Springs Preserve
KIWANIS WATER CONSERVATION PARK
by
Leo Borns
The dream of a demonstration place to teach water conservation through the use of efficient watering and plants more acclimated to the desert
was first expressed at a Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas meeting!
Lloyd Rooke spoke to the Club at the invitation of Tom Rice, then General Manager of the Water District (and also a long time member of our Club, the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas). Lloyd Rooke was a horticulturist, soil scientist, and consultant, and had spent many years as a horticulturist in the desert areas. He had noted the ability of certain plants to survive, their use of shade of a rock as well as the water attracting ability of that rock. He felt that the natural plant survival could be translated into landscaping and still not use much water. He has studied many of our local desert plants and had collected seeds from some of them.
Len Yelinek was president of the Kiwanis Club that year. Len, and members, Vice-president Dr. Hugh Follmer and Tom Rice met with Lloyd Rooke after this Club program. Discussion ensued about the amount of water in the area, the wells that were not producing enough water in the valley. How the Colorado River Project was progressing and what the population growth was predicted to be. Lloyd Rooke had mentioned the hope of demonstrating all this some way. He had a general idea of some type of park that would show people about the Desert, with the use of soil mounding, rocks, trees and shrubs, and even grow some of the local native desert plants that he had collected seeds from and saved. The Kiwanis Club decided to go ahead and try to plan something.
The idea of a “Kiwinis Park” started in the Fall of 1976 when then Kiwanis President, Len Yelinek, and Kiwanis member, J.R. “Buck”McElhone thought it might be feasible to create a Park to serve the community in the Kiwanis name. Tom Rice talked informally with the Las Vegas Water District Board, who also serve as Clark County Commissioners, who were all receptive to the idea. The Water District had land, and even water running close to a spot that was considered for the Park. The Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas decided to work on such a project with the Water District.
Several meetings were held with parties that Tom Rice or Lloyd Rooke thought might be interested. The Clark County Soil Conservation District was invited to join in because much of the Park development would be in their field of expertise to try to help us solve many parts of the puzzle. Karl Weikel, Chairman of their Board met with us. On October 26, 1976 the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas, in cooperation with the Water District, held its first meeting at the Water District to promote the use of such landscaping in a Landscaping Park. Lloyd Rooke described a plan for demonstrating the things he felt should be shown, and it was the intention of the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas to design and install ten exhibit plots simulating home fronts, so that the public can visually see and ACCEPT the more realistic approach to conservation landscaping. Those attending included Lloyd Rooke a Horticulturist and Soil Scientist with the Soil Conservation Service, Kiwanis President Len Yelinek, Tom Rice (Kiwanis) General Manager of the Water District, Art Pearson (Kiwanis) President of Nevada Power Company, Harold P. Foster Director of Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Las Vegas, Thalia
Dondero Clark County Commissioner, Bob Broadbent Clark County Commissioner, Bud Albright (Kiwanis) Director of Construction Projects for Clark County, Linn Mills and Alan Boettcher of Clark County Cooperative Extension Service, Don Davis of Davis Nursery, Adelene Bartlett a Review Journal Newspaper Columnist, Versiellen the Editor of Vista in Las Vegas Sun Newspaper, and J.R. “Buck” McElhone (Kiwanis) a Realtor. This was one of several meetings to follow at the Water District that attracted many more in attendance as an interest grew in the potential community awareness of this
effort.
The Water District located 2.4 acres of their property facing on to Alta Drive. Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas President Len Yelinek asked his Kiwanis Club member Leo Borns, Architect, to meet with Lloyd Rooke to develop plans for the “Kiwanis Water Saving Landscaping Demonstration Park. Over the next several months a Park Plan was developed with Lloyd Rooke being the Resource, and Leo F. Borns, the Architect for the Park. Scope of the project increased as it was determined to be an ongoing Project, with operation and maintenance to be provided by the Water District. Five years was the goal for establishing the Demonstration Project, refining irrigation systems and selecting the most successful plant materials, and Lloyd Rooke selected, to demonstrate, over 200 low-consumptive water use plants that look lush and green, but require only a fraction of the water used on conventional landscaping. Three soil pit demonstration areas would also show samples of three bench mark desert soils. Construction documents, including a dimensioned Site Plan indicating grading, contouring, mounding, walkways, and a 40’-0”diameter Dome Structure to house visitor information and directions at the entrance to the Park adjacent to the 84 space Parking Lot was completed and dated June 13, 1977. Soon after this a 1/16th inch scale Architectural Model on a 2’-0” x 3’-0” base showing the proposed development of this Project was built, and due to its “handy size”, Dr. Hugh Follmer, following Len Yelinek as Kiwanis Club President, made great use of this architectural model taking it all over town to introduce the concept of the Kiwanis Park, in a “monumental”effort to try to raise funds for the Park construction.
Using this Park Site Plan, and the Architectural Scale Model of the Project, and under the direction and guidance of Lloyd Rooke, in the fall of 1977, the members of the Kiwanis club of Las Vegas began the physical examination of the Site we were given to use, and began the layout and determining the tasks of the construction work that was going to be necessary for us to do for this Water Conservation Landscaping Park that was to be in the Kiwanis name. We did start this on our own, mostly using our own Kiwanis funds, and individual members using their own money for gas and lodging on trips out-of-town to Arizona ,Utah, and Northern California to purchase trees, plants, and drip irrigation systems (nothing of what we needed for this Demonstration Park was available here inLas Vegas. Lloyd Rooke and Linn Mills of the Cooperative Extension Service researched plant availability in adjacent states. Most of the plant species were imported from Arizona. Dr. Bill Scheer (Kiwanis) and Stu Leslie (Kiwanis) began making several trips to Tucson Arizona to purchase plants, trees, shrubs, ground cover, drip irrigation system, and then trailoring them behind Dr. Scheer’s motor home).
