By MAGGIE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley High School (MVHS) agriculture students traveled to Warm Springs on Tuesday, January 19 to help with conservation efforts at the Warm Springs Natural Area.
Owned the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), the goal of the Natural Area is to return the land to a natural state and make it a refuge for the 28 listed and sensitive species found on the property. Part of the conservation efforts for the area include eradicating invasive species of vegetation, reintroducing native plants, and creating an area for public use and enjoyment.
To help raise native plants, SNWA biologists start seeds in pots about 6-9 months before the optimal time to plant them outside. The plants and trees are grown in greenhouses and then replanted to continue growth.
This is where the ag students come in. What would take one biologist several weeks to accomplish can be done in about 4 hours by a busload of ag students.
“We love to have the ag students come and help us with this because they already are familiar with transplanting and plant care and we have to do very little instruction,” said environmental bioligist Jason Eckberg who works on the property. “They can just get to work.”
Last week, Ag students repotted several different varieties of native grasses and trees. One of these was a type of grass called the Las Vegas germoplasm, with which the MVHS Ag program has a particular tie.
“The Las Vegas germoplasm was only found here and in Las Vegas,” said Eckberg. “The (MVHS) Ag farm cultivated the Las Vegas germoplasm until there was enough seed to make it a commercially viable plant. Now, thanks to them, the BLM has over 500 lbs of seed with about 2 million seeds per pound. We have some of that planted in the greenhouse for the first time and will be able to restore some areas now with that germoplasm, so it’s really neat that these kids can work with a plant their high school was able to save.”
The idea for the service project originated with Robert Shakespear, one of the SNWA biologists onsite and an MVHS graduate. A few years ago he contacted MVHS ag advisor Denise O’Toole and suggested a plan that would be of mutual benefit. Now, once a year, ag students head out for a day of service and conservation lessons on the property. In return, SNWA helps sponsor some of their activities and necessary supplies.
“This is a great opportunity for the kids to come out and do some work while learning about environmental programs,” O’Toole said. “Learning about natural resources is part of our curriculum and this is a fun way to teach environmental issues.
