Las Vegas Wash and Wetlands
The Las Vegas Wash is a desert wetland. Small washes throughout the Las
Vegas Valley carry water to the Las Vegas Wash, which flows into Lake
Mead. When you see water running in the gutter, it may carry pesticides
or fertilizer from someone's lawn, soap from washed cars or oil leaked from
cars.
As the water flows through the Las Vegas Wash,
the plants there filter the water by helping remove the pollutants it
picked up running through the city. Some of the pollutants are filtered
out as the water moves through the cattails and bulrushes toward the lake.
These wetland plants help keep our water supply clean.
Other water sources for the wash
When you brush your teeth or take a shower, the
water that goes down the drain travels through pipes to a wastewater treatment
plant. The water is cleaned and then sent into the Las Vegas Wash, where
it travels to Lake Mead so we can use it again.
When it rains a lot in Southern Nevada, the water runs
through smaller washes throughout the city to the Las Vegas Wash.
Wildlife at the wash
Because of all the water in the Las Vegas Wash, a wetlands around the
wash has grown very large. Many animals live in the wetlands. In fact,
there are more than 300 kinds of birds that live in and visit the wetlands.
Mice, rabbits, skunks, lizards, snakes and coyotes live at the Las Vegas
Wash and Wetlands.
Protecting the wildlife
To protect these animals and our water supply, we need to make sure to
keep the wash clean. Putting trash in the garbage can, instead of throwing
it on the ground helps keep the trash out of the wash. Let's all do our
part to keep the water clean for the animals and for us. To learn more
about the wetlands, visit www.lvwash.org.
Did you know that Rafael
Rivera found the Las Vegas Wash on one of his travels? Check out his
story to find out how the Spanish explorer named the city of Las Vegas.
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