Environment
To the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), environmental stewardship means more than complying with federal and state environmental requirements. Embracing the ethic of environmental responsibility, SNWA participates in a number of initiatives that extend beyond compliance requirements.
Managing regional water supplies means managing the environment that surrounds them as well. SNWA works with local, state and federal agencies by committing resources and personnel to research and protect endangered species.
Endangered species
The Water Authority monitors the federally-endangered Moapa dace, a small fish found only in the Muddy River and its tributaries in Clark County. Included in this effort is the SNWA purchase of the environmentally diverse, 1,200-acre Warm Springs Natural Area, near the Moapa Valley National Refuge.
SNWA continues to conduct extensive studies into the razorback sucker, which has suffered population losses through the years due to lost habitat and introduction of non-native species in Lake Mead.
In cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, SNWA funds surveys for such species as the federally-endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, Yuma clapper rail and others along the lower Virgin and Muddy rivers and Lake Mead.
Policy issues
SNWA also participates in numerous programs and coalitions to help address issues affecting the environment. Among these are the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program and the Clark County Multi-Species Conservation Plan. Others include:
- Lake Mead Water Quality Forum
- Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee
- Lower Virgin River Recovery Implementation Team
- Muddy River Recovery Implementation Team
- Southeastern Lincoln County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan
- Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Team
- Virgin River Fishes Recovery Team
- Virgin River Habitat Conservation Program
- Western Urban Water Coalition
Commitment
Through staff time, grants and other considerations, SNWA has invested more than $10 million and thousands of staff hours in programs and activities directly related to environmental protection. Specifically related to endangered species, SNWA has actively supported research related to federally endangered fish. This research was not required for project compliance, but was conducted because it is central to SNWA's environmental ethic and it provides the basis for scientifically sound decisions.
Other projects
In a continuing effort to evolve toward environmental sustainability, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has developed renewable energy projects to help meet the region's growing needs.
Along with seven of the nation's largest water agencies, the Water Authority also formed the Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA). The alliance works to improve research into the impacts of climate change and develops strategies to reduce the utilities' greenhouse gas emissions.
SNWA is a partner of the GreenScapes Alliance, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program dedicated to the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste and resources in the land management industry.
The Water Authority also participates in the Corporate Partners Program of the Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The program connects the school with local and national corporations and organizations sharing its commitment to sustainability, research and educational programs. The Bren School offers the only professional Master of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) program in the Western United States.