las vegas wash coordination committee year-end report, 20036roaa spectrum of perspectives and...

Dear Friend:

{'Cive years ago, a6out two aozen peop[e met to discuss one of tlie most pressing issues '1. -.facing Soutliem Nevada-tlie Las Vegas Wasli. Just as tlie Wasli represents tlie con

fCuence of virtua[[y a[[ of tlie Las Vegas Va[[ey's e:{cess water, so too aoes it serve as a point of conj[uence for issues re[ated to water quafity, fia6itat ana recreation.

'Tiie cfia[[enges facing tfie Wasli were not easi{y so[va6fe; neitlier were tliey insurmounta6[e. Witfi singfe-minaea focus ana aetermination, tlie mem6ers of tfie Las Vegas Was/1 Cooraination Committee were a6[e to acliieve two remark_a6[e accompfisliments. Tfie first was tlie deve[opment of tlie Comprehensive }ldaptive :Management (]>[an, a "road map"for tlie [ong-term management of tfie Wasli. Tlie second, wliicli in retrospect may 6e even more significant, was tlie forging of a co[[a6orative agreement among wiae[y aiverse organizations.

WliiCe our efforts tlius far liave aemonstrated tfie importance of tlie Compreliensive J1 aaptive :Management (]>{an, its infCuence is constrainea to tlie Las Vegas Wasfi. On tfie otlier Iiane{, cfeve{oping a partnersfiip among agencies ana organizations representing a 6roaa spectrum of perspectives and emerging witfi an imp{ementa6[e p[an lias ramifications far 6eyona Soutfiern We·vaaa. :Jvtany communities face simi[ar issues, wfietlier re{ated to wet{ands or otfier natura{ resources; tfie Cooraination Committee represents proof tliat co{[a6oration can overcome even tlie most aaunting cfia[{enges.

}ts you wi[{ see witfiin tliis progress report, tfie year 2003 aaaea greater weiglit to tlie committee's fist of accompfisfiments. Witfi deaicatea personne{ worfUng on a{{ facets of tfie Wasfi, we movea forwarc{, a{{ tlie time maintaining our focus on tfie specific action items articufatea in tfie Comprefiensive }ldaptive :Management (]>fan. Togetlier, we are reesta6fisliing tfie Las Vegas Wasli 's va{ue as an environmenta[ resource and reaefining tfie

,f II (, II wora teamwor'\;

Sincerely,

Gale Wm. Fraser, II Chairman, Management Advisory Committee Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee

BACKGRO ND

I n 2002, the local agencies comprising the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee's (LVWCC) Management Advisory Committee (MAC) en tered into a Coopera tive Agreement for the long-term management of the Las Vegas Wash (Wash). This report is

the second produced in accordance with Section 1.4 of tha t agreement.

The 2002 Year -End Report was designed to provide stakeholders a thorough description of all activities related to the Wash, the action items identified in the Las Vegas Wash Comprehensive Ada ptive Managemen t Plan (CAMP) and the management of the resource since th e initiation of the project.

This documen t builds upon that founda tion and focuses on activities conducted during the year 2003 . The report is intended to apprise s takeholders of activities initiated. continued or completed during the past calendar year. Addition ally , it. is intended to underscore the linkage between these activities and the 33 action items defined in the CAMP for which the MAC is responsible. Each section in this document will include the specific relevant CAMP action item(s), a summary of activities during calendar year 2003 and goals for calendar year 2004. Of the 33 actions identified as the responsibility of the MAC; 18 a re complete, 7 are ongoing and there are 8 that will be determined a t a la ter lime.

The operating budget for activities associated with Wash activities conducted during the 2003/2004 fiscal year was $2.419,000, with participant agencies con tributing $ 1,729.000 and federal agencies contributing $690,000. This figure does n ot reflect addition al monies acquired through grants, which genera ted more than $2.5 million for Wash -related projects . The capital budget for fiscal year 2003/2004 was $23,882,000. Projects completed are highligh ted in the Stabilization section beginning on page 4 .

The table on the following page lis ts each of the 44 action items developed in the 2000 CAMP, identifies the study team tha t developed the recommenda tion and provides the status of each of the items.

MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS • Clark County Regional Flood Control Dis trict • Clark County • Clark County Water Reclamation Dis trict • City of Las Vegas • City of North Las Vegas • City of I lenderson • SouU1ern Nevada Water Authority

MAC members at a meeting.

NOTE: Eleven of the action items (6-to and 34-39) are recommendations to the MAC to provide support and assistance as requested to two large

community projects; the development of Clark County Wetlands Park and the Clean Water Coalition efforts (formerly known as the Altemate Discharge Study).

2 lvwash.org

Item# Las Vegas Wash Comprehensive Adaptive Management Plan Action Status Erosion & Storm Water Study Team

I Install erosion control structures ongoing

2 Obtain topography and geophysical data complete

3 Conduct sediment transport modeling ongoing

4 Establish off-stream wetlands with alternate discharge considerations ongoing

5 Evaluate storm water detention/retention basins tbd

Alternate Discharge Study Team

6 Implement the dischargers scope of services n/a

7 Incorporate options and selection criteria n/a

8 Utilize the Alternate Discharge Study Team in process n/a

9 Integrate work done by other study teams into process n/a

10 Update public ofl'icials and interested parties n/a

Land Use Study Team II Focus land use recommendations on a priority zone of influence tbd

12 Support development and implementation of environmental review process tbd

13 Develop best management practices tbd

14 Develop educational materials for developers tbd

15 Identify opportunities for interagency coordination tbd

Jurisdictional & Regulatory Study Team

16 Further investigate/define structure for local oversight of process complete

17 Ensure interagency coordination ongoing

Public Outreach Study Team 18 Establish method to continue implementation of public outreach complete

