In case you haven’t noticed, Las Vegas has a bit of a water problem. The drought-stricken Southwest’s straw isn’t sucking up the water it used to. And as resources from the Colorado River tighten, the whole country could have a share in the consequences.

Thankfully, some of the top minds in the region have been fine-tuning solutions from the Center for Urban Water Conservation in North Las Vegas – a UNLV facility focused on maximizing what we have.

“We are trying to make the future more favorable in terms of growth and sustainability,” said Dale Devitt, center director and professor in the university’s School of Life Sciences. “We have to find new sources of water and decrease demand. It will require new strategies, but I think we’re up for the challenge.”

Fruit-filled orchards and rows of research plots fill out more than 10 acres at the Center for Urban Water Conservation. With funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the site opened under Devitt’s leadership in 1994 and has been quietly providing enormous value to the region, influencing water policy in Nevada with its findings.

“We’re currently looking at alternative ground covers to turf grass,” said Devitt. “The removal of grass in recent years has had a negative impact on trees, and we’ve been looking for water-friendly alternatives to grass that can be added to the existing landscape.”

Mulch is one of five different ground covers being tested, and the findings for this research will be compiled in the next few months. 

A website is also in the works called NevMet, or Nevada Meteorological. Five weather stations throughout the Valley will provide an assessment of the environmental demands for water, helping locals more accurately schedule their irrigation. The interactive website will have a library of information for homeowners, park personnel, golf course superintendents, and any other interested party featuring peer-reviewed scientific data. More details are planned to be revealed in the near future.

NevMet is a collaborative effort between UNLV and UNR Extension, part of a $1.7 million strategic partnership grant to address local issues. This means both institutions are working together to benefit Nevada’s people and communities, and one of the challenges being addressed is the battle against climate change. Devitt credits the partnership for enhancing the possibilities of the center’s applied research and outreach.

“It’s always a challenge when you have a growing community and a lot of people coming from other states where water conservation is not a priority,” he said. “Southern Nevada is 90% dependent on Colorado River water – our hope is that these projects will all add up to help balance our supply issues for a more favorable future.”

Canopy of Collaboration

The Center for Urban Water Conservation and Demonstration Orchard is a joint facility managed by UNLV in collaboration with University of Nevada, Reno Extension, with a host of regional partners making sure every drop of water counts.

“It’s a marriage that took place on day one, and I wanted to make sure we could get both universities interacting together in a way that would best serve the community,” said Devitt.

Out here, the gridiron rivalries are put on pause to focus on working together to improve the survivability of our vulnerable region. And plant care is a natural part of the mission: nurturing our greenery, quantifying watering schedules, and discovering what might be adopted in a wider way within the community. 

“When you’re planning on planting trees, do a basic soil test to see what you have in your backyard,” said Logan Love, a graduate student at UNLV who also serves as a research associate at the site for UNR Extension. “After that, mulching is your friend. Our orchard is covered with wood mulch, which maintains soil moisture levels and keeps your trees alive through the summer season, for sure.”

He spends his time at the facility among the vegetable beds and fruit orchards, evaluating how the yield is affected by the amount of water used. It’s a project that will need more time, but the nuggets of knowledge gained along the way have proven uniquely worthwhile.

“When people come to ask questions, being able to have that inside track on what works for plants in our arid climate is very satisfying,” said Love. “Having that knowledge and seeing them take it in – it’s probably the best part about working out here.”

He’s joined at the facility by Alison Sloat, a professor-in-residence within the UNLV College of Sciences. She runs the Las Vegas Urban Forest Center, currently tasked with planting thousands of trees in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

“We’re about midway through the project, and soon the trees we’ve grown from seed will be planted in someone’s front or backyard,” she said. “This will help offset our urban heat island, provide shade and cooling effect, while also enhancing the beauty of the landscape.”

Chilean mesquite, honey mesquite, desert willow, and shoestring acacia are among the 2,000 trees that have been grown so far. Trees hardy enough to withstand the heat, and also drought-tolerant enough to sustain themselves in a harsh, arid environment.

“You see the difference you make reflected in the people who work here,” said Sloat, who is training about 45 arborists on the project. “It’s a full-circle moment and really fulfilling to me.”

Some Serious Drip

Those water-conservation efforts are only a drop in the bucket, in terms of the high volume of work happening across the Urban Water Conservation Center.

What is the impact of different depths of mulch on palo verde trees? What times of the day are truly the most effective for efficient irrigation? What are the effects of 15% pruning versus 45% on tree water use? Is there a quantifiable watering sweet spot to sustain Australian bottle trees?

“We’ve done an admirable job of trying to conserve our way out of the water situation we are in, but we’ve been in an extended drought for over 25 years,” said Devitt. “It’s a real challenge to have 2.3 million people living in such an arid environment almost solely dependent its water from a single source.”

On top of that, Devitt says that about 85% of all the water used in the west is for irrigated agriculture “that allows us to grow foods that feed the nation.”

Southern Nevada has no real irrigated agriculture to speak of, unless you include golf courses and parks. And any changes to our neighboring states’ ability to farm will always have tradeoffs to consider. 

“The price of tomatoes, grapes, and corn would definitely go up,” he said. “The country would perhaps become more dependent on fruits and vegetables from Mexico and Central America.”

But for now, he favors creativity. Projects that not only make us more water efficient, but pursue the possibility of new water sources for the region, such as desalinization. 

“Desalinated ocean water currently has significant expenses,” said Devitt. “The costs are high, so we’re going to have to see some real advances in the science associated with it. Maybe we’ll be able to do that, but it’s all about one step at a time.”

For a deeper plunge into water conservation, advice on keeping your backyard plants alive, and the future forecast of Lake Mead, check out this story’s companion piece “From Lake Mead to the Backyard: Water Conservation 101".