Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee Environmental Update

Transcription

1 Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee Environmental Update April 2018

2 Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys 2017 Final Reports all posted at lvwash.org Marsh birds Yellow-billed cuckoo Southwestern willow flycatcher surveys ( ) Wash is an important stopover location for migrating willow flycatchers but has not yet become a breeding/nesting area

3 Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys 2018 surveys began this month Marsh Birds (including Yuma Ridgway s Rail) April 2 Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Surveys begin May 23 Yellow-billed Cuckoo Surveys begin June 25

4 Avian Point Count Study Funded by: Continues on biweekly basis by GBBO 31 points along the Wash; 5-minute counts Considering additional points to include Tropicana Weir and Duck Creek riparian habitat 213 species identified in this survey report finalized and posted on lvwash.org report under internal review

5 Fish Survey First conducted in species observed (No native species) survey collection was initiated in July Quarterly sampling Added blue tilapia and largemouth bass to species list Sent 1 collection (largemouth bass) for selenium analysis to South Dakota Agricultural Laboratories Results below levels of concern Second round of current survey begins this month Blue Tilapia Suckermouth Catfish Fish Species 12 species Red shiner Common carp/koi Convict cichlids Fathead minnow Mosquitofish Shortfin molly Green sunfish Largemouth bass Suckermouth catfish Black bullhead Red-bellied pacu Blue tilapia

6 Mammal Camera Survey Large/Medium Mammal Survey Originally conducted in species identified Uses passive infrared motion sensor cameras Follow-up survey will focus on riparian areas Goal is to better understand rare riparian species found in first survey Western spotted skunk Striped skunk Ring-tailed cat

7 Invasive Weed Management Lake Mead Exotic Plant Management Team January-August Surveyed >550 acres Treated ~7 acres of state noxious weeds Also treating other nonnatives Some restoration work will take place in treated areas

8 Revegetation Over 515 acres have been revegetated along the Wash to date Over 140 acres are wetlands 2016 vegetation monitoring report posted to lvwash.org 2017 vegetation monitoring report currently in draft 2018 vegetation monitoring begins in August

9 Funded by: 2018 Wash Green-Up s Wash Green-Ups 32 events to date 266 acres have been planted Over 119,000 plants planted 11,585 volunteers have participated Spring and Fall 2018 Green-Ups Tropicana Weir West side ~20 acres to be planted Spring event was held on March 17 Fall event scheduled for October 13

10 Spring 2018 Wash Green-Up West side of Tropicana Weir Formerly common reed Planted with primarily riparian species Most plants planted at a single Green-Up (12,000) 4,000 container plants 8,000 pole cuttings

11 Clark County In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Wetlands Wash Team continues to manage activities Regulating flows Monthly water quality monitoring Controlling invasive weeds Planting native wetland and riparian plants Working with the US Army Corps of Engineers on permit compliance

12 Cultural Resources Funded by: Comprehensive analysis of lithics (stone tools and materials) from all LV Wash archaeological sites completed Pat Hicks, retired BOR archaeologist conducted the analysis Draft report expected shortly

13 2018 World Wetlands Day Jan. 31 & Feb students from six local high schools Keynote speaker and 4 session presentations each day Planted willow poles near Tropicana Weir Photo and essay contests Received funding from Outside Las Vegas Foundation and Desert Wetlands Conservancy for bussing students Received a donation from Cox Communications for ipads for giveaway to photo and essay contest winners

14 Mabel Hoggard Math and Science Elementary In class visits before and after event Desert Princess Water quality Lake history and food web dynamics Nature Center Nature walk and birding Habitat types and biology Updating and reprinted field notebook 2017/18: Mar. 15, March 22 and Apr. 12 Partially funded by NDEP

15 Community Events, Tours, and Field Trips Spring 2018 Outreach Events: Mabel Hoggard March 15 & 22, April 12 UNLV ENV 360 Lab March 22 Springs Preserve Plant Sale March 24 Tour for Idaho High School Biology Club March 27 World Migratory Bird Day - March 28 Lowman Elementary School April 6 Thurman White Middle School April 12 CSN Natural History Class April 21 Festival of Communities April 21 GREENfest April 21 Wetlands Park BioBlitz April 28

16 Questions?