19 Continue implementation of feedback mechanism/progress measure ongoing

20 Provide updates to elected officials ongoing

Funding Study Team

21 Further investigate potential funding sources ongoing

22 Anticipate future funding needs ongoing

23 Work with Las Vegas Wash Management Advisory Committee (MAC) to review funding options ongoing

24 Develop method to identify specific projects for grant funding complete

25 Util ize existing resources and staff whenever possible complete

Shallow Groundwater Study Team 26 Develop a central database complete

27 Locate and inventory existing shallow monitoring wells complete

28 Identify issues of concern ongoing

29 Develop a long-term monitoring plan complete

30 Develop method to identify the potential for future contaminants complete

31 Develop and implement a notification tbd

32 Promote interagency coordination complete

33 Develop a bibliography complete

Wetlands Park Study Team 34 Identify water resources needed to maintain park n/a

35 Develop long-term monitoring plan n/a

36 Develop a long-term operations & maintenance plan n/a

37 Ensure implementation of mitigation measures n/a

38 Identify funding needs n/a

39 Ensure interagency coordination n/a

Environmental Resources Study Team 40 Develop long-term management and monitoring plans tbd

41 Conduct additional research ongoing

42 Preserve and address cultural resource issues ongoing

43 Identify funding needs ongoing

44 Facilitate interagency coordination to ensure project implementation ongoing

Note: Green shaded cells indicate action items that were developed as cooperative in nature and therefore require no specific work from the MAC] tbd=to be determined n/a=not applicable 3

lvwash.org

S ABILIZA ION

Action item No. 1- Install erosion control structures.

Action item No. 2- 0btain topography and geophysical data.

Action item No. 3-Conduct sediment transport modeling.

Action item No. 21- Furthe1· investigate potential funding sources.

Action item No. 22- Anticipate future funding needs.

Action item No. 23- Work with MAC to review funding options.

Action item No. 24-Develop method to identify specific projects jo1· grant funding.

Action item No. 25- Utilize existing resources and staff whenever possible.

Action item No. 32- Promote interagency coordination.

Action item No. 41- Conduct additional research.

Action item No. 43- Identify funding needs.

Action item No. 44- Facilitate interagency coordination to ensure project implementation.

,., ,EV Installing erosion control s tructures, obtaining topography and geophysical data, and conducting sediment trans port modeling a re all crucial activities required to stabilize the Wash. (See map on pages 14-15)

Prior to implementa tion of s ta bilization activities, flood flows, wastewa ter discharge and urban runoff were causing the Wash to erode and discharge sediment into Lake Mead a t. ever -increasing rates.

In prioritizing the recommenda tion s presen ted in the CAMP. the LVWCC recognized tha t s tabilization of t.he Wash and a reversal of current eros ion trends is necessary in order for many of the other recommenda tions in the CAMP to be successful.

OVE VIE With oversight by the Opera tions Study Team, efforts to plan, design , fina nce, cons truct , and operate s tabilization facilities in the Wash mus t address numerous issu es and challenges. Major considerations include: Flow capacity; sediment control; facility

4 lvwash.org

sta bility; water quality protection; ecosystem enhancement; recreational ben efit; public safety; permitting requirem ents; land u se; facility cos ts; mainten an ce cos ts; cons truclability; ownership; opera tional ch aracteris tics and other key issues. The majority of funding for installation of s tabllization facilities is provided by locally generated sales tax revenues. The Wash receives 4 percent of the 1;4-cent sales tax revenues set aside for water and wastewater projects in Clark County. These revenues are augm ented by state and federal agency grants as well as direct federal funding.

Landfill Weir bank stabilization.

PROGRES S C ~ IN EPTIO Since adoption of the CAMP in January 2000, the Operations Study Team and project staff have made considerable progress in stabilizing the Wash. To date, seven of 22 planned ch annel bed stabilization weirs-or small dams-have been installed in the Wash upstream of Lake Las Vegas. The National Park Service has installed three weirs on federal lands downstream of the Northshore Road crossing of the Wash (below Lake Las Vegas). In addition, 17,900 lineal feet or approximately 3.5 miles of channel bank stabilization has been completed. Complementing these facilities, stabilization provided through revegetation of disturbed areas is addressed in the Vegetation Enhancement and Management section of this report.

During 2003, a number of stabilization actiVities were initiated and accom-

plished. The Bostick Weir was completed in July 2003. Approximately 6,500 lineal feet of stream bank protection was installed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation during the year. A study to quantify the potential reduction in channel scour and sediment production induced by the planned stabilization actiVities was completed. Design actiVities were commenced for the Powerline Crossing, Demonstration Replacement, Landfill and Upper Diversion weirs. A field survey control network was installed for use during stabilization efforts in the Wash from Lake Las Vegas to t.he Clark County Wetlands Park Nature Preserve. An extensive geotechnical study was initiated and completed for the Demonstration Replacement Weir. In July, the construction of the Rainbow Gardens Weir was initialed. Over the course of the year, t.he materials acquisition and transportation contract yielded an additional 70.000 cubic yards of rock and recycled concrete

Bostick Weir construction activities, February 2003 through July 2003.

5 lvwash.org

riprap, which is presently stockpiled adjacent to the Wash. Additionally, the Las Vegas Wash Capita l Improvements Plan was updated and approved by the MAC. Finally. during 2003 the Las Vegas Wash Facilities Operations and Maintenance Manual was completed.

