Recent Southern Nevada Water History and Water Education

Abstract

After Hoover (Boulder) Dam was completed in 1936 and Lake Mead filled, in 1971 the Southern Nevada Water System (SNWS) began operations to pump Colorado River water (from Lake Mead Water Intake No.1), treat (in the Alfred Merritt Smith water plant) and deliver water to Las Vegas. In 1991, seven local water agencies formed the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to address water issues on a regional basis to manage and operate the 1971 SNWS. In 2001, the federal government officially transferred the SNWS to the SNWA. In 2002, Water Intake Number 2 was completed to deliver water into a 1,600 foot long and 14 foot wide tunnel to a large, underground pumping forebay to the 2002 River Mountains Water Treatment Facility in Henderson to treat up to 300 mgd. The plant processes are an educational tour opportunity for middle and high school to university students. In March 2012, Lake Mead Water Intake No. 3 was completed, using 1086 concrete trucks carried on 143 barges. Using a leased tunnel boring machine (TBM) to bore a 2.5 mile tunnel, the contractor began installing a planned total of 2,300 precast concrete segment rings to connect to Lake Mead Water Intake No. 3 by 2014. The Lake Mead Third Water Intake is one of the largest U.S. municipal water projects. The Springs Preserve is located over the historic Las Vegas springs utilized by early settlers and as a railroad locomotive water re-filling station by the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad. Listed on the National Register of Historical Places since 1978, the Springs Preserve is a 180-acre cultural institution designed to commemorate Las Vegas' dynamic history and to provide a vision for a sustainable future. The Preserve features museums, galleries, outdoor events, colorful botanical gardens and an interpretive trail system through a scenic wetland habitat. For K-12 students and visitors, Springs Preserve has science camps such as Mad Science MANIA on weekends and guided or self-guided tours. The Charleston Heights Water Pumping Station and 20 million gallon water reservoir below the Springs Preserve parking deck, and 2007 Springs Preserve Waterworks Facility of the Las Vegas Valley Water District are functional along with interpretive exhibits. Another