As we proceeded with enthusiasm and success in this manner, it became determined that a written document should be involved. In March of 1978 a Contract was signed between the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas. R. J. Ronzone, President was the signer for the Water District, and was attested by James R. Widner, Secretary. The Water District to furnish the land, water and maintenance of the property. The Clark County Soil Conservation District provided a soils investigation and Soils Report for that Parcel, and it was interesting to note that, by pure chance, this area shows all the soils that can be found in this valley, and so three soil pits would be developed in the design to demonstrate this. Another interesting fact is that it is right next to the pipe that comes through with water for Phase II of the Colorado River Project.
Tom Rice was leaving the water District, Al Barozzi became acting manager. Kiwanis Club President Len Yelinek, President-elect Dr. Hugh Follmer, and Stuart Leslie were representing the Kiwanis Club. Stu Leslie took over as Chairman of the Park Planning Committee in 1978, and remained in that position until 1981. Don Paff came to the Water District as Manager, and all continued to work together with Karl Weikle and Bill Dunning of the Clark County Conservation District.
Although we had wonderful cooperation and enthusiastic participation from a wide range of public agencies, our Project did not seem to fit for Federal or State moneys. We do not employ anyone, our labor is volunteer (which seems to be a disadvantage). We are a demonstration projectand public oney from those sources was not available for demonstration projects.
We needed a large sum of money right away if we were going to make this Project a reality in an effective time-frame! Our club directed Stu Leslie to write a letter, dated March 6, 1979, to Governor Robert List. This resulted, ultimately, in great interest from the Governor (It turned out that the overnor
was a conservationist from boyhood). Governor List noted that Nevada is one of the adjoining states that were a part of an organization called the Four Corners Commission. This Commission was getting ready to dissolve, and money may be available, and Governor List suggested we submit a grant for funding. Leo Borns, the Architect for the Park, was asked to provide a design for the Visitor Center for the Park. Lloyd Rooke was used by the architect as a consultant in the design of this 1792s.f.Building. The plans were completed on June 12, 1979. The Grant was started at about the same time in 1979, and was six pages in length and filled with detailed information including costs (which we noted that in-kind amounts were as being more that half the cost of the projected cost of the Project), and we also noted that, very importantly, Bill Dunning, key person in getting the grant properly organized, that the grant was to be made to the Clark County Soil Conservation Service to administer the Project. The project as outlined called for a total project cost of $346,620.00. The in-kind donations from the local and state people involved totaled $219,000. Governor List was a strong supporter of the Project with his presentation of the Project to the Four Corners Commission.
The Grant was submitted with dollar sums, and other information as follows:
Total project Cost: $346,620.00
In-kind:
Las Vegas valley water District............................................. $132,400.00
Clark County Conservation District...................................... 52,000.00
State of Nevada Agricultural Extension Service................... 5,000.00
Volunteer labor...................................................................... 9,000.00 (Kiwanis, boy Scouts, various Garden Clubs)
Leo F. Borns, Architect......................................................... 9,500.00
State of Nevada, Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources, Division of water Planning..................... 12,000.00
Total In-kind.......................................................................... $ 219,900.00
The Grant requested was the difference between the in-kind amount and the total projected cost. $126,720.00, but we actually received $270,000.00, probably as result of influence of Nevada Governor Robert List.
Project Directors Listed:
Stuart Leslie (Kiwanis), Park Chairman
Karl F. Weikel, Chairman of the Board, Clark County Conservation District
Project Personnel:
John R. McElhone (Kiwanis), Park Assistant Chairman, and Director of the Work Force.
Consultant: Lloyd Rooke, Soil Scientist and Horticulturist. With years of experience with private industry, government, with desert soils and plant materials, he is often quoted in professional and lay publications. Author of soon-to-be published book “Resource Conservation Landscaping”.
Advisor:
Donald Paff, Director of Las Vegas Valley Water District
State Agency Responsible:
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Division of Water Planning
Problem Area:
In Las Vegas, according to U.S. Government research, 70% of household water is used outside the home and 30% inside .Tucson Arizona is a town compatible to Las Vegas, but there the figures are reversed, with 70% of the water used inside the home and 30% outside. As a result, Tucson uses half the water, per home, that Las Vegas does, and, the difference is in the type and style of landscaping.
The Las Vegas water supply will be greatly increased when the Southern Nevada Water Project is complete, but that will only postpone a water crisis for ten years or so, and obviously, the future economic growth of Southern Nevada is only limited by the size of our water supply, and how we will use it. Also, the Water Project will have to be paid for, which means that the average household water bill will at least double. Our Project will demonstrate
foresight in leading the way to reasonable use of water around the home. In addition, economic stimulus will come as homes are retrofitted with water
conservation landscaping.
Scope of Work:
This Project is designed to demonstrate lush green foliage in the form of trees, shrubs, and ground covers that use a small fraction of the water used by
conventional landscaping practices. It will demonstrate the use of foliage for insulation, and it will demonstrate various water saving methods of rrigation for our common desert soil conditions.
This project is designed to stimulate buying interest in drought-tolerant plants which will, in turn, encourage the plant nurseries to stock them and the
wholesale growers to propagate them. Currently, these plants are hard and expensive to obtain. We also intend to demonstrate how water is being wasted now, and show how a lot less water can be used with greater effect through efficient irrigation, and demonstrate new equipment and systems that are available, to encourage retrofitting of home sprinkler systems
The Kiwanis Water Conservation and Landscaping Demonstration Project will be publicized to the general public, and trips to the Site will be solicited. We expect to see garden clubs, service clubs, and organizations of all kinds visiting as a group. School children will visit on field trips, so parking for busses is provided. Homeowners will be able to use the Kiwanis Project as a living catalogue, to pick out plants they would like to have growing at their own house, and learn how to solve their own watering problems,and so, reduce their use of water, and consequently, their water bill.