In 2004. stabilization activities will continue at a fast pace. The Rainbow Gardens Weir, which is currently under construction, is expected to be completed in late spring. Design of the Power Line Crossing Weir is currently planned for completion in July. Construction of this weir is anticipated to commence in the fall. Design efforts for the Upper Diversion and Demonstration Replacement weirs are slated for completion by the fall as well, with construction beginning shortly thereafter. All of the erosion control structures are being constructed in accordance with Clark County Regional Flood Control District criteria where feasible , and exceed standards where necessary. Currently, the design effort. associated with the Ducks Unlimited No. 1 and No. 2 weirs is scheduled lo begin in the fall.

In early spring, an additional 5,100 lineal feet of bank stabilization is planned for installation. In mid-spring, the SNWA has scheduled work to develop an Emergency Action Plan for response to facility-related emergencies in the Wash. In late fall. design activities associated with planned installation of an additional 5,200 lineal feel of bank stabilization is scheduled. Finally, in 2004, approximately 50,000 cubic yards of concrete and rock riprap for use in stabilization activities is expected lo be acquired and stockpiled.

Upstream Pabco Road Weir. (Photo by Andy Cattoir)

6 lvwash.org

BIOASSESSMENT MONITORING

Action item No. 1- Install erosion control structures.

Action item No. 4- Establish off-stream wetlands with alternate discharge considerations.

Action item No. 21- Further investigate potential funding sources.

Action item No. 22- Anticipate futur·e funding needs.


Action item No. 24- Develop method to identify specific projects for grant funding.


Action item No. 28- Identify issues of concern.



Action item No. 43- Identifyfunding needs.

Action item No. 44-Facilitate interagency coordination to ensure project implementation.

In order to initia te construction activities in the Wash , a bioassessment monitoring plan addressing concerns identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during consultation on the Razorback Sucker for construction of erosion control structures in the Wash was required.

Erosion control s tructures along the Wash have shown some promising results in wa ter quality improvement. For example, total s uspended solids (TSS). a key barometer of erosion, have been reduced by more than 60 percent. However, these structures have the potential to ch ange the flow regime of the Wash by creating ponds behind them and slowing the flow to Lake Mead. A concern rela ted to these physical cha nges is the potential for contaminant accumulation in the reservoirs or pools behind the eros ion control structures. which serve as potential habitat for fish and wildlife. There are four components to the bioassessment monitoring plan, implemented under the technical oversight of the Research Study Team: Water qua lity monitoring, sediment monitoring, fish tissu e ana lysis and bird egg analysis .

7 lvwash.org

A wa ter quality monitoring plan was developed and implemented to collect da ta a t eight locations along the Wash on a monthly basis . Sediment samples were collected in February 2003 and results are expected in mid-2004. Thirty bird egg samples have been collected from six locations in the Wash and a regional reference site a t Pahranagat Na tional Wildlife Refuge, and will be sent out for analysis in February 2004. Twenty-eight fish sam ples have been collected from s ix localions in the Wash and a t Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge and will be sent out. for analysis in March 2004.

Water quality sampling at mainstream Wash.

TAOPICANA

Llko Lll V0911 Col'f of lu Voou ~0.5~ 2 3 Miles

- l u V~ll W~at. •nd Tributar•• C ty of Nonh Lit V011u flQitl+tt«tt\M'JMU.CIN..W

Bioasscssmcnt moni toring sites .

. oo During 2003, wa ter s amples wer e collected on a monthly basis from eight locations in the Wash . Samples were an alyzed for field param.eters , major ions , met a ls, nutrients, bacteria and perchlora te . Sediment samples were collected for a n alysis of semivolalile organics, pesticides, PCBs, chlorinated h erbicides, BTEX compounds (benzen e, toluen e, eU1ylbenzen e, xylen e}, metals, Total Organic Carbon, nutrients, perchlora te and particle s ize. Thirty bird eggs and 28 fish from six location s in the Wash and the regional reference site were collected for comparative analysis of m etals , organochlorine pesticides, selenium. m ercury and perchlorate.

Collected bird eggs.

8 lvwash.org

The primary focus during 2004 will be th e completion and review of reports indicating lhe results from lhe sedim ent , fi sh tissue and bird egg analyses. A toxicologis t will s ubsequently review the data for environmental significance.

Seining for fish in the Wash.

w

Action item No. 4- Establish off-stream wetlands with alternate discharge considerations.

Action item No. 21- Further investigate potentia/funding sources.

Action item No. 22- Anticipatefuturefunding needs.



Action item No. 25-Utilize existing resources and staff whenever possible.

Action item No. 26- Develop a central database.

Action item No. 27- Locate and inventory existing shallow monitoring wells.

Action item No. 28-Identify issues of concern.

Action item No. 29- Develop a long-term monitoring plan.


Action item No. 33-Develop a bibliography.

Action item No. 41-Conduct additional research.

Action item No. 43- Identifyfunding needs.

Action item No. 44-Facilitate interagency coordination to ensur·e project implementation .

.. I.E r NCE. T With the oversight by the Research Study Team, water quality monitoring activities are identified in several CAMP action items. Water quality data for lhe mainstream Wash and tributaries is summarized in the document, "Las Vegas Wash Monitoring and Characterization Study: Results for Water Quality in lhe Wash and Tributaries." (See map on pages 14-15} In terms of limnological studies, investigations of Boulder Basin continue to fulfill the commitment to update inform ation used by technical staff and decision-makers to plan, design and

Small spring to Whitney Drainage.

9 lvwash.org

carry out environmental analyses and eventually construct alternate discharge of treated wastewa ter. The critical need for data from the lake monitoring program can b e seen in lhe quality of the model being used as a decision tool by the Clean Water Coalition and its work on lhe Systems Conveyance and Operations Program (SCOP). Additionally. data collected are used to monitor and measure the fate of certain groundwater and surface water poilutants wilh r espect to the source of domestic water supply.

