Las Vegas pushes to become first to ban ornamental grass

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Las Vegas pushes to become first to ban ornamental grass

By SAM METZ and KEN RITTER
April 11, 2021

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A desert city built on a reputation for excess and indulgence wants to become a model for restraint and conservation with a first-in-the-nation policy banning grass that nobody walks on.

Las Vegas-area water officials have spent two decades trying to get people to replace thirsty greenery with desert plants, and now they’re asking the Nevada Legislature to outlaw roughly 40% of the turf that’s left.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates there are almost 8 square miles (21 square kilometers) of “nonfunctional turf” in the metro area — grass that no one ever walks on or otherwise uses in street medians, housing developments and office parks.

They say this ornamental grass requires four times as much water as drought-tolerant landscaping like cactus and other succulents. By ripping it out, they estimate the region can reduce annual water consumption by roughly 15% and save about 14 gallons (53 liters) per person per day.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/legislature-deserts-droughts-las-vegas-nevada-63017cc13af74dc49308a635e2c98346


Sprinklers water grass near a street corner Friday, April 9, 2021, in the Summerlin neighborhood of northwest Las Vegas. A desert city built on a reputation for excess wants to become a model for restraint with a first-in-the-nation policy limiting water use by banning grass that nobody walks on. Las Vegas area water officials are asking the state Legislature to pass a law banning "non-functional turf." (AP Photo/Ken Ritter)

[KT2000]

1. Makes sense

lawns are one of the most wasteful inventions. They need water which is becoming scarce in more places than Las Vegas. Climate change will affect that further. Mowing it is done using mowers that are exempt from noise and fuel standards. To make it grow more, people apply toxic chemicals that can cause birth defects and disease - for some, even death.

Unfortunately I do have a lawn because I live in a neighborhood that requires it to be a good neighbor. We all do let it turn brown in the summer though. And - absolutely no chemicals added to it.

[IcyPeas]

2. such a waste of water. California should do the same.

I mean it's Las Vegas. plant cactus. or better yet create some mosaics or some awesome thing to cover the ground with. this is Las Vegas after all. or there's always astro turf.

I see a lot more xeriscaped gardens in front of peoples houses in SoCal. They are great and take little water.

But Good for Las Vegas

[Binkie The Clown]

3. Some years ago I heard Las Vegas described by a climatologist as "The city that's waiting to die."

The prediction is that as climate change continues Las Vegas will be among the first cities in America to become uninhabitable due to lack of water.

[Mickju]

5. Followed by Phoenix, perhaps?

[brewens]

4. I'm probably one of the few people that walks on patches of grass like that. On my morning walks,

I try and get as much grass in as possible, and there are a few spots I work in along with a couple parks and athletic fields. Long strips with trees in between the sidewalk and curb in a few places that run entire blocks. We're right on the confluence of two large rivers though, so there's no danger of those going away.