Project Coordination:
Participating Organizations:
1. Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas: Overall coordination and physical labor.
2. Clark County Conservation District: Administration, construction, project control, engineering and technical assistance.
3. Las Vegas Valley Water District: Landlords of the Site, provide water, fencing, and permanent maintenance.
4. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service: Planning, engineering design and layout, plant materials, and technical assistance.
5. State of Nevada, Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Division of Water Planning: Sponsoring State Agency, providing some funds.
6. State of Nevada, Agricultural Extension Service: Handout materials.
7. Las Vegas Nurserymen: Actually two associations, both interested in education of their members in drought tolerant landscaping, and assisting in
arrangements for acquiring and stocking plant materials.
8. Boy Scouts of America: Hard work.
9. Many other organizations are in contact with us desiring to participate, including other area Kiwanis Clubs, but no definite commitments
have been made.
The Kiwanis Water Saving Landscaping Demonstration Park became a reality with its dedication on October 22, 1980. This would prove to be the first of three such ceremonies. Kiwanians maintained the gardens, planting new shrubs and trees, and repairing the drip irrigation system. Local nurseries were
encouraged to stock drought-tolerant plants and parts for the watering system. The Water District provided oversight, but the Park was only open a few days a week, Wednesday thru Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until the hot weather starts. During the hot summer months the Park was open only in the mornings.
When the Grant was a possibility and was being reviewed for consideration by the Four Corners Commission, and when it was learned there might be ederal funding available to assist, total planning of the Project began to take on speed. When this became a reality, we were able to work in earnest.
As previously mentioned, the Las Vegas Valley Water District has been a part of the planning from the beginning. Tom Rice started things off when he was manager. Aldo Barozzi continued the work as acting director and Don Paff has been a guiding light to get details together to make the park run. The Water District Board (The Clark County Commissioners) has done many things to assist in the development. Commissioner Richard Ronzone was chairman and was involved with the major decisions. Commissioner Bob Broadbent guided our need for all type of correct moves through the various departments of city and county governments. Commissioner Jack Petitti (Uptown Kiwanis) and Commissioner Thalia Dondero have been helpful in guiding the project through the development of the three headed leadership (actually, Thalia just was an absolute personal guide on how to handle everything). Numerous employees of the Water District were in the continuing effort to develop the Park.
In addition to the agencies mentioned. There was help from Mayor Bill Briare and the City Council. (The park is in the city and under city zoning.) Their interest lies in a long term commitment through the City Beautification Committee. Don Saylor, Director of City Planning, assisted us with getting approval of the necessary departments, including the Planning Commission and several other departments for clearances to be able to proceed with proper Permits.
Many Corporations and Businesses have helped. Nevada Power, Centel, The Nevada Nurserymen's Association, Jim Henderson (Kiwanis) owner of Las Vegas Building Materials, made it possible to get the parking lot and concrete areas a very reasonal price. Bob McNutt Engineering (Uptown Kiwanis), provided the structural calculations for the Building. There were many others.
The Park has required am almost daily attention of the Clark County Conservation District. Karl Weikel Chairman of the Board, has attended numerous
meetings and continues to give valuable guidance. Bill Dunning, District Conservationist, has been the professional leading his staff of professionals to
develop all the technical parts of the Park. The Conservation District continues as one of the three members of the group managing the Park.
Volunteer work has been used to put in all the water system, contouring of land, planting of plants, spreading bark and continued work with the plants. There have been new additions. Some transplanting of native plants and many other chores such as construction of the work shed. Spreading manure was one of the great thrills.
This work has been done by the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas with some assistance from the Uptown Kiwanis Club and The Strip Kiwanis club.
Stuart Leslie was chairman of the effort from 1978 to 1981. Dr. Hugh Follmer has been chairman since that time thru 1986. Several Kiwanis presidents that followed Len Yelinek and Dr. Hugh Follmer, in the succession of presidents have been involved in the planning and execution of the whole project include: Don Mills, John Gorman, Owen Lloyd, George Vasconi, Len Williams.
Buck McElhone has served entirely and continuously as the coordinator of all the work parties. The number of hours is way up in the thousands. However, there have been many contributions of money and making contacts to get the job done. Much of this can not be measured in dollars.
When the money became available to actually use from the Grant, the major work began by Kiwanis Club ofLas Vegas members, noted as follows:
Not knowing the exact date, but it started with grading of the Site, unknown to Lloyd Rooke, and this broke his heart when he found out. Seems he had noted some rare and native plants he hoped to preserve. A front loader grader operated by Norm Stone, supplied at a reduced rate from Ahern Rentals (Mr. Ahern was a member of our Kiwanis Club many years ago) was utilized, however, every bit had to be finished by hand. The next step was trenching for the laying of the PVC pipe. That was an interesting and exhausting event. The trencher was heavy and shuddered when it hit rocks, and the caliche, that was so well demonstrated in soil pit number one. Great fun to wrestle with on the side of the slope. It (grader) finally broke. I think we were all happy about that. Regardless, the pipe was laid. Wally Kolberg, John Gorman, Buck McElhone, Owen Lloyd, George Vasconi, John Sievers (I’m sure some names are left out). We took two weekends. We also cleaned up a lot of junk laying around. Dr. Bill Scheer carted that off to the dump. Len Yelinek and Dr. Hugh Follmer spent a Sunday repairing the PVC piping that Norm Stone dug up with the tractor. Dick Krafve used a jack hammer to clean out the flower boxes- there was a huge mess of concrete. Bud Albright was working with Art Schlauder (Art Schlauder was the owner of a steel fabricating company) to get the steel tower moved (that the Water District gave us), and then welded back together, and then erected again. Many, many hours!
