SNWA Offers Instructional CD about Water-efficient Landscaping
New tool helps locals create ‘Simply Beautiful’ landscapes

LAS VEGAS – Residents planning a water-smart landscape now have a new free resource to help with design and installation, as the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) this week releases an interactive CD-ROM.

The “Simply Beautiful” CD, which features a comprehensive, plant-search database, is provided free to residents enrolled in the Water Smart Landscapes Rebate program. It also is available upon request to residents who have yet to enroll in the WSL program, said SNWA Conservation Manager Doug Bennett.

The Water Smart Landscapes rebate helps qualifying property owners convert grass to water-efficient plants, trees and shrubs, at a rate of $1.50 per square foot with no cap on maximum square footage.

“Our goal with the ‘Simply Beautiful’ CD is to provide residents with a digital tool and plant-search database that will help them more effectively plan and design a water-smart landscape,” Bennett said. “It has a long shelf-life because it can help answer detailed questions about plant selection, care and maintenance for years to come.” The CD really provides residents with an opportunity to be involved in the planning and installation process, whether or not they hire a landscape contractor for some or all of the upgrade.

Modeled after a book with the same title the SNWA provides free to enrollees in the WSL program, the “Simply Beautiful” CD includes added features like colorful photographs of water-efficient flowers, trees and shrubs, along with a step-by-step guide to landscape planning, installation and maintenance and other resources for additional ideas and assistance. The information is tailored for Southern Nevada residents with plants and ideas that work well in the Mojave Desert . Also, the CD allows residents the opportunity to search through hundreds of plant/design images to create a unique landscape.

The CD includes watering tips with a monthly guide for setting sprinklers and drip irrigation, and enables users to save the results of plant searches and print customized lists for their landscape shopping needs. In addition, an “Apply Now” link gives users with direct access to online enrollment for the WSL program at snwa.com.

The SNWA plans to distribute the CD at community events and as a supplement to the “Simply Beautiful” book. For more information, visit snwa.com or call 258-SAVE.

The SNWA is a regional agency that manages water conservation, water quality and water resources. Member agencies are Big Bend Water District (Laughlin), the cities of Las Vegas , North Las Vegas , Henderson and Boulder City , the Clark County Water Reclamation District and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.