Despite the region's best efforts to conserve water, there's still a lot of grass in the Las Vegas that no one ever walks or plays on. That could change soon.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority is pushing the Nevada State Legislature to pass a law banning all "nonfunctional turf" in the Las Vegas metropolitan area—all the grass that no one ever walks in places like street medians as well as commercial and residential developments.
According to water officials, ending the growth of ornamental grass would reduce annual water consumption by about 15%, or about 14 gallons per person per day.
An article by Sam Metz and Ken Ritter for the Associate Press details more about the recent history of water conservation in Southern Nevada—much of which stands in contrast to public perception of the fountains and golf courses associated with the area.
FULL STORY: Water-worried Vegas wants useless grass a thing of the past
Nevada Bans the Use of Colorado River Water for Ornamental Grass
AB 356 could be "the most aggressive municipal water conservation measure that's been taken in the western United States."
New Las Vegas Golf Courses Barred From Using Colorado River Water
A new rule from the Las Vegas Valley Water District prohibits new golf courses in the city from using Colorado River water for irrigation.
Nevada Law Requiring Removal of ‘Useless’ Grass Has Killed 100,000 Las Vegas Trees, Lawsuit Claims
The lawsuit alleges that the removal of ornamental grass has damaged the city’s tree canopy.
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People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
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Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association