Under lhe guidance of the Research Study Team, monitoring occurs on a monthly basis a t eight locations in the Wash for field parameters, m ajor ions, metals, nutrients, bacteria and perchlora te. Monitoring occurs on a quarterly b asis at six tributaries to the Wash and two shallow groundwater seeps located near the Wash for field parameters, major ions, metals. nutrient s , organics, selenium. mercury and perchlorate. Flow data in the tributaries is collected on a monthly basis.

A selenium study was also conducted to clarify the relationship between selenium concentrations, shallow groundwater input and the length of flow paths. This allowed for the identification of zones demonstrating elevated selenium concentrations and provided valuable data for system mass balance calculations.

Real-time water quality monitoring occurs at four locations in the Wash and in one tributary to the Wash. The Demonstration Wetlands was constructed in 2000 to help determine the effects of wetlands on water quality.

Although not directly associated with the Wash projects, another initiative that provides valuable data is the Lake Mead and Boulder Basin monitoring program. Limnological field data from Boulder Basin is collected weekly from six key or "posthole" locations. The weekly series are a comprehensive look at the profile from surface to reservoir bottom using many physical. chemical and biological parameters. A monthly survey of 23 additional locations in Boulder Basin is less comprehensive. It includes measuring key parameters in a profile and collection of samples for analysis of perchlorate. A third module to this survey is collection of physical and chemical data from samples col-

Selenium Concentrations

Selenium concentrations are reported In ug/L DC== Duck Creek PW = Pittman Wash WD = Witney Drainage

lected monthly from all of the major sources of water to Lake Mead and the outflow at Hoover Dam. These data are analyzed, reduced and interpreted. Visual products results provided in a timely manner are viewed and used by decision-makers. Additionally, mathematical modelers of Boulder Basin use these data to provide vital information to the Clean Water Coalition (CWC) efforts.

PROGRESS SINCE INCEPTION A comprehensive monitoring program for the Wash and its tributaries has been established and refined. Data resulting from this program has provided insights into the concentrations and sources of various constituents, which will in turn provide a useful baseline by which the effects of enhancement and stabilization projects on water quality can be measured.

Four complete years of continuously collected limnological data from Boulder Basin and the inflow and outflow sources have been collected. These data are all stored in a database and are displayed in various graphics and summary reports. A milestone report of findings is presently under way that will summarize the data since project inception in February 2000. Data and the findings from the reservoir monitoring

0 0.7 1.4 Miles

Selenium concentrations from upper portion of Duck Creek and two secondary tributaries.

10 /vwash.org

program ar e continually being utilized by the various teams outlined under the CAMP, lhe aforementioned CWC, members of the Lake Mead Water Quality Forum, the Algae Subcommittee, the Selenium Subcommittee and the Interagency Work Group.

The Demons tration Wetlands were cons tructed to allow growth of wetland vegeta tion in wastewater treatment plant effluent. Wetland vegeta tion was planted and culliva ted to achieve the n ecessary level of coverage a t ma turity to provide wa ter quality enhancements . Wetlands vegetation should reach proper maturity level and coverage to have effects on water qua lity by summer 2004.

Samples were collected in accordance with established protocol, and all reallime monitoring equipment is functional . One real-time monitoring site has been made permanent. A summary report detailing all da ta collected for the tributary and mains tream sampling programs since 2000 was completed for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant. Wa ter quality monitoring efforts were also supported by a grant from the U.S . Bureau of Reclamation.

All limnological da ta were prepared in spreadsheets. Weekly visua l summaries have been prepa red and dis tributed to management and technical personnel. Continual vigilance of da ta allowed for improved man agement of the domestic wa ter supply. For example. by unders tanding the liming of reservoir destrat-

ificaUon tha t results in a peak of perchlorate concentration a t the SNWS intake, blending of wa ter from the two intakes can be adjus ted to minimize source wa ter concentrations. Also, unders tanding the plant nutrient input on a continual basis permits an unders tanding of potential algal blooms . In addition, the contractors preparing ma thematical models of Boulder Basin as they rela te to various potential alterna te disch a rge sites used this da ta extensively.

Data collection will continue at established locations during 2004. Additionally, other real-time water quality monitoring sites are scheduled to be made permanent to increase efficiency.

The reservoir-monitoring program will continue with an increased emphasis on the effects of the drought on the various limnological pa rameters of Boulder Bas in. A major mHestone report of the firs t four years of da ta will be completed and will include a useful executive summary. Having re-established vegetation and stabilized water levels in the Demonstra tion Wetlands , outflow and inflow meters will be ins talled, and wa ter quality monitoring will begin in summer 2004.

Demonstration Wetland at City of Henderson Bird Preserve.

11 lvwash.org

FISII AND WILDLIFE

Action item No. 21- Further investigate potential funding sow·ces.

Action item No. 22-Anticipate futu,.e funding needs.



Action item No. 25-Utilize existing resources and staff whenever possible.


Action item No. 40- Develop long-term management and monitoring plans.


Action item No. 43- Identi.fy funding needs.

Action item No. 44- Facilitate interagency coordination to ensure pr·oject are implementation.

,,, V CET Because the exis ting ecological s tudies related to the Wash were conducted three decades ago, it was necessary to both re-establish va lid baseline da ta and conduct. longitudinal research to gage the impact. of CAMP-rela ted act.iviUes on wildlife. (See map on pages 14-15). Macroinvertebra te surveys help to monitor both wa ter quality and habita t issues asso-cia ted with erosion control con s truction.