The Tower was utilized in the following manner. We installed a Water Storage Tank which we located within the top of the frame. The Tower was located at one corner of the Parking Lot which all sloped to this corner, so, during a rain, all the water would go to a cistern which was located there to hold the water. Frank Scott (owner of the Union Plaza Hotel), donated to us a Solar Pump (designed by a local soils engineer, O.J. Scherer, P.E., owner of Nevada Testing Laboratories). This solar Pump would then activate, and pump the water up (via solar energy), to the Storage Tank above, which in turn would release the water via piping to irrigate the plants. More water conservation by collecting, storing, and directing the use of the rain
water.
Buck McElhone always carried buckets of water to the trees we had planted about a year before and ended up outside the boundary fence. Don Mills kept forgetting to show up with the refreshments. After the PVC pipe, we started on the black flexible pipe and the emitters. Stu Leslie became an authority on this because he had gained experience in the use of this system in his back yard. Trouble was that he waited until we had most of the pipe (5,000 feet laid all over the place), then he showed up.
The ground cover areas have pipe about every foot with an emitter about the same distance. These were all put together and planted. Then we started digging holes and planting stuff. Dr. Hugh Follmer ran“spaghetti” lines to everything. It seemed like he would get caught up. Then, he would miss a Saturday, and those crazy guys would plant about a million more things. Lloyd Rooke would run in during the week and plant some more. Dr. Hugh Follmer thought that we had about fifty thousand plants before we all got done. By the way, the emitters and pipe were donated by Globemasters.
Dr. Hugh Follmer rushed over on Sunday to plant roses that had been left out on the Site, that Lloyd Rooke thought might die if left too long. He planted them in a downpour of rain. The next week John Sievers and George Vasconi planted other roses that had been soaked by the rain for a day. Dr. Follmer’s roses died, theirs looked great.
Then there were several tons of manure. It was hot manure. Boy was it hot! The day it rained there was a cloud of steam towering above it. It smelled as only nice “hot” manure can smell, and this was spread by wheelbarrow and shovels. Lloyd Rooke laid out all the planting. And note again, that all of the above was done by the Kiwanis Club. Most of the members did something.
With continuous working progress, the Building and the Parking lot completed, the Park was ready to open. The Conservation District developed the
display in the North Room of the Building. They also had the responsibility of the slide show. Bill Dunning and Karl Weikle both worked hard on getting the
correct message across with the show. John Cawley was our consultant on the water system and helped us put it together.
The Park was completely opened and officially was dedicated on April 29, 1982. Governor Robert List officiated, with Karl Weikle, Richard Ronzone, Mayor Bill Braire, and the whole Advisory Committee was in attendance. Stu Leslie was the master of ceremonies. Governor List planted a tree at this
dedication.
The purpose of the Park is Water Saving
Landscaping: Advocating of using plants, shrubs, trees, ground cover that use very little
water.
Native Plants: The Native Plant Society is working to learn how to propagate plants that grows in our desert. Not many have been worked with to the point that they can be raised commercially. These plants grow with only about four inches of water a year. Hopefully, this Park will assist in learning how to commercially grow these native plants. The native plants in the Park are not irrigated. They
are getting along with normal rainfall (about 2 to 4 inches per year).
Irrigation: We are demonstrating drip systems for supplying water to plants. The water goes into the ground and then spreads. The ground surface is not wet, thus there is very low evaporation. The drip system runs with low water pressure. The emitters are designed to release a set amount of water. This allows controlling the amount of water used.
Soils: The type of soil the plant lives in may have a profound effect on plant growth. Most desert soils are considered almost sterile. Application of fertilizers and chemicals will cause chemical reactions in the soil. Heat is given off by chemical reactions. Care must be exercised to avoid burning plants.
Ground Cover Materials: Using plants of low water use and drip irrigation may leave areas which are pure desert. There may be a desire to cover these areas. Many people use rock or bark. Actually, they are using materials that will help the plants. In the park are demonstrations of ground water movement to rock or concrete where the water collects and then “drips” back into the soil. Bark has the effect to a lesser degree but does help retain water in the soil. We also show the effect of shade from the sun. Each rock or layer of bark casts some shade which helps decrease soil temperatures.
The earth mounds we use in the Park are to show the effect of shade. Mounds and neven soil will also decrease water runoff due to heavy rainfall or
thunderstorms.
Anticipated results from this Park:
We hope the community will slowly change to landscaping that uses less water. New house landscaping can be started with low water use plants and drip system. The cost may be more due to availability. Established landscaping: this will not change quickly. We hope it will over a period of years. When landscaping is redone, low water-use plants and drip irrigation systems should be used. Public buildings, and similar private areas could slowly change their landscaping. Established landscaping can be lowly converted. A little area planned as low water use area. Over a period of time the landscape could change.
Large trees and shrubs should not be torn out. However, drip irrigation may support them very well. Large trees give shade which should be retained. Flowers and similar ornamentals fit into this type of irrigation. Small areas with larger water use can be developed.
In Summary:
The Park is interesting in many ways. It is a great example of cooperation of a volunteer Service Group, a County wide Water District, and a County Conservation. District which is connected with the Federal program. The state and many state departments have helped and continue to help. Members of the Garden clubs and of the Native Plant Society have made good suggestions, and will continue to be involved as the Park continued to develop. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has been a consultant through several members of the faculty. There is a sense that this involvement may become greater with experiments in plant development and use of water in the desert.
Organizations who have been involved are interested, or who will be, if there is ever more money. One thing about organizations must be kept in
mind. They are there for their own reason. They have their own projects and interests, thus they will become more involved as the Park illustrates something in their interest.
The Park developed into a resounding success story, and grew beyond the capacity that a volunteer service club of community business persons volunteering their time to this effort and function. This took ten years! The money has run out. This was and is a success story where volunteerism developed that“demonstration” turned the “spotlight” on, and enlightened the community awareness, and the facility demonstrated that it needs to be expanded, staffed, and run on a full time basis. There are parts of the Park that are incomplete, and there is a huge need to expand it and tell our story.
