A dozen “plus one” years of ecosystem service enhancements in the Las Vegas Valley watershed, Nevada USA: A baker’s perspective

Background/Question/Methods

Despite modern solutions for resolving tragedies that occur among the commons, important ecosystem goods and services still become degraded to unsustainable levels.  Consider the use of regulatory solutions to stop or lessen the deterioration of water purification services.  Prescriptive regulations aim to offset the unanticipated or unplanned negative consequences of human actions by requiring reciprocal human actions to protect and enhance degraded services.  Consequently, resource management actions therein are conducted according to a “regulatory-response” model of stewardship that reflects the value of a few top-down participants.  When then do more numerous bottom-up participants shirk forced stewardship in favor of other types of stewardship?  And, are there other models of stewardship that favor more sustainable outcomes? 

Results/Conclusions

By reviewing ecosystem service enhancements that were planned and conducted in a small (4,000 km²) watershed in southern Nevada, USA over the past dozen plus one years, I propose that “local-leader” stewardship models are important for managing ecosystem services sustainably.  Core leadership provided by a small group of local water resources management entities acting on behalf of a citizen and multi-stakeholder effort has resulted in substantial enhancements in the watershed.  Specific efforts have focused on stabilizing and enhancing the Las Vegas Wash, an area where important water purification services occur.  Past water use and periodic storm flows caused erosion and incisement, leaving only 10% of the 2,000 acres of wetlands along the Las Vegas Wash.  Eleven stabilization structures and more than 11 km of bank protection, partially built with recycled concrete from imploded casinos, have been constructed to improve ecosystem services (e.g., water delivery, water purification, and biodiversity).  More than 200 acres of invasive species have been removed and more than 280 acres of native wetland, riparian, and upland habitats have been re-vegetated.  Since 2004, enhancements have resulted in >50% reduction in suspended solids, indicating water purification service improvements.