Water Quality Monitoring in the Las Vegas Wash Mainstream and Tributaries

The Las Vegas Wash (LVW) carries more than 170 million gallons of water a day. Decades ago, the flows of the LVW created more than 2,000 acres of wetlands. By the 1990's, only about 200 acres of wetlands remained. The dramatic loss of vegetation reduced both the LVW's ability to support wildlife and serve as a natural filer for water that flows to Lake Mead, the source of our community's water supply. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has been regularly monitoring the LVW and its tributary water quality for more than a decade through various programs. These programs were implemented to fulfill LVW Comprehensive Adaptive Management Plan (LVWCAMP) Action Items 40 and 41. • Action Item 40 - Develop long-term management and monitoring plans • Action Item 41 - Conduct additional research In order to better coordinate water quality monitoring activities in the LVW by various agencies and to prevent duplication, the Las Vegas Wash Surface Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Plan was developed and implemented by the SNWA and cooperating agencies in 2011. With this plan, financial and human resources were comprehensively coordinated so that both the individual goals of the stakeholders and the cumulative goals of the LVWCAMP were achieved. This plan also helped the involved entities develop and maintain strong collaborative partnerships. Water quality monitoring activities in the LVW and its tributaries have since been coordinated and integrated effectively among different entities. Water quality data collected by each sampling entity has been uploaded into a centralized water quality database (the Lower Colorado River Water Quality Database) that is readily accessible by professionals and public users.