Nevada
Nevada Week | Why is Tree Equity Important to Southern Nevada? | Season 6 | Episode 10 | PBS

-From education to the environment now.
Behind Reno, Las Vegas is the second fastest warming city in the United States.
That’s according to the nonprofit research group Climate Central which says trees are part of the solution because they can cool the air and hot surface temperatures like pavement.
However, recent research shows trees tend to be sparse in lower-income neighborhoods, prompting nonprofits like Nevada Plants to take action for tree equity.
-This is a city of Las Vegas map.
And this is where we’re going to be planting 250 trees.
-Lisa Ortega, Executive Director of Nevada Plants, knows which Las Vegas neighborhoods lack tree cover.
-Lower income, less canopy.
-And less tree canopy means less shade and hotter temperatures for Las Vegans like Felipe Arellano– (Felipe Arellano) Vegas is being getting really hot, 115 degrees, and we need shade.
– –and Kristyn Dunne and her son.
(Kristyn Dunne) Trees can be a little expensive, and so we were really excited to get a tree that’s going to grow really big and give him shade and eventually, you know, make it so he can play outside all year round.
-Thanks to Nevada Plants, Dunne and Arellano each got a tree and irrigation system for $20.
Their East Las Vegas area codes qualified them.
(Chris David) -We see a lot of communities in Eastern Las Vegas or Sunrise Manor as well as North Las Vegas that have often 1 or 2% tree canopy cover.
Those neighborhoods often have the highest numbers of people in poverty or people of color as well.
On the other side of the coin, the most treed communities, you might not be surprised that those are in those masterplanned communities of Summerlin and Green Valley.
-Chris David oversees map-based visual storytelling at American Forests, a national nonprofit conservation organization which created the Tree Equity Score tool.
-That’s a combination of a measure of need of tree canopy cover that’s based on the existing tree canopy cover for your community and a measure of equity based on demographics and heat.
The lower your score– so the further you are from 100, the higher your priority will be.
[clicking] [buzzing] -We have our drone in an area of Summerlin where the tree equity score is a perfect 100.
You can see the difference in tree canopy here where, according to the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, the median household income is about $111,000.
Compare that to this drone footage from Dunne’s neighborhood where the tree equity score is just 59 and the household income, less than $29,000.
(Marco Valotta) It definitely is worth it.
-Marco Valotta is a City Planner for Las Vegas and its Chief Sustainability Officer.
We met with him at the city’s tree nursery.
-Why is it that lower-income areas tend to have fewer trees?
-There’s a couple of different reasons why that might be the case.
You know, a lot of the low-income areas in Las Vegas happened to be in the oldest parts of town.
And those older parts of town, they tend to have the older tree species.
And over time they’ve started to die out, either disease or pests.
The other might be economic.
We have property owners, whether they’re commercial or residential, they sometimes don’t have the money or the ability to make tree or landscaping replacements.
-What is the City of Las Vegas doing to address this issue?
-So within the oldest parts of the city itself, anywhere within our public right of way, like within downtown Las Vegas, we’ve been planting trees.
We also are a Tree City USA, so it also means that we take advantage of Arbor Day.
Every year we do a tree planting event at a public park, and we have a goal of planting 60,000 new trees over the next 30 years.
-However, David says Las Vegas would need 346,000 trees to achieve tree equity.
-This is relevant right now today across the Southwest and across the country.
Heat-related deaths are on the rise, and they’re expected to reach in this country over 100,000 deaths annually within the next decade.
So I keep saying this is a matter of life and death, and it is.
-The severity of the situation is Ortega’s motivation.
-There’s folks that live here.
They have toddlers.
They have kids that are going to school that need shade.
They have elders who walk to the bus stop to get their groceries, and these folks need shade.
They do.
-The Southern Nevada Water Authority is working to increase tree cover as well.
And here to explain why and how is John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
John, Welcome.
(John Entsminger) Great to be here again.
-So we are in a decades-long drought.
Trees need water to grow.
Why are you promoting the planting of trees?
-Well, really to combat increasing temperatures.
The urban heat island is a real thing.
If you’ve ever put your hand on the sidewalk, even at seven or eight o’clock at night, you know that thermal energy gets stored in all these hardscapes that we’ve built.
So in order to have a really livable city, we need to really try to increase that tree canopy.
-But you’re doing this at the same time as you’re asking people to remove their lawns and replace them with desert landscaping.
Is the use of water more justified for trees than it is for grass?
-I think both justified and much, much more efficient.
One square foot of grass uses 73 gallons of water per year.
So you’re talking about 10 vertical feet of water for every square foot of grass in the valley; whereas, mature trees use about 17 gallons per square foot.
So much more efficient use of water and a much bigger return on our water investment in terms of the livability of our city.