KIWANIS WATER CONSERVATION PARK
by
Leo Borns
The dream of a demonstration place to teach water conservation through the use of efficient watering and plants more acclimated to the desert
was first expressed at a Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas meeting!
Lloyd Rooke spoke to the Club at the invitation of Tom Rice, then General Manager of the Water District (and also a long time member of our Club, the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas). Lloyd Rooke was a horticulturist, soil scientist, and consultant, and had spent many years as a horticulturist in the desert areas. He had noted the ability of certain plants to survive, their use of shade of a rock as well as the water attracting ability of that rock. He felt that the natural plant survival could be translated into landscaping and still not use much water. He has studied many of our local desert plants and had collected seeds from some of them.
Len Yelinek was president of the Kiwanis Club that year. Len, and members, Vice-president Dr. Hugh Follmer and Tom Rice met with Lloyd Rooke after this Club program. Discussion ensued about the amount of water in the area, the wells that were not producing enough water in the valley. How the Colorado River Project was progressing and what the population growth was predicted to be. Lloyd Rooke had mentioned the hope of demonstrating all this some way. He had a general idea of some type of park that would show people about the Desert, with the use of soil mounding, rocks, trees and shrubs, and even grow some of the local native desert plants that he had collected seeds from and saved. The Kiwanis Club decided to go ahead and try to plan something.
The idea of a “Kiwinis Park” started in the Fall of 1976 when then Kiwanis President, Len Yelinek, and Kiwanis member, J.R. “Buck”McElhone thought it might be feasible to create a Park to serve the community in the Kiwanis name. Tom Rice talked informally with the Las Vegas Water District Board, who also serve as Clark County Commissioners, who were all receptive to the idea. The Water District had land, and even water running close to a spot that was considered for the Park. The Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas decided to work on such a project with the Water District.
Several meetings were held with parties that Tom Rice or Lloyd Rooke thought might be interested. The Clark County Soil Conservation District was invited to join in because much of the Park development would be in their field of expertise to try to help us solve many parts of the puzzle. Karl Weikel, Chairman of their Board met with us. On October 26, 1976 the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas, in cooperation with the Water District, held its first meeting at the Water District to promote the use of such landscaping in a Landscaping Park. Lloyd Rooke described a plan for demonstrating the things he felt should be shown, and it was the intention of the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas to design and install ten exhibit plots simulating home fronts, so that the public can visually see and ACCEPT the more realistic approach to conservation landscaping. Those attending included Lloyd Rooke a Horticulturist and Soil Scientist with the Soil Conservation Service, Kiwanis President Len Yelinek, Tom Rice (Kiwanis) General Manager of the Water District, Art Pearson (Kiwanis) President of Nevada Power Company, Harold P. Foster Director of Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Las Vegas, Thalia
Dondero Clark County Commissioner, Bob Broadbent Clark County Commissioner, Bud Albright (Kiwanis) Director of Construction Projects for Clark County, Linn Mills and Alan Boettcher of Clark County Cooperative Extension Service, Don Davis of Davis Nursery, Adelene Bartlett a Review Journal Newspaper Columnist, Versiellen the Editor of Vista in Las Vegas Sun Newspaper, and J.R. “Buck” McElhone (Kiwanis) a Realtor. This was one of several meetings to follow at the Water District that attracted many more in attendance as an interest grew in the potential community awareness of this
effort.
The Water District located 2.4 acres of their property facing on to Alta Drive. Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas President Len Yelinek asked his Kiwanis Club member Leo Borns, Architect, to meet with Lloyd Rooke to develop plans for the “Kiwanis Water Saving Landscaping Demonstration Park. Over the next several months a Park Plan was developed with Lloyd Rooke being the Resource, and Leo F. Borns, the Architect for the Park. Scope of the project increased as it was determined to be an ongoing Project, with operation and maintenance to be provided by the Water District. Five years was the goal for establishing the Demonstration Project, refining irrigation systems and selecting the most successful plant materials, and Lloyd Rooke selected, to demonstrate, over 200 low-consumptive water use plants that look lush and green, but require only a fraction of the water used on conventional landscaping. Three soil pit demonstration areas would also show samples of three bench mark desert soils. Construction documents, including a dimensioned Site Plan indicating grading, contouring, mounding, walkways, and a 40’-0”diameter Dome Structure to house visitor information and directions at the entrance to the Park adjacent to the 84 space Parking Lot was completed and dated June 13, 1977. Soon after this a 1/16th inch scale Architectural Model on a 2’-0” x 3’-0” base showing the proposed development of this Project was built, and due to its “handy size”, Dr. Hugh Follmer, following Len Yelinek as Kiwanis Club President, made great use of this architectural model taking it all over town to introduce the concept of the Kiwanis Park, in a “monumental”effort to try to raise funds for the Park construction.
Using this Park Site Plan, and the Architectural Scale Model of the Project, and under the direction and guidance of Lloyd Rooke, in the fall of 1977, the members of the Kiwanis club of Las Vegas began the physical examination of the Site we were given to use, and began the layout and determining the tasks of the construction work that was going to be necessary for us to do for this Water Conservation Landscaping Park that was to be in the Kiwanis name. We did start this on our own, mostly using our own Kiwanis funds, and individual members using their own money for gas and lodging on trips out-of-town to Arizona ,Utah, and Northern California to purchase trees, plants, and drip irrigation systems (nothing of what we needed for this Demonstration Park was available here inLas Vegas. Lloyd Rooke and Linn Mills of the Cooperative Extension Service researched plant availability in adjacent states. Most of the plant species were imported from Arizona. Dr. Bill Scheer (Kiwanis) and Stu Leslie (Kiwanis) began making several trips to Tucson Arizona to purchase plants, trees, shrubs, ground cover, drip irrigation system, and then trailoring them behind Dr. Scheer’s motor home).