As defined in exis ting LVWCC documents, the term "wildlife" encompasses, a t a minimum, the following categories: Birds, fish, small mammals , reptiles and macroinvertebra tes. To establish a current and valid data-set of species, biological surveys have been and continue to be conducted a long the Wash through the Research Study Team . The initial catalog of wildlife anticipated to reside in the Wash was developed through litera ture searches and data from other local sources. Field work has validated. altered and in some cases expanded upon the exis ting body of knowledge. Ongoing surveys provide useful informa tion about the Wash's habitat value, and in the case of macroinvertebrates, wa ter quality. The informa tion gather ed from these s tudies will allow for the development of a long-term wildlife management plan.

The initial bird censu s documented the presence of 124 avian s pecies, 12 of which had not previously been observed in the Wash. Baseline surveys related to fish , reptiles, mammals and macroinvertebra tes were similarly informa tive. Initial baseline s tudies have now been completed in five categories.

12 lvwash.org

s Among tile projects completed in 2003 was the fish survey, which documented the presence of seven species in the study area. None of the species are native to Southern Nevada: however. many are found in other regional water bodies. The reptile survey completed its third and fmal year.

One of the key fmdings was the observation of a great basin collared lizard. a species not normally associated with this region. The reptile sampling array network was expanded to determine lhe effect revegetation activities might have on herpetofuana. A small mammal survey was completed in June; final reporting is under way by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The third year of bird census data collection was completed and included the addition of four species to the census list..

Macroinvertebrate habitat sampling and the development of a seasonal sampling approach are providing greater insight about the health of this portion of the ecosystem relative to various environmental conditions.

13 lvwash.org

:")

Having cmnpleted the baseline surveys. tracking work may now begin to gage the effect of construction activities. revegetation and other changes in the Wash on the diverse array of wildlife that rely upon it for habitat. This includes, but is not limited to, alterations in population or the emergence of previously undocumented species resulting from habitat enhancement. To aid in that effort, the project team received a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation grant to conduct. "point counts" for its avian census. This methodology is congruent with that used by regional and national monitoring programs and will facilitate comparative analysis. Studies of bats and amphibians are also scheduled for implementation.

In terms of macroinvertebrates, an increased focus will be placed on the Wash tributary populations and on an in-depth stream channel assessment.

Based on much of the research conducted. work will begin in 2004 on the development of a long-term wildlife management. plan.

• \'\':uer Quality ~ lonitoring Sites-:\lainstream

• \'\'1\ter Q unlity ~lonitoring Sires-Realtime

• \'\.1\tec Qu:Uiry ~lonitoring Sites-Tcibutwes

• Biological Sun·ey Sites-Reptiles

0 Bio logical Su!'·ey Sites-Birds

~ Biological Survey Sites-:\lrunmals

~ Re,·egcmnon Sites (-50 1\cres)

Eroston Contro l Strucn~ees

~ City of Henderson Demonstrl\tion \\'etl:tnd ~

[~ .. J Clru:k County\'\ etl:lllds Pl\rk Bound:~·

~ Ducks liulimiteJ \'\'ethnd (pbnned 1\Iel\)

\\ 'e tlmds PI\Ik T mils (proposed)

I-I

Action item No. 1- Jnstall erosion control structures.

Action item No. 18- Establish method to continue implementation of public outreach.


Action item No. 22- Anticipatefuturefunding needs.

Action item No. 23-Work with MAC to 1·eview funding options.






Under t.he 404 permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . vegeta tion displaced by the cons tn1ction of erosion control structures mus t be mitigated. The Vegeta tion Enhancement and Management program encompasses activities specifically designed to fulfill established mitigation requirements, which are estimated at 176 acres according to the Las Vegas Wash Capitallmprovements Plan . The 404 permit further specifies vegeta tion survival rat es, invasive encroachment. limita tions . species composition and species cover, all of which require ongoing monitoring and maintenance. (See m ap on pages 14-15}

The planting. monitor ing and invasive management components of the program. conducted with oversight by the Research Study Team, are all speciftcal-

Brittle bush

16 lvwash.org

ly focused on meeting the ci;teria set for lh in the Corps' 404 permit. without which stabilization work would be unable t.o progress. There are peripheral benefits associa ted wilh this work as well. such as habita t enhancement. public outreach and bank stabllization benefits, but. these are not the primary Lmpet.us for the initiatives. In addJUon to s tipulating a 1: 1 acreage mitigation ratio, the 404 permit manda tes a documen ted 80-plus percent survival rate for installed vegetation and an acreagebased non-native invasive encroach ment ra te of less than 20 percent. With the assistance of grant funds from the National Fish and Wildlife Founda tion. t.he Las Vegas Wash Weed Partnership was formed t o better facilttate compliance and maximize lhe effectiveness of the revegetation program in lhe Wash .

Since revegetation acUviUes began in 2000, approximately 50 acres have been completed. The Las Vegas Wash Capital Improvements Plan requires tha t 176 acres (see figure on n ext page) be ins talled to mitigate the impact of the erosion control program. Approximately 42 of those acres can be used to meet mitigation requirements; 20 acres has been applied so far for permit compliance purposes. The remaining 22 acres can be used lo meet future mitigation needs. which is important because il proVides subs tantial flexibility in terms of meeting projected p ermit requirements. The rem aining eight acres were revegetaled to satisfy requirements associated with grants, which have played an important funding role. Ongoing monitoring of each site for two years will help ensure lhe 80-plus percent survival rate requirement. The a ncillary bank-stabilization benefits of this revegetation have also contributed to the marked decrease in total suspended solids in the primary Wash channel. To fact11tate these ongoing efforts. two local nurseries h ave been establish ed through partnerships with the Nevada Division of Forestry and National Park Service

17 lvwash.org

for U1e culUvalion of appropriate plant. materials with funding from a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation grant. In addition. botanical inventories are being completed along the Wash to help iden wy other n ative s pecies that can be planted at revegetation sites. More lhan 170 plants have b een identified within the prqject boundaries.

