Current 2019 Projects
In addition to supporting events and education throughout Southern Nevada, we at CDSN are leading a prototype Resource Needs Assessment (RNA) with 6 of the 28 conservation districts in Nevada, and numerous southern Nevada partners, including the Univ. of Nevada Cooperative Extension during the 2019 year. This ambitious assessment will provide a RNA template for both urban and rural Conservation Districts to follow, allow our region to understand which resources are underfunded, where money should be allocated to future projects, and provide direction for how each organization can support protecting our natural resources for future generations.
A history of community success
- Key participant in the Southern Nevada Strong Regional Planning Program
- Leading efforts to coordinate Community Gardening in the Las Vegas Valley
- Provided over 100,000 publications to residents
- Reached 24,330 students through the Stormwater Pollution Poster Contest
- Accomplished over 100 acres of weed removal at Valley of Fire State Park
- Distributed 3,700 drought tolerant plants through Plant Sales
- Installed 14,600 Storm Drain Plaques
- Conducted outreach programs to local business and industry groups
- Provided assistance to the following additional projects and programs below...
previous and Ongoing projects and programs
recycling
Christmas Tree Recycling Program:
Each year Southern Nevada along with various community partners come together to recycle used trees into useful mulch. Last season citizens helped keep thousands of trees out of the local landfill! This effort, led by UNLV Recycling and The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), gets better each year. 
Pitch-A-Pumpkin: CDSN is an integral part of The Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Committee. The committee encourages the community to be mindful about recycling holiday organics. The Committee has solely focused on recycling Christmas Trees since the 1990’s, and in 2016 decided to add recycling pumpkins to the program. The event happens during the first weekend after Halloween and involves launching pumpkins with trebuchets approximately 100 feet into a container donated by Republic Services in the Silverton Hotel and Casino parking lot. Afterwards, the container is hauled to a local composter, Terra Firma Organics, to be composted into soil that is used throughout the Las Vegas Valley. In 2017, the committee was able to save 32 tons of pumpkins from entering the landfill and hopes to increase that amount.
Annual E-Waste Recycling Event:
CDSN is proud to be a community partner with 8NewsNow to encourage and assist southern Nevadans residents recycle their electronics and a variety of other household materials safely and in ways that help reduce pollution and environmental damage. |
Education/ planning
11th Annual Stormwater Pollution Poster Contest Partners: CCSD, LVVWD, NDEP
Drip Irrigation Educational Guide for residents: Partner: BOR
CDSN booth at GREENfest
NV Green Schools STEM Summit
Storm Drain Marking Campaign:
Partner: all municipalities, SNWA, NDEP 
Clark County Wetlands Park:
Funding & Education – Partner: Clark County 
Southern Nevada Strong: CDSN has transitioned its work on this critically important regional planning program supported by HUD. CDSN is continuing to leverage its informed perspective and sustainability expertise to support and assist the RTCSN to implement the approved plan.
Sustainability Partnership Program: We have updated this program, which certifies and actively promotes the sustainability efforts of business and organization partners. The process has been made simpler and less expensive for participants to encourage partners of all sizes to initiate or expand their sustainability efforts. Our goal is to expand the membership and thereby increase overall benefits to the community. The Program was launched on September 13th, 2016 with community partners including but not limited to Green Chips (Impact NV), Southwest Gas, Republic Services, and RTCSN.
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Demonstration Gardens
Acacia Demonstration Garden:
Partner - City of Henderson 
Zion Garden Park Agricultural Assistance Program: CDSN worked with community partners to complete a community demonstration garden project designed to provide urban agriculture technical assistance. This project addresses natural resource conservation at the community level and enable community members to successfully grow produce. The project will expose citizens to effective techniques that they can use to accomplish backyard conservation, establish healthy soils, plant crops, compost, integrate pest management, grow organically, and properly irrigate. It will also address soil quality, critical water management, storm water pollution prevention, landfill diversion, renewable energy, food waste, and wildlife habitats. This is being performed in a low-income, low-access food desert with the highest food insecurity rate in Southern Nevada. This program has been funded by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) with additional support from the following core partners:
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Zion United Methodist Church, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Terra Firma Organics, State Renewable Energy, Green Chips (ImpactNV), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. 
Straw bale Structure & Demonstration Garden:
Partners - CCSD, DAQEM, Mesquite/Overton |
Awards and recognition
CDSN continues to be recognized via awards and National articles (NACD & USDA).
In 2015, we were named NvACD Outstanding Conservation District for our outreach programs and efforts.
This has continued as we’ve earned the following:
2017 Greenfest Transformers award, Green Chips 2017 Sustainable Community Project award.
In 2015, we were named NvACD Outstanding Conservation District for our outreach programs and efforts.
This has continued as we’ve earned the following:
2017 Greenfest Transformers award, Green Chips 2017 Sustainable Community Project award.
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