Desert Responsible Living
Las Vegas is enduring its worst drought on record. Lake Mead has dropped 70 feet since January of 2000. Snowfall in the Colorado Rockies contributes most of the water in Lake Mead and there has been below average snowfall for several years, resulting in less runoff feeding the Colorado River. Las Vegas is currently in a DroughtAlert, the second of three stages in the Southern Nevada Water Authorities Drought Plan. The SNWA has implemented outdoor watering restrictions as a way to help replenish Lake Mead, which is three trillion gallons below normal capacity.
Even though the Las Vegas valley has had above average rainfall, it will take years for the water levels to return to normal. The SNWA has put restrictions on pools, fountains, mist systems, golf courses, parks, turf installation, and other water guzzling activities in response to the drought. It is every Las Vegas resident’s responsibility to help overcome the drought. Residents are urged to avoid leaving the sink or shower running and watering their lawns during the day. Those are two of the biggest contributors to wasted water. If one is caught wasting water they will be charged a water waste fee on their next water bill.
Traffic congestion, rising taxes, a weakened sense of community, and air pollution are some of the serious side effects of suburban sprawl. Sprawl growth has been the predominant type of development for over 50 years because it helps keeps new housing costs down, gives people more choices on where to live, separates the poor from the middle and upper class, and tends to create new, high quality schools and neighborhoods.
