Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee Members
Receive On-Site Update

A beautiful fall day awaited participants of the annual Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee tour on October 23, 2007.  Members from many local agencies joined biologists and hydrologist from the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) at their new office building in downtown Las Vegas.  The group enjoyed socializing before receiving opening remarks from Seth Shanahan, Senior Biologist and Bill Rinne, Director of Surface Water Resources.  After their welcome, participants boarded a bus and embarked.  Their first stop was the Sunrise Mountain Trailhead.

On arrival, Elsie Sellars, Clark County Wetlands Park Manager, presented an update on construction and management of the Sunrise Mountain Trailhead.  Tour goers were encouraged to ask questions and visually explore what the newly opened trailhead had to offer.  After a short time, they boarded the bus again to move to the next location: Revegetation Site 111.  There the group listened to another description of progress and management at the site.  On the way to the next location, a stockpile of riprap from the Castaways Casino was pointed out to the group.  This riprap will be used as bank protection or weir construction in the Las Vegas Wash (Wash). 

At the dynamic Upper Diversion Weir site, Gerry Hester described the construction in progress as the tour group observed equipment backfilling within the channel. Participants could see the site had progressed significantly and appeared to be nearing completion.  Another stockpile, this time of the recently imploded Stardust Casino, was indicated to the group in passing.  The C-1 Channel site, although typically traversable, was restricted due to the recent bridge addition.  The crane was still in place and tethered to the bridge as participants watched workers detach it.  At the Bostick Weir Kiosk, the group observed what an ideal kiosk could offer the public. Tim Ricks identified the importance of the kiosk and its features to the group. Sandra Harris described outreach and educational activities that incorporated the kiosk. Debbie Van Dooremolen spoke about the different wildlife studies conducted near the kiosk, which garnered significant finds like the endangered Yuma clapper rail.  Participants had much to consider as they received lunch and boarded the bus again to travel to the next site.

The Rainbow Gardens Weir was pointed out to the tour group as they passed it. At Powerline Crossing Weir, LVWCC members were able to stand on the bridge crossing the Wash. The Powerline Crossing Weir was the site of the 2007 Spring Green-Up, and the group observed the emerging vegetation.  From there, it was a short trip to the 33 Hole Overlook at Lake Mead. On arrival, participants walked down a short path to enjoy an impressive view of Lake Mead.  Tim talked about the versatility of the Razorback Sucker, evidenced in its ability to move its spawning ground even as the lake level rapidly lowers.  The next and final topic of discussion was the Quagga Mussel, found in Lake Mead for the first time earlier in 2007.  Quagga Mussels will be an ongoing mitigation challenge for the foreseeable future. Tim assured the group that a panel of experts was currently working to form a plan of action against the adverse effects of the Quagga Mussel.

With a bevy of useful information, participants made their way slowly back to the tour bus.  As the bus departed for the return trip to SNWA offices, the tour concluded with a final backward glance at beautiful and dynamic Lake Mead, the final depository of the Wash.