| Las Vegas Wash | |
|---|---|
 Heavy flow in spring 2005, with Frenchman Mountain in the background | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| Region | Las Vegas Valley |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lake Mead |
| Mouth | Las Vegas Bay |
| Length | 12 mi (19 km) |
Las Vegas Wash is a 12-mile-long channel (an "arroyo" or "wash") which feeds most of the Las Vegas Valley's excess water into Lake Mead. The wash is sometimes called an urban river, and it exists in its present capacity because of an urban population. The wash also works in a systemic conjunction with the pre-existing wetlands that formed the oasis of the Las Vegas Valley. The wash is fed by urban runoff, shallow ground water, reclaimed water used on parks and golf courses,[1] and stormwater.[2]
The wetlands of the Las Vegas Valley act as the kidneys of the environment, cleaning the water that runs through it. The wetlands filter out harmful residues from fertilizers, oils, and other contaminants that can be found on the roadways and in the surrounding desert.
Near its terminus at Las Vegas Bay,[2] the wash passes under the man made Lake Las Vegas through two 7-foot pipes.[3]
