One of the major tributaries of the Las Vegas Wash is halfway through a safety-centered, two-phased construction project.
A stretch of Flamingo Wash, from Maryland Parkway to Palos Verdes Street in the central Las Vegas Valley, is the site of a $24.8 million initiative spearheaded by a Clark County Commission and Clark County Regional Flood Control District collaboration.
“It’s been in the works for a long time,” said Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom at the unveiling ceremony of the project’s first phase on Monday.
The first phase included the installation of reinforced concrete channel in an area that was previously unlined with water flowing over dirt, rock and vegetation, according to a county news release. That improves flood protection by reducing erosion and preventing sediment and debris buildup.
The second significant change is a new, high-density fence meant to enhance public safety by keeping people out.
The Las Vegas Wash is a popular spot for homeless encampments, whose residents are in constant danger, according to Andrew Trelease, the general manager and chief engineer of the control district.
“Flood control facilities are dangerous all year round,” Trelease said. “Even when it’s not raining, but certainly when it’s raining. All the deaths we’ve had in the past 10 years have resulted in people who were around these facilities, when they shouldn’t have been, being swept away, and unfortunately killed in the storms. It’s a serious problem.”
Las Vegas has a pronounced past with serious floods, particularly during monsoon season. In July 1999, three inches of rainfall — falling in an area that typically sees only four inches annually — resulted in two deaths, damage to 353 homes and $20.5 million in public property damage. In July, two people were rescued from a flood channel following three straight days of thunderstorms.
Last year, a $15 million project spearheaded by the commission cleared out homeless encampments in the same portion of the wash, paving the way for this latest project. But it slightly backfired, with residents in the surrounding area reporting a surge in crime, including loitering and break-ins.
Phase Two of the project comprises further concrete channel improvements, focusing on the area between University Center Drive and Palos Verdes Street. It is expected to begin in November and will take approximately nine months to complete.
Contact Alex Streinger at astreinger@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5505. Follow @AlexPStreinger on X.