As we proceeded with enthusiasm and success in this manner, it became determined that a written document should be involved. In March of 1978 a Contract was signed between the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas. R. J. Ronzone, President was the signer for the Water District, and was attested by James R. Widner, Secretary. The Water District to furnish the land, water and maintenance of the property. The Clark County Soil Conservation District provided a soils investigation and Soils Report for that Parcel, and it was interesting to note that, by pure chance, this area shows all the soils that can be found in this valley, and so three soil pits would be developed in the design to demonstrate this. Another interesting fact is that it is right next to the pipe that comes through with water for Phase II of the Colorado River Project.
Tom Rice was leaving the water District, Al Barozzi became acting manager. Kiwanis Club President Len Yelinek, President-elect Dr. Hugh Follmer, and Stuart Leslie were representing the Kiwanis Club. Stu Leslie took over as Chairman of the Park Planning Committee in 1978, and remained in that position until 1981. Don Paff came to the Water District as Manager, and all continued to work together with Karl Weikle and Bill Dunning of the Clark County Conservation District.
Although we had wonderful cooperation and enthusiastic participation from a wide range of public agencies, our Project did not seem to fit for Federal or State moneys. We do not employ anyone, our labor is volunteer (which seems to be a disadvantage). We are a demonstration projectand public oney from those sources was not available for demonstration projects.
We needed a large sum of money right away if we were going to make this Project a reality in an effective time-frame! Our club directed Stu Leslie to write a letter, dated March 6, 1979, to Governor Robert List. This resulted, ultimately, in great interest from the Governor (It turned out that the overnor
was a conservationist from boyhood). Governor List noted that Nevada is one of the adjoining states that were a part of an organization called the Four Corners Commission. This Commission was getting ready to dissolve, and money may be available, and Governor List suggested we submit a grant for funding. Leo Borns, the Architect for the Park, was asked to provide a design for the Visitor Center for the Park. Lloyd Rooke was used by the architect as a consultant in the design of this 1792s.f.Building. The plans were completed on June 12, 1979. The Grant was started at about the same time in 1979, and was six pages in length and filled with detailed information including costs (which we noted that in-kind amounts were as being more that half the cost of the projected cost of the Project), and we also noted that, very importantly, Bill Dunning, key person in getting the grant properly organized, that the grant was to be made to the Clark County Soil Conservation Service to administer the Project. The project as outlined called for a total project cost of $346,620.00. The in-kind donations from the local and state people involved totaled $219,000. Governor List was a strong supporter of the Project with his presentation of the Project to the Four Corners Commission.
The Grant was submitted with dollar sums, and other information as follows:
Total project Cost: $346,620.00
In-kind:
Las Vegas valley water District............................................. $132,400.00
Clark County Conservation District...................................... 52,000.00
State of Nevada Agricultural Extension Service................... 5,000.00
Volunteer labor...................................................................... 9,000.00 (Kiwanis, boy Scouts, various Garden Clubs)
Leo F. Borns, Architect......................................................... 9,500.00
State of Nevada, Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources, Division of water Planning..................... 12,000.00
Total In-kind.......................................................................... $ 219,900.00
The Grant requested was the difference between the in-kind amount and the total projected cost. $126,720.00, but we actually received $270,000.00, probably as result of influence of Nevada Governor Robert List.
Project Directors Listed:
Stuart Leslie (Kiwanis), Park Chairman
Karl F. Weikel, Chairman of the Board, Clark County Conservation District
Project Personnel:
John R. McElhone (Kiwanis), Park Assistant Chairman, and Director of the Work Force.
Consultant: Lloyd Rooke, Soil Scientist and Horticulturist. With years of experience with private industry, government, with desert soils and plant materials, he is often quoted in professional and lay publications. Author of soon-to-be published book “Resource Conservation Landscaping”.
Advisor:
Donald Paff, Director of Las Vegas Valley Water District
State Agency Responsible:
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Division of Water Planning
Problem Area:
In Las Vegas, according to U.S. Government research, 70% of household water is used outside the home and 30% inside .Tucson Arizona is a town compatible to Las Vegas, but there the figures are reversed, with 70% of the water used inside the home and 30% outside. As a result, Tucson uses half the water, per home, that Las Vegas does, and, the difference is in the type and style of landscaping.
The Las Vegas water supply will be greatly increased when the Southern Nevada Water Project is complete, but that will only postpone a water crisis for ten years or so, and obviously, the future economic growth of Southern Nevada is only limited by the size of our water supply, and how we will use it. Also, the Water Project will have to be paid for, which means that the average household water bill will at least double. Our Project will demonstrate
foresight in leading the way to reasonable use of water around the home. In addition, economic stimulus will come as homes are retrofitted with water
conservation landscaping.
Scope of Work:
This Project is designed to demonstrate lush green foliage in the form of trees, shrubs, and ground covers that use a small fraction of the water used by
conventional landscaping practices. It will demonstrate the use of foliage for insulation, and it will demonstrate various water saving methods of rrigation for our common desert soil conditions.
This project is designed to stimulate buying interest in drought-tolerant plants which will, in turn, encourage the plant nurseries to stock them and the
wholesale growers to propagate them. Currently, these plants are hard and expensive to obtain. We also intend to demonstrate how water is being wasted now, and show how a lot less water can be used with greater effect through efficient irrigation, and demonstrate new equipment and systems that are available, to encourage retrofitting of home sprinkler systems
The Kiwanis Water Conservation and Landscaping Demonstration Project will be publicized to the general public, and trips to the Site will be solicited. We expect to see garden clubs, service clubs, and organizations of all kinds visiting as a group. School children will visit on field trips, so parking for busses is provided. Homeowners will be able to use the Kiwanis Project as a living catalogue, to pick out plants they would like to have growing at their own house, and learn how to solve their own watering problems,and so, reduce their use of water, and consequently, their water bill.
