The Las Vegas Valley is situated in the east of the Mojave Desert, an area that is abundant in terms of biological diversity. This growth has caused the Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management to create plans to reduce emissions that cause ground-level ozone. The uncontrolled expansion increases pressure on state and local governments to address problems related to air and water quality, the deterioration of plant and animal habitat, the excessive development of floodplains, and the loss of public land. The decline in regional air quality is partly due to the increase in the amounts of pollution caused by the increase in miles traveled by vehicles and to the traffic congestion that accompanies the expansion.
The Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management is responsible for monitoring the air, developing appropriate control measures, and educating the citizens of Clark County, Nevada. An unlikely alliance of environmentalists, ranchers and other rural citizens was formed to consider possible large-scale impacts on surface water resources in southern and eastern Nevada that could result both from surface flow diversions and from the pumping and export of groundwater through oil pipelines to the Las Vegas Valley. Southern Nevada will surely seek new and aggressive water resources to meet the growing demands of the growing Las Vegas metropolitan area. Groundwater pollution at the Nevada test site is perhaps the most problematic because certain contaminants remain mobile in the water (for example, Nevada is not only the fastest-growing state in the country, but it also has the driest climate, the most mountains, and the highest percentage of federal public land).
In order for citizens to be engaged on environmental issues, it is important for them to be informed about what is happening in their local environment. The Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management can provide information about air quality levels and any potential risks associated with them. Additionally, they can provide information about any new regulations or initiatives that are being implemented to improve air quality. The Truckee River system, which flows into the Sierra Nevada in California, provides most of the water to residents of Reno-Sparks-Tahoe.
The distribution of wildlife closely reflects this pattern of resource distribution and, therefore, wildlife is not generally found at high densities in the Nevada mountain ranges. It is important for citizens to be aware of how their actions can affect wildlife populations as well as their own health. In addition to providing information about environmental issues, it is also important for citizens to be involved in decision-making processes related to environmental policies. Until now, the Nevada legislature has not paid serious attention to limitations to growth, beyond the concern that slow-growth policies would lead to economic devastation.
We've all seen the familiar image of the Las Vegas Strip covered in plastics and garbage, shrouded in a thick layer of smog. Environmental health and safety are fundamental to the quality of life in Nevada, a huge state whose inhabitants are mainly grouped into a few urban areas. The Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management can provide information about air quality levels and any potential risks associated with them as well as any new regulations or initiatives that are being implemented to improve air quality. Additionally, it is important for citizens to be aware of how their actions can affect wildlife populations as well as public land and their own health.
By being informed and involved in decision-making processes related to environmental policies, citizens can help ensure that their local environment remains healthy. The author can be contacted by writing to the Department of Sociology at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 455033, Las Vegas, NV 89154-5033.