Through the Las Vegas Wash Weed Partnership. three "piiority weeds'' h ave been identified , The ranking was based on the potential for control, Utreallo the ecosystem. size of Infestation and established ongoing programs. The operational goal of the Las Vegas Wash Project Team ts to meet the Section 404 permit restriction of less than 20 percent invasive weed encroachment on mitigation sites. In addition to several invasive treatments- including the management of an extensive tall whitetop infestation- activities have focused on identification and mapping of primary target a reas and analysis of h erbicide effectiveness.

Approximately 7.5 acres of disturbed vegetation were mitigated tn 2003.

Monitoring results have aided in the development. of a species list for mitigation sites based upon factors s uch as climate. soils and hydrology. Both the State of Nevada guidance document and National Park SeiVice request the use of native species. The mitigation sites had an overall survival ra te of 84 percen t. The planl communities used to meet mitigation requirements ar e dis tributed as follows; 15 percent. wetland emergent species and 85 percent ripa rian and upland species.

During 2003, 10 acres of tamarisk were removed . To expedite the treatn1ent schedule and reduce operational cos ts, prescribed burns of cut. tamarisk slash piles were successfully initia led . savtng more than $100,000 from the cost of the landfill option. Approxima tely 680 gross infested acres of ta ll whitetop were mapped and treated . and test plots were developed to gage the effectiveness of four herbicides. One-fourth acre of giant reed was mapped and treated in the fall of 2003. Additionally . an Integrated Weed Management Plan was finalized and a public outreach s tra tegy related to weed man agemen t was drafted .

Revegetation and invasive plant management activities were suppor ted in part by grants from the Sout.hern Nevada Public Lands Management. Act , Clark County Multiple Species Habita t Conservation Plan. Nevada Fish and Wildlife FoundaUon, Nevada DiVision of EnVironmental Protection, Nevada Divis ion of State Parks. National Park Service and U.S. Bureau of Reclama tion.

To be corrpleted • 134 acres

Las Vegas Wash Captitallmprovement:

Mitigation Requirement 176 acres

Passive" 5 acres

Active., 37 acres

18 lvwash.org

Integrated Weed Management Plan for the Lower La.~ Veg!ls Wa$b

l.at V~ps Waah Coordination Col18llltt" & Lu V~l'" Wm Wud Pwtnmblp

Stplanbu 1.9, 'Z003

lntcgrat~d Weed Management Plan.

WEE ApproXimately 15 acres of miUgauon revegelation are planned for 2004, along with an additional four acres related to grants tba t are not eligible toward the mitigation total. To maintain the viability of exis ting active mtttgatton s ites , maintenance of irrigalion sys tems and monitoring will be ongoing. More than 10 acres will be on reduced maintenance schedules due to high survival rates. site ma turity and the fulfillment of the two-year monitoring requirement.

During 2004, lhe focus will rem.ain on reduction of invasive plants and revegetation success. The Integra ted Weed Management Plan wUJ begin implementation. The finalization and implementa tion of the invasive weed public outreach lnitia Uve is scheduled for 2004. A vegeta tion enhancement best management practices document related Lo cons truction in the Wash will also be developed.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES






Action item No. 32-Promote interagency coordination.

Action item No. 41-Conduct additional research.

Action item No. 42- Preserve and address cultural resource issues.

Action item No. 43-Identifyfunding needs.


RELEVANCE TO CAMP The cultural resource activities that are being conducted in the Wash include identification and evaluation of sites and mitigation of sites that would be impacted by Wash activities.

OVERVIEW The Wash contains a number of cultural resource sites that have the potential to provide significant data for the understanding of lhe historic and prehistoric desert culture lifestyle in the Southern Nevada area. The Las Vegas Wash Archaeological District was established in 1977, and expanded in 200 1 to encompass additional sites. The revised District boundaries fall primarily within the Wetlands Park. Some archaeological sites within the District have been lost or damaged due to erosion of the Wash, off-road vehicle activity, illegal collection and other activities. In order to protect and understand the area's prehistory and history, the sites that remain need to be preserved and/or their data collected.

8 ~E C :1

Cultural resource field inventories have been completed for the entire Wetlands Park area, which have resulted in the identification and documentation of 56 cultural resource sites. This information is used in the planning and siting of projects such as erosion control, trails and roads. In 2002, a pit house feature was excavated. This

pit house was at risk of being lost due to erosion, and information gathered from it is important to understanding a little-known period in the prehistory of Southern Nevada. Existing archives at federal agency offices and museums were researched to consolidate information from cultural resource studies conducted in the Wash in the 1970s.

2008 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Projects initiated in 2003 included a study of the historic period in the Wash. The Wash was an important historic travel corridor and ranch location, and played a significant role in the early Euroamerican settlement of the Las Vegas Valley. However, despit.e intensive archaeological surveys in the area, there has been little research undertaken to understand the historical period sites in the Wash. This com-

-~-

Excavating the pit house.

19 lvwash.org

prehensive historical and archival research will improve the unders tanding of these sites and help in their long-term conservation and management.

