Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee Host Revegetation Workshop
The 2008 Lower Colorado River Basin Riparian Revegetation Workshop kicked off May 7 at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. Hosted by Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee (LVWCC), the workshop was the first of its kind in the valley. For two days, participants from around the country enjoyed discussions on a variety of revegetation topics. On the first day, topics included conservation of southwest riparian areas, threatened riparian bird species, the decline of native ranid frogs on the Lower Colorado River, habitat restoration for the relict leopard frog, butterflies as ecological indicators, the invasibility of riparian areas, ecology of riparian plants in the desert southwest, and finally, monitoring soil water balance to support riparian restoration. The first day ended with a tour of the Las Vegas Springs Preserve restoration activities.
On the second day, presentations began with environmental and other compliance, followed by physical and biological considerations of bioengineering. Seed collection and propagation preceded the topic of how to plant a tree and keep it alive. New planting techniques for revegetation projects were discussed, as well as the restoration of burned salt cedar infestation sites within the riparian corridor of the Lower Colorado River and Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in Cibola, Arizona. Discussion of Colorado River Delta restoration activities and the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program rounded out the day.
Participants in the revegetation workshop spent the final day on a tour of the Las Vegas Wash. The group was provided with detailed tour books emphasizing the significance of what they would see on a typical day at the Wash.
The first stop was revegetation Site 108. From there, participants moved on to Pabco Road Weir and the Historical Lateral Weir Trail. Next up was the Spring 2008 Green-Up Site. The tour then moved to the Bostick Weir and Kiosk. A lunch break allowed participants a break in the shade and the surrounding scenery provided a beautiful picnic backdrop. Sandra Harris explained how numerous Wash outreach activities serve to "get the message out." She displayed for the group the many props and materials used in outreach, such as a student's Scientist for a Day Backpack. In it a student finds a GPS unit, scientific notebook, and other educational material. After that, participants viewed the Bostick/Calico Ridge Weir revegetation sites, and the Powerline Crossing Weir served as the tour's finale.
The LVWCC considers communication between all southwest biologists, scientists and conservationists vital to the health of the region's waterways. Workshops such as this one help foster this kind of communication, and participants would agree the topics discussed at this and future workshops will help ensure the success of the Wash program as well as other similar waterways in the southwest and abroad.