The 2025 Post Legislation Session review is here.

Jon Leleu
Attorney/Lobbyist
Argentum Partners
jleleu@argentumnv.com

Kerrie Kramer Leleu
Lobbyist
Argentum Partners
kerrie@argentumnv.com

 Businesses and HOAs helping Southern Nevada conserve water

With the clock ticking down to remove useless grass, businesses and HOA communities across the valley are taking advantage of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SWNA) cash incentives by upgrading their non-functional grass with water smart landscaping.

And for good reason.

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the rebate for such projects will be reduced to $2 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet of non-functional grass converted to drip-irrigated trees and plants, and $1 per square foot thereafter.

The Aliante Master Association, which oversees the master planned community of Aliante is getting ahead of the game and removed more than 71,000 square feet of grass in April through the SNWA’s Water Smart Landscapes program. That’s enough grass converted to save more than 5 million gallons of water annually.

Businesses, HOAs and multifamily properties can still take advantage of the current rebate of $3 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet of grass converted and $1.50 per square foot thereafter for projects completed by the end of 2024.

The changes to the cash rebate program come as a state-mandated deadline to remove non-functional grass in the driest city in the nation draws nearer. The Nevada Legislature in 2021 passed a law that prohibits the use of Colorado River water to irrigate non-functional, decorative  grass — found along roadways and medians, in front of and around businesses and some of the grass managed by homeowner associations starting Jan. 1, 2027.

For Southern Nevada, grass irrigation remains the largest consumptive use of water from the Colorado River, which provides 90 percent of our limited water supplies. Despite last year’s great winter, the river remains in a federally declared shortage condition that reduces Nevada’s allocation for the third consecutive year.

Some businesses, HOAs and other non-single-family properties across the valley have already taken a major step towards compliance with the law, but there is still a considerable about of useless grass that needs to be removed before the deadline

Once fully implemented, the conservation law will help Southern Nevada save 9.5 billion gallons of water annually. Additional information about both Nevada law and the SNWA’s Water Smart Landscapes rebate program is available at snwa.com.

The SNWA’s Water Smart Landscapes Rebate will be reduced to $2 per square foot for first 10,000 square feet of converted turf starting Jan. 1, 2025. Businesses, HOAs and multifamily properties can still take advantage of the full $3 per square foot cash incentive for projects completed by the Dec. 31, 2024.

Over 80 of our Members attended our Members Only Education Workshop: Room to Grow?  The Reality of our Public Lands Situation on Friday, May 31, 2024. Our event was at the Las Vegas Realtors and sponsored by Commercial Alliance Las Vegas.  Speakers included:

Mike Ford
Principal
Abbey, Stubbs & Ford, LLC

John Restrepo
Principal
RCG Economics LLC

Moderator:
Steve Neiger, CCIM
Principal | Managing Broker
CAST

Review-Journal op-ed is here.

Clark County BLM Overview notes from Mike Ford are here.

SNPLMA Land Issue document from Mike Ford is here.

Ivanpah Overlay Map is here.

SNPLMA Land Disposal Map is here.

Studies from John Restrepo are here.

Lands bill introduced by Senator Cortez Masto on of 6/4/2024 – see here and here.