Southern Nevada Water Authority Grant for Las Vegas Wash Restoration

Through this agreement, the proposed research will provide data and information related to riparian habitat restoration, invasive species and weed management, water quality improvement programs, threatened and endangered species protection, avian monitoring program, and erosion control efforts along the Las Vegas Wash (Wash). SNWA and Reclamation will continue to work together to restore wetlands and upland habitat along the Wash. To do this, invasive species will be removed in addition to noxious weeds, with revegetation occurring utilizing native species to enhance the habitat and increase habitat suitability for various threatened and endangered species.

Water quality monitoring will occur along the main stem of the Wash with additional monitoring occurring along the tributaries of the Wash. The goal of this program is to detect issues in the water quality and determine how those water quality problems can be resolved prior to the water entering Lake Mead.

Monitoring of various types of animals is used to indicate the success of restoration along the Wash. One of the primary indicators of success is the various avian species along the Wash. Point surveys are used to determine which species are present along the Wash. Adaptive management allows the Las Vegas Wash Coordinating Committee to make decisions on management of the Wash based on data collected under this action item.

Dozens of cultural and historic sites dot the Las Vegas Wash Archaeological District (LVWAD), and need to be protected from urban encroachment, erosion, vandalism, looting, and construction. Through this agreement, it will enhance our understanding of the cultural resources present in the LVWAD by funding archaeological studies.

Erosion control is a major part of ensuring that water constituents are not carried to Lake Mead. Developing erosion control plans and installing erosion control structures is critical to the integrity of the Wash.

The activities funded by this agreement would be divided into five tasks relating to 1) Revegetation Implementation and Monitoring, 2) Water Quality Monitoring in the Las Vegas Wash Mainstream and Tributaries, 3) Las Vegas Wash Wildlife Management Plan, 4) Archaeological Investigations, and 5) Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee Program Management.

See attached Notice of Intent to Award document for details.