1\vo culluraJ resource projects are planned for 2004. The firs l is lo conduel mitigation of two siles lhat will be impacted by con s truction of lhe Demonstra tion Weir (Weir 3.9). and conduct a more detailed recordation of a third sile in lhe vicinity of lhe con struction. Impacts to lhese siles are unavoidable in order to provide the needed erosion control and bank stabilization in lhis area of the Wash. The second project. is to conduct archaeological lesting a t. a large site in lhe weslern portion of the Wash.

Excavating the pit house.

This sile is in good condition, and may contain buried cultural deposits and features. The proposed testing will document a ll of lhe existing archaeological arUfacls and features on lhe ground surface, and will determine the presence and exlenl of buried deposits. Information gained from this lesting will be used in future planning for eros ion control projects, and in public access and visitalion planning for the Wetlands Park. Arrowheads excavated from the pit house site.

, Excavating the pit house.

20 lvwash.org

EDUCA ION AND OUT EACH

Action item No. 18- Establish method to continue implementation of public outreach.

Action item No.19- Continue implementation of feedback mechanism/progress measure.

Action item No. 20- Provide updates to elected officials.

Action item No. 21- Further investigate potentia/funding sources.



Action item No. 24-Develop method to identify specific projects for grant funding.


Action item No. 32-Promote interagency coordination.

Action item No. 43-Identi.fy funding needs.

Action item No. 44- Facilitate inter·agency coordination to ensure project implementation.

I# VANC T Becau se management of the Wash is in the public interest , providing upda tes and maintaining an ongoing communicalion program that dissemina tes information and provides a conduit for input and feedback is essential. Key audiences include environmentally oriented residents , local and regional elected officials , and other stakeholders of the Wash.

0 '"'RVJEW Education and outreach activities were establish ed in a strategic con1munication plan developed by and executed under the oversight of the Adminis tra tive Study Team . This plan has since been revised to reflect current organizational goals . Outreach tactics include, but a re not limited to, community volunteer events, briefmgs. print and colla teral materials, dis plays . video and multimedia presentations. tours and educational ma terials for schools.

Since the adoption of the public outreach plan, project team staff have participa ted in more than three dozen public events with a cumulative attendance in excess of 50,000 people. Eight wash improvement volunteer events were coordinated , including the largest one-day volunteer planting event in Nevada his tory. The Las

21 lvwash.org

Vegas Wash Clean-Up, predecessor to the existing Wash Green -Up planting, resulted in the removal of more than half a million pounds of illegally dumped trash from areas adjacent to the Wash. Through H20 University and the Mabel Hoggard Elementary School outreach programs, the LVWCC distributes educational materials to thousands of school-age children. In addition to making information about the Wash and rela ted projects available to the public, the lvwash.org Web site elicits scores of e-mails and nearly 20 lour requests per year.

0 Community outreach and dissemination of LVWCC-related information continued to be key issues during 2003. In addition to two community-wide volunteer plantings-during which thousands

Students learning about ecology.

of mitigation-rela ted plants were ins talled- the project team ful filled planting event requests from the Geographic Alliance in Nevada and the Sl. Via tor's Cub Scout Troop. The Geographic Alliance outreach resulted in a working partnership with Na tional Geogra phic. The lvwash.org Web site averaged more lhan 11.000 hils per quarter during 2003.

The LVWCC's fifth anniversary was commemora ted by a special meeting held at the banks of the Wash. A video presenta tion was produced to convey the body of work undertaken during tha t span. Through the Southern Nevada Wa ter Authority's Wa ter Wise newsletter , informa tion about progress in the Wash reached a pproximately 500,000 households quarterly. Through a Nevada Division of Environmental Protection grant, the LVWCC also had a subs tantial presence in the annual Water Smart Calendar, which is dis tributed to the same da ta base as Water Wise.

Among U1e major initia tives planned for 2004 is a source wa ter protection outreach program focu sing on proper dis posal of motor oil. An agreement. has been secured with the parent corporation of Checker Auto Parts , which has 2 7 stores in Southern Nevada, lo place point-of-purch ase displays in its facilities.

Members of the Red Rock Audubon Society receive commemorative plaque at 5-Year Anniversary celebration.

Becau se of construction issues, lhe planned spring Wash Green-Up was postponed and will be consolida ted into the fall even t, tentatively scheduled for October. With funding from a Nevada Division of Environmental Protection outreach grant, an informa tiona l kiosk will be con s tructed and placed at. the Wash.

Other ongoing activities will include participa tion through presenta tion s and booths a t high-tra ffic environmental and community events. The Mabel Hoggard Elementary School partnership, which h as served lo involve school-age children in lhe Wash. will also be continued for a fifth year.

Mabel Hoggard students at 5-Year Anniversary celebration.

22 lvwash.org

DATA RESOURCES

Acton item No. 18-Establish method to continue implementation of public outreach.

Action item No. 19- Continue implementation of feedback mechanism/progress measure.

Action item No. 20- Provide updates to elected officials.



Action item No. 26-Develop a central database.

Action item No. 27-Locate and inventory existing shallow monitoring wells.

Action item No. 29- Develop a long-term monitoring plan.

Action item No. 30- Develop a method to identify the potential for future contaminants.


Action item No. 33- Develop a bibliography.



RELEVANCE TO CAMP The data management projects undertaken on behalf of the LVWCC support virtually all of the action items identified in the CAMP document. From water quality to bioassessment monitoring, the ability to store, access and share data significantly enhances the ability of LVWCC members to collaborate efficiently. The data management tools developed to support implementation of the CAMP allow agencies to quickly access relevant project information.

