In accordance with the Landscape Management Plan announced in March, the Bureau of Reclamation has been working diligently to meet its commitment to the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office and the citizens of Boulder City to renew and maintain the health and appearance of the landscape at its Administration Building.

The Landscape Management Plan, which can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/LCROproperties/Feb09AdminPlan.pdf, was developed by Reclamation with recommendations from a landscape consultant, its own staff, and the public. Per the plan, Reclamation maintenance staff have replaced sections of the aged and crumbling irrigation system that waters the landscape, installed new, water-saving sprinkler heads, pruned trees and bushes, and performed other maintenance work to improve the landscapes overall appearance.

"We understand the historic value of the Administration Building landscape, and its importance to Boulder City," said Lorri Gray-Lee. "We've had great success in meeting our commitment to the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the citizens of Boulder City to protect the integrity of this landscape as much as possible."

Additional improvements that will be done in the coming days include further upgrades to the landscape irrigation system to prevent excessive water loss from broken pipes or valves, and removal and replacement of several small areas of lawn with new sod. Each replacement will be completed within a day, to limit disruptions to watering schedules and damage to the lawn. The lawn areas that are being replaced -- a total of about 1,600 square feet scattered throughout the approximately 51,000 square-foot lawn -- have not responded well to treatment, and will likely die this summer if not replaced.

This improvement project will also help reduce the amount of water required by the landscaping, as the new irrigation system components will result in more efficient and effective irrigation, and healthier plants require less water to thrive.

"Water conservation is an important part of our program," said Gray-Lee, "and this project will help us be good stewards of our water resources while also maintaining this important historic landscape."