Officials dedicate 112-acre addition to Wetlands Park

For every acre of wetland that's destroyed in Southern Nevada, another one is created.

That was the idea, anyway, behind Clark County's recent 112-acre addition to the 2,900-acre Wetlands Park.

The project's $2.5 million in building and design costs were paid by government agencies and private developers who disrupted or destroyed wetlands in their construction efforts, said Elsie Sellars, Wetlands Park coordinator.

"If they disturbed an acre of wetland, they had to purchase an acre in the park," she said, adding that each damaged acre amounted to $141,000.

Instead of smaller, scattered areas of wetlands across Southern Nevada, this process has created a larger single area, she said.

"One area is more beneficial to the wildlife," she said.

Friday morning, Clark County officials dedicated the new site at the park, which is located at the east end of Tropicana Avenue.

Representatives from the offices of Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev. and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., attended, as did Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid and members of several local conservation groups.

The site features six seasonal ponds with adjustable water levels designed to attract migratory birds and wildlife to the area.

Some of the shore birds prefer mud flats as opposed to open water, Sellars said, which is a way to diversify the park's population.

So far, she said it's succeeding.

"Since we put in the ponds in the spring, we've seen six species of birds we haven't seen (in Southern Nevada) since the 1970s," she said.

And the Franklin's Gull, which has never been identified in the Las Vegas Wash area, has been seen nesting in the wetlands, she said.

Although this addition proved to be an early success, it's not how the Wetlands Park usually pays for enhancements and additions.

The park currently has about 20 projects in various stages of development totaling approximately $80 million, the majority of which is paid for by public land sales through the Bureau of Land Management.

Current projects include adding trail heads, designing audio and visual presentations and a $15 million nature center, which should open in 2010, Sellars said.

"We're not taking bids yet, but we're hoping to start soon," she said.

All of the project proposals are part of a 20-year master plan that was approved in 1995, Sellars said.

Rory Reid said the Wetlands Park is a treasure for the city.

"It's natural wetlands about 15 minutes from our urban center," Reid said. "It's an incredible opportunity for people to escape the city and see another world. Ultimately, when it's complete, it'll be our Central Park."

The Wetlands Park is located at 7050 Wetlands Park Lane and is open from dawn to dusk each day.

An information center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and may be reached at 702-455-7522.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.