Rodrigo Arancibia – Undergraduate - Environmental Resource Science
Optimizing Irrigation For Desert Native Plants

The Old Vegas Trail is located in the south eastern edge of the Las Vegas Valley, near Nevada State University. It is at the foot of a mountain, giving it a slight slope. It currently has grass & a variety of different non-native plants on certain spots. Precipitation is low. The homeowners association would like to remove these grassy spots with desert pavement, gravel, sand, & remove the non-native plants with native desert plants, in order to decrease water usage. This is important because water is a valuable resource that should be conserved whenever & wherever possible. It is not known how much water is in excessive use, due to maintaining the grass & non-native plants. Exact numbers can be found by using a ring infiltrometer. To measure infiltration rate, the ring must be filled with water. As the water infiltrates, we take note of the time, in centimeter intervals. This was done at 8 different sites, 3 grassy spots, 3 rockier spots, & 2 that were in the desert directly next to the OVT. These results will help the OVT know how much irrigation is necessary when the switch to only native plants & grass removal occurs. ​

Reagan Blanner – Undergraduate - Forest Management and Ecology
Scarcity in Abundance:
​Understanding and Addressing the Freshwater Crisis in Indigenous Canadian Communities

The purpose of this paper is to examine the critical issues, causes, and opportunities that encompass the problem of unsafe fresh drinking water being provided to indigenous communities (First Nations) in the water-rich nation of Canada. The Canadian government regulates water quality for off-reserve, wealthy, and white communities however does not ensure safe fresh water for First Nation communities. Examining key principles that contribute to this issue such as history, governance, discrimination, a legacy of colonialism, and unequally distributed infrastructure also demonstrate the factors that contribute to someone's standing as a hydraulic citizen. This then leads to the examination of how racism and colonialism still impact indigenous communities in the 21st century. Statistically, this crisis is well represented by the daunting data, including that 70% of Small, Remote, and Indigenous (SRI) received a water advisory warning between 2004 and 2013. Through the close review of these statistics and studies it is clear how water scarcity and water of inadequate quality serve as tools to further oppress and isolate these communities in a colonial fashion. While this issue is undeniably and disproportionately affecting indigenous communities, there are opportunities for empowerment and revised governance from this crisis. Progress and understanding can be achieved by examining this crisis through a perspective that includes indigenous ways of knowing and understanding of human-water relationships. This paper seeks to shed light on the complex nature of the water crisis facing Indigenous communities in Canada and to propose science based solutions towards achieving equitable water access and governance. ​

Alexis Jacang – Undergraduate - Environmental Resource Science
Desert Storms: The Surprising History of Precipitation in Las Vegas, NV and Its Consequences

Receiving devastating rainstorms and floods from Monsoon activities, this paper investigates the relationship between historical water precipitation events and its consequences in the Las Vegas and Clark County areas. Using historical precipitation data, such as climate graphs, flood event reports, and interactive maps, we determine the causes for the efforts that have been made to mitigate and control floods in Clark County, NV, and the significance for understanding the importance of historical precipitation data. These insights can inform future land use planning, hydrological and environmental predictions, and safety and disaster preparedness.​

Raissa Umipig – Undergraduate - Environmental Resource Science
Measuring the Relief at the Old Vegas Trail

Residents of the Old Vegas Trail are planning to optimize their old irrigation system to be better adapted to the desert they live in. The trail, located on the Southeast side of the Las Vegas valley in Henderson, Nevada, experiences very little rainfall in a year. Current plans include replacing the grass and shrubs on the trail with native plants that are better suited for the high temperatures and dry heat. For this project, we measured the slope at different sites along the trail; two grassy areas, two rocky areas, and in the desert nearby. The slope was measured to find the relief in the area. This data will be used to help figure out how to lessen the amount of water lost due to runoff.