Project Coordination:
Participating Organizations:
1. Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas: Overall coordination and physical labor.
2. Clark County Conservation District: Administration, construction, project control, engineering and technical assistance.
3. Las Vegas Valley Water District: Landlords of the Site, provide water, fencing, and permanent maintenance.
4. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service: Planning, engineering design and layout, plant materials, and technical assistance.
5. State of Nevada, Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Division of Water Planning: Sponsoring State Agency, providing some funds.
6. State of Nevada, Agricultural Extension Service: Handout materials.
7. Las Vegas Nurserymen: Actually two associations, both interested in education of their members in drought tolerant landscaping, and assisting in
arrangements for acquiring and stocking plant materials.
8. Boy Scouts of America: Hard work.
9. Many other organizations are in contact with us desiring to participate, including other area Kiwanis Clubs, but no definite commitments
have been made.
The Kiwanis Water Saving Landscaping Demonstration Park became a reality with its dedication on October 22, 1980. This would prove to be the first of three such ceremonies. Kiwanians maintained the gardens, planting new shrubs and trees, and repairing the drip irrigation system. Local nurseries were
encouraged to stock drought-tolerant plants and parts for the watering system. The Water District provided oversight, but the Park was only open a few days a week, Wednesday thru Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until the hot weather starts. During the hot summer months the Park was open only in the mornings.
When the Grant was a possibility and was being reviewed for consideration by the Four Corners Commission, and when it was learned there might be ederal funding available to assist, total planning of the Project began to take on speed. When this became a reality, we were able to work in earnest.
As previously mentioned, the Las Vegas Valley Water District has been a part of the planning from the beginning. Tom Rice started things off when he was manager. Aldo Barozzi continued the work as acting director and Don Paff has been a guiding light to get details together to make the park run. The Water District Board (The Clark County Commissioners) has done many things to assist in the development. Commissioner Richard Ronzone was chairman and was involved with the major decisions. Commissioner Bob Broadbent guided our need for all type of correct moves through the various departments of city and county governments. Commissioner Jack Petitti (Uptown Kiwanis) and Commissioner Thalia Dondero have been helpful in guiding the project through the development of the three headed leadership (actually, Thalia just was an absolute personal guide on how to handle everything). Numerous employees of the Water District were in the continuing effort to develop the Park.
In addition to the agencies mentioned. There was help from Mayor Bill Briare and the City Council. (The park is in the city and under city zoning.) Their interest lies in a long term commitment through the City Beautification Committee. Don Saylor, Director of City Planning, assisted us with getting approval of the necessary departments, including the Planning Commission and several other departments for clearances to be able to proceed with proper Permits.
Many Corporations and Businesses have helped. Nevada Power, Centel, The Nevada Nurserymen's Association, Jim Henderson (Kiwanis) owner of Las Vegas Building Materials, made it possible to get the parking lot and concrete areas a very reasonal price. Bob McNutt Engineering (Uptown Kiwanis), provided the structural calculations for the Building. There were many others.
The Park has required am almost daily attention of the Clark County Conservation District. Karl Weikel Chairman of the Board, has attended numerous
meetings and continues to give valuable guidance. Bill Dunning, District Conservationist, has been the professional leading his staff of professionals to
develop all the technical parts of the Park. The Conservation District continues as one of the three members of the group managing the Park.
Volunteer work has been used to put in all the water system, contouring of land, planting of plants, spreading bark and continued work with the plants. There have been new additions. Some transplanting of native plants and many other chores such as construction of the work shed. Spreading manure was one of the great thrills.
This work has been done by the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas with some assistance from the Uptown Kiwanis Club and The Strip Kiwanis club.
Stuart Leslie was chairman of the effort from 1978 to 1981. Dr. Hugh Follmer has been chairman since that time thru 1986. Several Kiwanis presidents that followed Len Yelinek and Dr. Hugh Follmer, in the succession of presidents have been involved in the planning and execution of the whole project include: Don Mills, John Gorman, Owen Lloyd, George Vasconi, Len Williams.
Buck McElhone has served entirely and continuously as the coordinator of all the work parties. The number of hours is way up in the thousands. However, there have been many contributions of money and making contacts to get the job done. Much of this can not be measured in dollars.
When the money became available to actually use from the Grant, the major work began by Kiwanis Club ofLas Vegas members, noted as follows:
Not knowing the exact date, but it started with grading of the Site, unknown to Lloyd Rooke, and this broke his heart when he found out. Seems he had noted some rare and native plants he hoped to preserve. A front loader grader operated by Norm Stone, supplied at a reduced rate from Ahern Rentals (Mr. Ahern was a member of our Kiwanis Club many years ago) was utilized, however, every bit had to be finished by hand. The next step was trenching for the laying of the PVC pipe. That was an interesting and exhausting event. The trencher was heavy and shuddered when it hit rocks, and the caliche, that was so well demonstrated in soil pit number one. Great fun to wrestle with on the side of the slope. It (grader) finally broke. I think we were all happy about that. Regardless, the pipe was laid. Wally Kolberg, John Gorman, Buck McElhone, Owen Lloyd, George Vasconi, John Sievers (I’m sure some names are left out). We took two weekends. We also cleaned up a lot of junk laying around. Dr. Bill Scheer carted that off to the dump. Len Yelinek and Dr. Hugh Follmer spent a Sunday repairing the PVC piping that Norm Stone dug up with the tractor. Dick Krafve used a jack hammer to clean out the flower boxes- there was a huge mess of concrete. Bud Albright was working with Art Schlauder (Art Schlauder was the owner of a steel fabricating company) to get the steel tower moved (that the Water District gave us), and then welded back together, and then erected again. Many, many hours!
