EPA honors Nevada environmental efforts

Tuesday, April 25, 2000 | 9:37 a.m.

Three Nevada organizations and individuals received plaques from Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Felicia Marcus in recognition of their efforts to protect and preserve the environment.

The 1999 awards presented in San Francisco this month recognized the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee, Walt Johnson of the Clark County Sanitation District and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Northern Nevada as environmental heroes, Marcus said.

The Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee, representing a broad range of interests, made progress toward restoring the Las Vegas Wash, a channel that carries treated waste water, shallow ground water flows, urban runoff and storm water to Lake Mead, the primary water supply for Southern Nevada, Arizona and California, Marcus said.

A comprehensive action plan is in place to manage the wash in the future.

Johnson was honored for his 40-year career in treating waste water in Southern Nevada. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe demonstrated leadership to strike a multigovernment agreement to manage the Truckee River and protect two endangered fish, the cui-ui and Lahontan cutthroat trout.