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<br /> <br />REINHOLD W. THIEME <br /> <br />methods, especially for the removal of nutrients and dissolved mineral constituents. <br /> <br />A higher degree of nutrient removal is particularly required at the Las Vegas and Clark County, <br />Nevada, sewage treatment plants to prevent the algal problems in the Colorado River. <br /> <br />Based on a recreation economy, Las Vegas Valley has been one of the fastest-growing' areas in the <br />country and is experiencing water quality problems notmally associated with such rapid growth, The <br />specific problem facing the growing metropolitan area is the pollution of one of the nation's prime <br />recreational lakes- Lake Mead behind Hoover Dam. ' <br /> <br />Wastes from the valley are now discharged to Las Vegas Wash which drains into Las Vegas Bay, <br />a major arm and recreation area of Lake Mead, <br /> <br />A eutrophic condition has resulted which threatens the beneficial recreation use of Lake Mead. <br /> <br />Recognizing the need for a comprehensive water quality control program which would allow for <br />continued growth without undermining the high quality recreational base of the area, responsible <br />leaders formed an Inter,Agency Water Pollution ContrQI Task Force and applied for and were granted <br />funds to organize and prepare a comprehensive water quality control plan under the FWPCA 3(c) <br />planning grant program. <br /> <br />Preparation of the plan is to be accomplished on two phases: <br /> <br />phase I, which is completed, developed a report on the work necessary to isolate and define the <br />overall problem and made recommendations for selection of a management agency to implement the <br />program, <br /> <br />phase II is concerned with the development and selection of alternative control plans with <br />recommendations for implementation. <br /> <br />clark County should be congratulated for its progressive action which, when the program is <br />implemented, will place the State of Nevada in a position of leadership with respect to water quality <br />control in the Colorado River Basin. ' <br /> <br />Recreational activities in the Basin are producing varying degrees of pollution in many areas. <br />The lack of adequate sewage facilities at many prime recreational spots along the Colorado River has <br />been cited as causing bacteriological and nutrient pollu~ion. <br /> <br />Many of these problems result from overuse of s~ptic tanks which, in turn, results in failures of <br />leaching fields, <br /> <br />A study of watercraft,related pollution indicated a general lack of compliance with regulations <br />prohibiting the discharge of sanitary wastes from boats, <br /> <br />Erosion of recreational lands is' increasingly becoming a problem due to heavy use of camp' <br />grounds, roads, and trails. <br /> <br />The use of off,trail vehicles is extending the problenvlnto many remote areas. Furthermore, the <br />inability to control the routes of back,country vehicl~s is resulting in the abuse and erosion of steep <br />and poorly stabilized slopes. <br /> <br />,20, <br />