OVERVIEW Although data-related projects run the gamut from the public lvwash.org Web site to specific mapping applications, the primary focus of the data management team is development and maintenance of a central data repository

23 lvwash.org

accessible to participant organizations. To accomplish this complex feat, it was necessary to first acquire an understanding of various agencies' data management practices, which drove the selection of data importing applications. Having developed a framework for this database, the focus shifted somewhat to ensuring technical staff were familiar with all of the tools so their effectiveness could be maximized.

PROGRESS SINCE INCEPTION Data management activities generally fall into one of two areas: Developing and maintaining the "public domain" Web site, lvwash.org: and developing and maintaining the password-protected "members" site. The public site contains approximately 400 pages and 1,300 images, including maps, photographs, charts, etc. To ensure content

and presentation reflect. the orientation of the LVWCC as priorities shift , the Web site has been revised three times since it was developed in 1999. The "members" site includes a database that has captured information from six real-time water quality monitoring stations along the Wash. The database also houses approximately 8,000 sampling s ites and documentation for more than 700 meetings, tours and other activities.

20 ORA CO NTS More than 13,500 additional water quality samples were imported into the database in 2003. Nearly 100,000 continuous profile samples (those collected through the real-time sampling pro gram) were also recorded for analysis by participants. On the public site, the graphic design and content were recon-

-::\!.\ ,.,,r. ,., , " c :Yr. ·.n>.:t•.,, ~

/vwash.org Web site.

figured to reflect current status and LVWCC priorities. The data resources staff also unveiled a real-time mapping system utilizing ArciMS technology, which will be released in early 2004. Finally. a data exportation application for lake analysis was developed to facilitate the transfer of information from the central database to Surfer software.

0 ,CTIVES Aside from ongoing data collection and management activities, a field event application is also under development that would increase field work assignment scheduling efficiency and disseminate information about planned sampling events among various participants. The data resources team is also developing processes to maintain and display historical Wash and regional aerial photography for comparative purposes.

24 /vwash.org

.... ~ ..... --.. ~_..__ .... ~ .. ~--·t• ......

b,111 1E~WJI'i'ttf ttq~'t.'U..·--...,_,_ ....... ~:-,. ......... -._.,.... ................ -. .. _ .. ---·-" .. _ ... ......................... _,_,..__._ ·-~~,. ........... .,. ....... C:.""'*"~ ... , .. ........ .. #'.J:Wt~""'r+ .......

mJ ",....,.,1M If llt<u\~ .. .. Iii-of 1-'. ................ 'fW , , .......... ............. .............. _ ..... ~ ...... _ .. .,, .... _4 ... ._.........,...,.,, ............... _ .... _.,_ .. ,_.,1 ......... ·-..._.,.., ... _ ......... ,. ....... ... . ,_,,.....,. ......... ......., !::":.!-::..Mo.:.·:.:::.;::.~ ... ~

lvwaslwrg members' Web site.

CAMP ACTION ITEMS 2003 PROGRESS SUMMARY

Stabilization Actlvitlee

Bostick Weir completed (7th of 22 planned structures)

6,500 lineal feet stream bank protection installed

Rainbow Gardens Weir construction initiated

Design initiated on four additional weirs

Geotechnical study completed

70,000 cubic yards of material stockpiled

Draft Facilities Operations and Maintenance Manual completed

Blouaeument llonltorblg

Continuation of monthly multi-site water quality data collection

Bird eggs collected for comparative analysis

Fish collected for comparative analysis

Water Quality

Continuation of multi-site data collection

Installation of permanent real-time sampling stations

U.S. EPA mainstream and tributary report completed

ll'l8h IE Wildlife

Completed fish survey to establish baseline data (7 species)

Completed third and final year of reptile survey ( 15 species)

Expanded reptile sampling array network

Completed small mammal survey to establish baseline data ( 10 species)

Completed third year of bird census (128 species)

Acquired general macroinvertebrate baseline data

Developed seasonal macroinvertebrate sampling system

25 /vwash.org

CAMP ACTION ITEMS 2003 PROGRESS SUMMARY CONT'D.

Vegetation Ellbaacement It llaaagement

Mitigated 7.5 acres toward Section 404 compliance (42 of 176 acres complete)

Surpassed 80 percent survival rate requirement

Completed required second year of monitoring for mitigated acreages

Removed 10 acres of tamarisk

Treated 680 gross infested acres of tall whitetop

Mapped and treated 1;4 acre of giant reed

Finalized Integrated Weed Management Plan

Developed multi-plot herbicide comparative evaluation project

Archaeological Resourcea

Initiated Las Vegas Wash Historic Period study

Continued management of identified archaeological sites

Education It Outreach

Coordinated two Wash Green-Up planting events (2,000 plants)

Conducted Wash tours for organizations (20-plus)

Executed LVWCC Fifth Anniversary special meeting

Developed commemorative video presentation

Initiated revised LVWCC overview video

Contributed text to regional Water Smart Calendar (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, NDEP grants)

Initiated design of Wash-based informational kiosk (NDEP grant)

Initiated oil recycling public outreach initiative (NDEP grant)

Data Reeourcee

Created water quality monitoring data repository

Developed real-time mapping technologies

Developed and redesigned public lvwash.org Web site (averaged 3,117 hits per month)

Supported deployment and programming of real-time water quality monitoring stations

Developed lake elevation charting software that automatically imports U.S. Bureau of Reclamation data

Created news article reference database

Initiated field event tracking system

Initiated integrated remote data collection process

26 lvwash.org

Working to stabilize and enhance the valuable environmental resources of the Las Vegas Wash.

Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee 1900 E. Flamingo Rd., Suite 255

Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 822-3300

lvtvash.org

las vegas wash coordination committee year-end report, 20036roaa spectrum of perspectives and...

Documents