The Tower was utilized in the following manner. We installed a Water Storage Tank which we located within the top of the frame. The Tower was located at one corner of the Parking Lot which all sloped to this corner, so, during a rain, all the water would go to a cistern which was located there to hold the water. Frank Scott (owner of the Union Plaza Hotel), donated to us a Solar Pump (designed by a local soils engineer, O.J. Scherer, P.E., owner of Nevada Testing Laboratories). This solar Pump would then activate, and pump the water up (via solar energy), to the Storage Tank above, which in turn would release the water via piping to irrigate the plants. More water conservation by collecting, storing, and directing the use of the rain
water.
Buck McElhone always carried buckets of water to the trees we had planted about a year before and ended up outside the boundary fence. Don Mills kept forgetting to show up with the refreshments. After the PVC pipe, we started on the black flexible pipe and the emitters. Stu Leslie became an authority on this because he had gained experience in the use of this system in his back yard. Trouble was that he waited until we had most of the pipe (5,000 feet laid all over the place), then he showed up.
The ground cover areas have pipe about every foot with an emitter about the same distance. These were all put together and planted. Then we started digging holes and planting stuff. Dr. Hugh Follmer ran“spaghetti” lines to everything. It seemed like he would get caught up. Then, he would miss a Saturday, and those crazy guys would plant about a million more things. Lloyd Rooke would run in during the week and plant some more. Dr. Hugh Follmer thought that we had about fifty thousand plants before we all got done. By the way, the emitters and pipe were donated by Globemasters.
Dr. Hugh Follmer rushed over on Sunday to plant roses that had been left out on the Site, that Lloyd Rooke thought might die if left too long. He planted them in a downpour of rain. The next week John Sievers and George Vasconi planted other roses that had been soaked by the rain for a day. Dr. Follmer’s roses died, theirs looked great.
Then there were several tons of manure. It was hot manure. Boy was it hot! The day it rained there was a cloud of steam towering above it. It smelled as only nice “hot” manure can smell, and this was spread by wheelbarrow and shovels. Lloyd Rooke laid out all the planting. And note again, that all of the above was done by the Kiwanis Club. Most of the members did something.
With continuous working progress, the Building and the Parking lot completed, the Park was ready to open. The Conservation District developed the
display in the North Room of the Building. They also had the responsibility of the slide show. Bill Dunning and Karl Weikle both worked hard on getting the
correct message across with the show. John Cawley was our consultant on the water system and helped us put it together.
The Park was completely opened and officially was dedicated on April 29, 1982. Governor Robert List officiated, with Karl Weikle, Richard Ronzone, Mayor Bill Braire, and the whole Advisory Committee was in attendance. Stu Leslie was the master of ceremonies. Governor List planted a tree at this
dedication.
The purpose of the Park is Water Saving
Landscaping: Advocating of using plants, shrubs, trees, ground cover that use very little
water.
Native Plants: The Native Plant Society is working to learn how to propagate plants that grows in our desert. Not many have been worked with to the point that they can be raised commercially. These plants grow with only about four inches of water a year. Hopefully, this Park will assist in learning how to commercially grow these native plants. The native plants in the Park are not irrigated. They
are getting along with normal rainfall (about 2 to 4 inches per year).
Irrigation: We are demonstrating drip systems for supplying water to plants. The water goes into the ground and then spreads. The ground surface is not wet, thus there is very low evaporation. The drip system runs with low water pressure. The emitters are designed to release a set amount of water. This allows controlling the amount of water used.
Soils: The type of soil the plant lives in may have a profound effect on plant growth. Most desert soils are considered almost sterile. Application of fertilizers and chemicals will cause chemical reactions in the soil. Heat is given off by chemical reactions. Care must be exercised to avoid burning plants.
Ground Cover Materials: Using plants of low water use and drip irrigation may leave areas which are pure desert. There may be a desire to cover these areas. Many people use rock or bark. Actually, they are using materials that will help the plants. In the park are demonstrations of ground water movement to rock or concrete where the water collects and then “drips” back into the soil. Bark has the effect to a lesser degree but does help retain water in the soil. We also show the effect of shade from the sun. Each rock or layer of bark casts some shade which helps decrease soil temperatures.
The earth mounds we use in the Park are to show the effect of shade. Mounds and neven soil will also decrease water runoff due to heavy rainfall or
thunderstorms.
Anticipated results from this Park:
We hope the community will slowly change to landscaping that uses less water. New house landscaping can be started with low water use plants and drip system. The cost may be more due to availability. Established landscaping: this will not change quickly. We hope it will over a period of years. When landscaping is redone, low water-use plants and drip irrigation systems should be used. Public buildings, and similar private areas could slowly change their landscaping. Established landscaping can be lowly converted. A little area planned as low water use area. Over a period of time the landscape could change.
Large trees and shrubs should not be torn out. However, drip irrigation may support them very well. Large trees give shade which should be retained. Flowers and similar ornamentals fit into this type of irrigation. Small areas with larger water use can be developed.
In Summary:
The Park is interesting in many ways. It is a great example of cooperation of a volunteer Service Group, a County wide Water District, and a County Conservation. District which is connected with the Federal program. The state and many state departments have helped and continue to help. Members of the Garden clubs and of the Native Plant Society have made good suggestions, and will continue to be involved as the Park continued to develop. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has been a consultant through several members of the faculty. There is a sense that this involvement may become greater with experiments in plant development and use of water in the desert.
Organizations who have been involved are interested, or who will be, if there is ever more money. One thing about organizations must be kept in
mind. They are there for their own reason. They have their own projects and interests, thus they will become more involved as the Park illustrates something in their interest.
The Park developed into a resounding success story, and grew beyond the capacity that a volunteer service club of community business persons volunteering their time to this effort and function. This took ten years! The money has run out. This was and is a success story where volunteerism developed that“demonstration” turned the “spotlight” on, and enlightened the community awareness, and the facility demonstrated that it needs to be expanded, staffed, and run on a full time basis. There are parts of the Park that are incomplete, and there is a huge need to expand it and tell our story.