PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION TO DEMAND THAT GRASS UNDER TREES and on SLOPES BE CONSIDERED FUNCTIONAL BY SNWA and THE LVVWD END EXCESSIVE USE CHARGES !

Grass + Trees = The Air We Breathe!

Have you wondered why the landscapes within residential areas are being ripped out and replaced? During Nevada’s 2021 Legislative Session Lawmakers voted in favor of bill AB356, that allowed SNWA to define Non-Functional Turf and disallow it receiving water from the Colorado River. Did you know that it was originally referred to as a "commercial bill" and described to remove grass from "roadway medians and from in front of gas stations".... and that grass in residential communities were not supposed to be part of this legislation? 

PER ASSEMBLYMAN Howard WATTS III: “Assembly Bill 356 is not intended to target common areas in communities. Common areas in these communities are considered functional turf”….. May 11, 2021- during the 81st legislative session deliberations. 

Also, SNWA representative, Andy Belanger has stated the following: "Parks, schools, playing fields, and residential backyards are supported in our code and we'll continue to protect these."

Look around. Trees and grass are being removed from parks, people are being overcharged for water to force grass removal making it a luxury for only the few who can afford it, and school playing fields are being converted to hot, toxic plastic. Trees are dying all over the valley. How many have you lost? The earth is warming and water policies are making it unbearable and we are now, per scientists, on track to becoming uninhabitable. 

Background:

The Southern Nevada Water Authority’s WaterSmart Rebate program incentivizes homeowners to replace their natural grass with artificial turf, and xeriscape which threatens our trees and environment by contributing to increasing temperatures and poor air quality.  The passage of AB356 further threatens our residential neighborhoods because SNWA overstepped the legislative intent of the law when defining “Non-Functional” turf. 

SNWA’s policies fail to distinguish between lawn grass and the functional grass present under trees and on slopes, essential for preventing landscape erosion. As per the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, grass cover is a critical factor in preventing erosion by reducing the velocity of runoff (Source: USDA NRCS). And GRASS UNDER TREES uses 50% less water than open fields while protecting trees and allowing them to thrive.  Water savings is negligible as it is not much more than what the trees need to thrive. 

Furthermore, the Excessive Usage Charges imposed by LVVWD are indiscriminately burdening residents financially and discouraging them from maintaining their mature landscapes and trees. In fact records obtained reflect that they are encouraging people to remove trees in order to afford water.

To protect our urban tree forest and the natural environment around us, we must insist SNWA reform its WaterSmart Rebate program. Specifically, the authority MUST recognize and categorize grass under trees and grass on slopes as functional. It is the source of the air we breathe and the best defense against pollution among many other benefits. 

Additionally, the excessive use charges should be suspended by the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) and either reworked within its charter or removed.

Our cry is clear and just: Our County Commissioners and SNWA’s board members must reform SNWA’s policies to protect our natural flora and fauna and promote sustainable efforts for water conservation. 

Please sign our petition. Let’s demand that SNWA and the LVVWD prioritize the health of our environment over artificial aesthetics that are compromising the future habitability of Southern Nevada.

Join us at :

WaterFairnessCoalition.com