-And as we showed in the previous piece, Las Vegas doesn’t have enough trees as it is, but the Southern Nevada Water Authority is worried about the trees that Vegas currently has.
Why?
-Yeah.
You’re really talking about kind of a two-front war, because a lot of the trees that have been planted here aren’t going to survive.
As we get warmer temperatures, as early as 2035, we think there’s about 100,000 trees in the valley that no amount of water is going to save.
Those trees are going to reach their heat limits, and they’re gonna die.
So we need to be replacing those trees but also planting new trees throughout the valley, as you mentioned, especially on the east side of town where the temperatures and the equity issues are a real thing.
-So how does this Tree Enhancement program work?
-So the Board of Directors of the Southern Nevada Water Authority has already appropriated $10 million with the goal of planting 100,000 new trees.
It’s part of our Water Smart Landscape program.
So participants in the Water Smart Landscape program are now being incentivized that for every tree they plant as part of their project, there’ll be paid an additional $100.
-Wow!
Hey, not too shabby.
-Exactly.
-I want to move on to other work that you are a part of.
You are a General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, but you also lead negotiations for the State of Nevada in terms of the Colorado River and operating guidelines, which are set to expire in 2026.
Right now as it’s set up, Nevada gets the least amount of water out of all the seven states that utilize the Colorado River, and Mexico as well.
What do you want out of those negotiations?
-Well, I think first and foremost, I want to continue the process that has kept the seven states together and out of litigation.
I think it’s imperative that we continue to cooperate with our neighbors while also making sure that we have a safe and secure water supply for the residents here in Southern Nevada.
-What would prompt litigation?
-I think one state refusing to share in mutual sacrifice.
I mean, the reality of the situation is the Colorado River in the 21st century is going to have a lot less water than it had in the 20th century.
And every state, two countries, every water user throughout the basin is going to have to contribute to having a sustainable river going into the future.
-There is an idea being circulated right now about decommissioning Glen Canyon Dam to increase storage in Lake Mead.
What do you think of that?
-I think it would be really shortsighted to take that infrastructure out.
If you listen to the best climate scientists in the world, yes, we’re going to experience megadroughts as the climate changes, but there will also be periods of potential megafloods.
And when those occur, we want the infrastructure in place to be able to store that water.
If Glen Canyon Dam hadn’t existed in the year 2000, Lake Mead would be empty right now.
So we have really good infrastructure on the river.
There will be periods when we get more water, and we should be able to capture that water and save it for future years when those occur.
-Talking about the existing guidelines and the guidelines that are to come that you’re working on right now, if you had your way, how would they impact farmers?
-Well, I think everybody’s got to contribute, right?
So I think there should be standards to make agriculture more efficient.
But also I think we need to make sure we allocate enough water for winter fruits and vegetables.
The Colorado River is one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world, certainly in the United States, but we have to be more efficient with how we grow those crops.
-Would that come via federal regulation?
-Well, I think there’s multiple avenues.
I think you can negotiate for more efficiency standards.
Certainly the agricultural areas in Arizona and California are participating in the Lower Basin Plan to conserve 3 million acre feet of water by the end of 2026.
So my preference is always to negotiate, not regulate.
But in the absence of being able to reach conclusion at the negotiating table, that possibility of regulation is always out there.
-And the current operating guidelines, how far off are they from what is practical in your opinion?
-I think they’re probably 80% practical.
And we’ve learned about 20% of them aren’t great.
I mean, the whole intent of interim guidelines in 2007 was to learn lessons.
And we’ve learned we were probably releasing too much water from Lake Powell to Lake Mead in the last 20 years.
Those balancing operations caused a lot of strife between the Upper and Lower Basin.
So there’s some tweaks that need to be made.
-And are there implementations in conservation in Southern Nevada that you would like to see utilized in other states?
-Well, I would try not to be the person who’s telling other localities what to do, but I certainly think we provide an example of what can be done.
We’re on pace this year to use less water as a community than we used in 1992, during which time the population of this community has tripled.
So we have shown that you can grow your community, have a vibrant economy, and simultaneously use a lot less water.
I think there are lessons to be learned by the communities there.
-So could you pick one?
I mean, perhaps the turf removal?
-Well, there’s a pending proposal in the California State Legislature right now to ban non-functional turf exactly as we’ve done here.
So our neighbors are looking at us and learning some lessons.
Yeah, I think, you know, grass that only gets walked on by the person who mows it doesn’t have a place in the Western United States anymore.
-John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, thank you for your time.
And thank you for watching.

