Lake Mead/Las Vegas Wash

The objective of this program is to develop and implement management strategies for the Las Vegas Wash to improve water quality, habitat integrity, and reduce the salinity and sediment transport while providing environmental enhancement and recreational opportunities.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), a Special District Government.

The Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee has decided that the SNWA will be the lead agency for receiving funding for this program due to the high costs and types of environmental improvement and enhancement, and ability to maintain restoration projects. The Las Vegas Wash Program plays an important role in environmental and water resource issues in Southern Nevada. Historically, the Las Vegas was an ephemeral stream carrying storm flows from the Las Vegas Valley to Lake Mead and the Colorado River. Urban development over the past 60 years has resulted in the formation of the wetlands that helped remove nutrients from these wastewater flows. As the rate of discharges increased, erosion also increased, gradually destroying the existing natural treatment systems and wildlife habitat and creating a large delta in the Las Vegas Bay of Lake Mead. Accelerating erosion, declining water quality, and loss habitat are some of the more pressing issues. Proposals submitted will be reviewed and awarded based on priority fulfillment of the 44 action items identified in the Plan and the availability of funding appropriations.

In accordance with Section 529(b) of Public Law 106-541, the cost share for the SNWA is 35 percent, Reclamation�s is 65 percent, and the authorized appropriated amount is limited to a ceiling of $30,000,000.

Fiscal year 2025: Revegetation and restoration activities including weed removal, planting, maintenance of irrigation systems; Water quality monitoring activities including quarterly sampling of the wash and tributaries, real-time monitoring, and adding telemetry systems; wildlife management activities including rodent and shrew surveys, bat surveys, threatened and endangered bird surveys, and avian point count surveys; Coordinating committee program management activities. Fiscal year 2026: Revegetation and restoration activities including weed removal, planting, maintenance of irrigation systems; Water quality monitoring activities including quarterly sampling of the wash and tributaries, real-time monitoring, and adding telemetry systems; wildlife management activities including rodent and shrew surveys, bat surveys, threatened and endangered bird surveys, and avian point count surveys; Coordinating committee program management activities.