Proposed budgets will decrease from the current 6.3 acre-feet per irrigated acre to 4.0 acre-feet

The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) hosted a meeting on August 10 with Southern Nevada area golf industry representatives to discuss mandated rollbacks to facility water budgets. 

With Las Vegas being the driest metro area in the United States and Lake Mead at significant risk of falling below 900 feet (considered Deadpool) in the future, a plethora of conservation activities have been introduced with a focus on outdoor irrigation and evaporative cooling.  At 900 feet, Hoover Dam will no longer generate power and will be unable to release water downstream to Arizona, California, and Mexico.  The current lake level is at 1,041 feet. 

With the SNWA’s goal of reducing water use per capita per day to 86 gallons, the golf industry is being mandated to reduce its use from the current 6.3 acre-feet per irrigated acre to 4.0 acre-feet starting Jan. 1, 2024.  Approximately 50 percent of the courses in Southern Nevada are already meeting this goal, with numerous other facilities operating just above the 4.0 acre-feet.  The measure will save approximately 2,586 acre-feet of water by 2035. 

In order to assist golf facilities in reaching these budgeted goals, the SNWA has expanded its rebate programs.  Courses receive $3.00 per square foot for the first 10,000 square feet of turf removed and then $1.50 per square foot up a $500,000 fiscal year maximum. 

Golf Courses are also eligible for cool-to-warm season turf conversions.  Courses will receive $0.50 per square foot for the first 100,000 square feet, then $0.25 per square foot up to $500,000.  Other rebate eligible projects include replacing lake liners, lake retirement or reduction projects, weather-based irrigation controllers and irrigation system efficiency upgrades.

Courses were presented verified acreage for their facilities as well as their water budgets under the new reductions. For any questions related to the budgeting methodology, please contact JC Davis at jc.davis@snwa.com or Patrick Watson at patrick.watson@snwa.com.