabco
Historic LateralExpansion
Bostick
DemonstrationWeir
RainbowGardens
Upper Diversion Fire Station
Completed 1999-2016
Las Vegas WashClark County AWT to Lake Las Vegas
VisitorCenter
Monson Powerline
DU #1 Calico
DU #2
Three Kids
Duck CreekConfluence
Lower Narrows
Homestead
Archery
Silverbowl
Upper Narrows
Tropicana
Future Design and Construction
Sunrise
19* of 21 erosion control structures (weirs) completed* Historic Lateral Expansion enhances a previously completed weir
Channel Bed Stabilization
Stabilization Achievements
19 of 21 weirs complete
>12 miles of Wash banks stabilized 21st century recycling
Rock riprap from imploded casinos Showboat, El Rancho,
Stardust and more
Revegetation Mitigation required post erosion control
construction Opportunities for habitat improvement
Restore/create wetlands and riparian zones Reduce bank erosion
Grant Opportunities SNPLMA, NDSP, NDEP
Revegetated >450 acres with native plants
Changing Hydrology & Habitat Calico Weir Impoundment site, 2000, 2005 & 2009
Pre-erosion control
Stabilized, newly planted
Mature habitat
Invasive Plant Management Tamarisk (Tamarix sp.)
1999 – ~1500 acres 2016 - ~70 acres
Tall whitetop treatment (Lepidium latifolium) ~680 gross-infested
acres Giant reed (Arundo
donax) ~40 stands removed
Tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima)
Wildlife Surveys
16+ years of surveys >320 species of
vertebrate wildlife >470 species of
invertebrates
Mexican amberwing (Perithemis intensa)
Wildlife Surveys: Threatened & Endangered Birds
SW willow flycatcher (1998-) Migrant WIFL nearly every year Some resident SWFL since 2007
Yuma Ridgway’s rail (2000-) 2 detections since 2006 Least bittern, Virginia rail, sora
Yellow-billed cuckoo (2002-2004, 2013-) Possible breeder - 2013 Three migrants - 2014
© Rod Bailey
Yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Water Quality Monitoring Mainstream Wash monitoring
Quarterly monitoring at 10 sites Detected ~60% decrease in TSS by 2005 Removed from 303(d) list of impaired waters
Tributary monitoring Quarterly monitoring at 6 sites
Real-time monitoring (lvwash.org) Sites on the Wash and Duck Creek 24 hours/day; records every 20 minutes
Outreach Wash Green-Ups
29 events to date Responsible for ½ of the
acres revegetated >9,500 volunteers
lvwash.org, Facebook Student outreach Tours & presentations Special events Community events
Visit: Wetlands Park Nature Preserve & Nature Center
LVWCC Year-End Report
Provides: An overview of progress
on CAMP action items For nine programs (e.g.,
stabilization, water quality, wildlife): Major accomplishments
from the year Operational objectives for
the next year
In Closing… Event calendar and reports
available at www.lvwash.org Visit the Wash and Wetlands
Park! Questions?
Jason R Eckberg jason.eckberg@snwa.com
Working to stabilize and enhance the valuable
environmental resources of the Las Vegas Wash
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