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Photo: A pair of mallards takes an early morning rest atop rocks that comprise part of an engineered low-height dam called a weir in the Las Vegas Wash.
"Clark County Wetlands Park plays a vital role in the future of Southern Nevada."
Located in the Mojave Desert, the 2,900-acre Clark County Wetlands Park is unlike any park in the Vegas Valley. The cornerstone of the Park is eight miles of the Las Vegas Wash, an engineered waterway that bisects the Park. The water provides a remarkable "ribbon of green" for plants, trees, and wildlife to thrive within the Park's four distinct habitats. There are countless opportunities for the growing number of area residents and visitors to explore, appreciate, and enjoy.
The Wash is a conduit for the Valley's recycled water, urban and commercial runoff, and precipitation. The shallow waterway uses gravity to carry over 200 million gallons each day, ultimately emptying into Lake Mead.
The scenic Wash and Park are engineered to provide additional benefits for southeastern Nevada. Low-height dams called weirs manage the flow of water as it makes the long and gradual, 150-feet descent towards Lake Mead. Many of the weirs are designed to look like huge outcroppings of rock that slow the flow of water heading downstream. The weirs reduce bank erosion and help prevent debris from being carried into the Lake Mead watershed.
Simple weirs fabricated of stacked tiers of wood can be found throughout the 210-acre Nature Preserve located within the Park proper. Slats are added/removed to manage water height in the ponds and streams.
Water-loving plants, such as cattails and reeds, help cleanse the water of many undesirable compounds and elements, including heavy metals. The Park also serves as a floodway during the infrequent storms impacting the Valley.
Visitors young and old can appreciate the sights and sounds of the Las Vegas Wash and the variety of wildlife it attracts.
For more information about the Park, please visit:
www.ccwetlandspark.com
Help Friends preserve this valuable natural resource.
Please help Wetlands Park Friends support Southern Nevada's unique biological, cultural and educational resource by becoming a member, and donate.