Clark County Wetlands Park facts for kids
The Clark County Wetlands Park is the biggest park in Clark County, Nevada. It's on the east side of the Las Vegas valley. The park follows the Las Vegas Wash, a natural stream that flows into Lake Mead.
This special park has two main jobs. First, it helps clean water. Second, it teaches people about nature.
Cleaning Our Water
One big goal of the park is to clean up water. This includes waste water from homes and stormwater runoff from rain. This water flows into the Las Vegas Wash. The park uses a clever method called a "constructed wetland." This means they built special areas that act like natural filters.
They put in structures like small dams and weirs (small walls across the water). They also created many ponds. These structures slow down the water flow. This helps catch silt (fine dirt) and stops the water from washing away the dirt banks of the stream. By June 2005, nine of these structures were working.
The park also plants many native plants along the wash. These plants help hold the soil in place. Some plants, especially those in wet areas, also help clean the water. They soak up different pollutants as the water moves slowly past them. This natural cleaning process is sometimes called "natural water polishing." It's like nature's own water filter!
Learning About Nature
The second important job of the Clark County Wetlands Park is education. The park wants to teach visitors about the local environment. It shows how the wash looked a long time ago. It also teaches about how people have changed the area.
The park has a special nature center. Inside, you can see displays about the plants and animals that live there. There are also many miles of walking paths. These paths let you explore the park and see nature up close.
Protecting Wildlife
The changes made in the park are meant to help animals. They improve the homes for several rare or endangered species. Sometimes, the presence of these special animals can slow down new projects. This is because park projects must show they won't harm the places these animals use.
Images for kids
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The Clark County Wetlands with Frenchman Mountain in the background.
