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Moapa TAB Approves 2nd Phase Of Warm Springs Trail

By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress

With the first phase still under construction, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has already made plans for the second phase of a trail system at the Warm Springs Natural Area that would allow the public to access a portion of the 1200 acre area in the upper Muddy. SNWA spokesman Bronson Mack presented a design review of the second phase to the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board at a meeting held on Tuesday evening, October 14.

Mack began by giving the board a brief summary of the history of the project. The first phase of the project was brought to the board in 2012.
“We had heard from members of the community of the great value they placed in the area,” Mack told board members. “There are a lot of great memories and rich history involved with the old Warm Springs ranch. So we were looking to incorporate some of that into the site.”

The public access area will be located adjacent to the Moapa valley Wildlife Refuge currently being managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The first phase of the project consisted of a short walking path, less than a quarter mile in length, along with interpretive panels and viewing area over the stream flow. Other improvements proposed in the first phase were a gateway onto the property and a new parking lot area.

“Since the first phase was approved, we have been working to get it built,” Mack said. “We anticipated that it would be opening this fall. But the recent flooding caused some damage to our area, too. So we have had to delay the opening and we are now targeting for the spring of next year.”

Nevertheless, SNWA is now looking for approval for phase 2 of the project, Mack said.
Phase 2 would include a trail beginning at the parking area and running in about a half mile loop just to the east of the proposed parking area.

Portions of the trail would go across an elevated platform over stream flows, Mack said.
Connected in with the loop would be the shorter phase 1 spur, Mack said.

Also included in the second phase would be restroom facilities, a drinking fountain, picnic tables, wayside benches and a small amphitheatre for giving presentations to visitor groups about the area.

The MTAB members held a brief discussion and accepted public comment on the proposal. The board then voted unanimously to approve the design review.

Mack announced that the SNWA would be holding a community event to allow the public to preview the area. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 28 at 3:00 p.m. at the entrance of the Warm Springs Natural area.

On another subject, during the public comment period, Moapa resident Dr. Shari Lyman expressed frustrations about traffic patterns at the I-15 interchange into Moapa/Glendale. She said that the local exits had been closed suddenly without reason and without adequate signage. In addition the on-ramps and off-ramps created unsafe conditions by dropping traffic directly onto high speed traffic traffic lanes without opportunities to merge safely.

Lyman requested that the board have representatives from Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) come to a meeting to account for the unsafe conditions through the construction zone.

“NDOT needs to know that Las Vegas Paving (contractor) knows what they are doing and they (NDOT) need to step aside when it comes to traffic patterns,” Lyman said. “I know that Las Vegas Paving knows how to use signage. But if NDOT won’t let them set up traffic patterns and use signage, then NDOT better be out there doing it. Because right now we are getting nothing and it is dangerous!”

“I’ll tell you, if something happens to my family on a school bus, or whatever, coming through that area, I am going to own NDOT!” Lyman added. “I want NDOT out here to face the Moapa residents because they keep messing us over. This is a power struggle between arrogant, ignorant bureaucrats and I’m tired of them endangering our lives.”

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