Nevada
Update: 2 outages in Northern Nevada leave 246 customers in dark

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Updated at 5:10 p.m.: All outages are planned outages now, according to NV Energy’s outage center.
There are 2 outages in Northern Nevada affecting 246 customers.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: There are three power outages in Northern Nevada affecting 247 customers, according to NV Energy’s outage center. All but one were planned outages.
The 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, check showed 131 customers in Carson City were without power; 115 customers in Churchill County; and one customer in Washoe County.
The corresponding zip codes for the outages were 89701, 89406, and 89509.
Copyright 2025 KOLO. All rights reserved.
Nevada
‘Banana Ball’ a family reunion for the Reids

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Game 2 of Banana Ball Friday night brought another sellout crowd to Reno’s Greater Nevada Field.
But for a couple dozen people it meant more than taking in an entertaining baseball exhibition.
Jon Reid, who pitches for the Texas Tailgaters, has the 775 in his blood.
“To me it means the world and having (family) come out,” Jon said.
The relief pitcher is in town for the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour. Kevin Reid, Jon’s dad, has deep roots in the area with family who lives in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Douglas County.
“It’s super fun just to see (Jon) still out there enjoying the game and the game that he loves,” said Kevin Reid.
Jon has been coming to Northern Nevada for years on an annual basis to visit. He’s now based out of Savannah, Georgia.
Jon has spots he has to hit when he’s in Reno.
“For sure In-N-Out, Lake Tahoe, and then Heavenly. In the snow? You can’t beat it,” Jon said.
Trips to the ski resort will have to wait. In the meantime dozens of family members made the trip to Greater Nevada Field to see Jon play Friday night.
His mom, Stacey, and brother, Zachary, got to see a different side of Jon.
“To see him dancing has been an enjoyment,” Stacey said. “Yesterday was fun to see him out there shaking a little bit because we never see it at home.”
Zachary likes seeing his brother continuing to live his dream.
“He’s a professional baseball player who gets paid to dance and do TikToks on the side. It’s nuts. I grew up going to all his games and all of our summer vacations were worked around baseball,” Zachary said.
In the 8th inning of Friday’s game Jon worked around some traffic on the base paths which kept the Tailgaters in the game. He finished his outing with a point to his family in Section 111.
“For me to put a smile on a kid’s face I think that’s all my mom ever wanted so that’s what I’m trying to do,” Jon said.
Copyright 2025 KOLO. All rights reserved.
Nevada
Nevada County Recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month

In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors passed a proclamation this month making May Mental Health Awareness Month in Nevada County and highlighting the importance of promoting mental health through prevention, education and support for key services.
“Each year during Mental Health Awareness Month we want to remind our friends and neighbors how important it is to take care of our mental health!” said Nevada County Behavioral Health Director Phebe Bell. “Support your resilience through healthy eating, exercise, enough sleep and connections with friends and loved ones. But also know that we all have rough patches in life, and it is OK to reach out for help when you are struggling. Resources and supports are here for you!”
During the month of May, Nevada County Behavioral Health and Public Health held a number of outreach events and trainings, including health fairs at local schools and Know the Signs suicide prevention trainings. On Monday, May 5, Public Health partnered with the Grass Valley Library on a suicide prevention and mental health training for library patrons in partnership with the library’s Adulting series. Outreach events and trainings will continue into June with mental health resources and information available at the Nevada County Health & Safety Fair on June 7 and the Pride Family Picnic on June 8.
“In rural areas like Nevada County, mental health care and support are not always as easy to access, but they are just as essential as anywhere else,” said Nevada County Health Officer Dr. Sherilynn Cooke. “That’s why we’re committed to ensuring every resident—whether in town or out in the far reaches of the county—has the resources they need. Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about these resources, making sure people know where to turn when they or someone they care about needs support.”
As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, Nevada County Behavioral Health and Public Health remind residents that mental health resources are available all year.
In May of last year, Nevada County Behavioral Health and Public Health launched the Mental Health Matters Nevada County campaign to increase the public’s awareness, understanding, and access to mental health and suicide prevention resources. The central feature of the campaign is a website, www.MentalHealthMattersNC.com, where residents can go to learn about important mental health and suicide prevention resources.
Since launching on May 1 of last year, the site has had 70,193 unique site visitors and 162,300 total site visits.
“We are excited about the response to the Mental Health Matters Nevada County campaign and website,” said Corinne Amezcua, Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Nevada County Public Health. “We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get the mental health support they need—whether it is for themselves, a loved one or just to be more aware of how they can support mental health for their neighbors.”
Residents can learn more about mental health resources in Nevada County by visiting www.MentalHealthMattersNC.com, including information, outreach materials, and resources about mental health and suicide prevention.
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