Recent storms stir up a nasty issue in Las Vegas valley channels

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The recent storms, which have struck the Las Vegas Valley with a series of heavy rains, high winds, and floods, have raised an uncomfortable – and undesirable – problem. The regional flood protection district says debris is often trapped in canals that sometimes catch the water as well.

Trash filled a canal with everything from shoes to water bottles, bins, landscapes, and more.

Erin Neff from the flood protection district says whenever we have good rain, all the trash builds up in the flood protection system. We have 677 miles of canals and washes and we see trash everywhere.

• Debris collects in a flood channel after monsoon storms. (Courtesy Regional Flood Protection District)
• Debris collects in a flood channel after monsoon storms. (Courtesy Regional Flood Protection District)
• Debris accumulates in a flood canal near Nellis Air Force Base after monsoon storms. (Courtesy Regional Flood Protection District)
• Debris accumulates in a flood canal near Nellis Air Force Base after monsoon storms. (Courtesy Regional Flood Protection District)

Neff describes a “mountain of rubble” that has to be removed with bulldozers and dump trucks. She adds that they have trash shelves in their canals to catch the debris that piles up to keep it away from Lake Mead.

“It’s very difficult to keep everything clean, and I can’t even estimate how much rubbish is thrown out of our windows today and ends up back in the system,” said Neff. “If this is a private facility, we really aren’t responsible for keeping it clean, so a homeowners association will be responsible for certain easements in that neighborhood.”

The flood protection district’s engineers and hydrology team on site see a lot of rubbish.

“They’re busy. They’re out there, sweeping streets. They keep the drainage clean,” Neff told 8 News Now. “And now you have to keep it all up because the next storm could hit us on Friday.”

She says the amount of rubble caused by the homeless has increased significantly, but also reminds all residents of the valley to do their part and not leave any litter behind.

If you see trash in your neighborhood, please report it here.