Las Vegas removes grass lawns to conserve water

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Since 1999, property owners in the Las Vegas Valley removed 250 million square feet of non-functional grass, supported by the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s Water Smart Landscapes Rebate program and Nevada Assembly Bill 356. This initiative saved 203 billion gallons of water to address long-term drought conditions affecting Lake Mead, which provides 90 percent of the region's drinking water. However, research published in the journal Urban Climate indicated that replacing grass with gravel, rocks, or artificial turf increased local land-surface temperatures by approximately 20°C during summer months due to the loss of natural evapotranspiration.

Consequences

To mitigate the increased heat resulting from grass removal, urban planners and forestry experts are promoting the use of water-efficient landscapes that incorporate deep-rooted shade trees and targeted drip irrigation. Future development rules now prohibit the installation of new grass in the front and back yards of single-family homes to maintain compliance with federal water usage limits.

Sources

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