Water conservation kicks off in Summerlin

The xeriscaped back yard of Summerlin residents Henry and Barbara Angersbach recently served as the kick-off site for the 2001 water efficiency campaign, hosted by the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Water Conservation Coalition.

The Angersbachs' yard was chosen by the water authority as the press conference location because of the significant water savings the Angersbachs have enjoyed as a result of their recent conversion from a traditional turf yard to xeriscape, which uses seven principles to achieve water efficiency. These principles include planting turf in minimal appropriate areas, efficient irrigation, low water use plants and soil improvements.

Doug Bennett, conservation manager for the water authority, said the Angersbachs have received a credit of $626 toward their water bill, which may result in as much as a year's water service, free of charge.

The couple converted 1,565 square feet of grass to xeriscape last fall. In the first three months of this year, they have saved 20,000 gallons of water compared to the same period last year.

"We love looking at our beautiful yard," said Barbara Angersbach, who explained that her husband did all of the work himself. "With so many different kinds of plants and colorful rocks, our yard is now so much more interesting. Most important, the xeriscape is saving us money and it's the right thing to do for Southern Nevada."

Tom Warden, vice president of community relations for The Howard Hughes Corp., the developer of Summerlin, said the community is receptive to drought-tolerant and low-water-use landscapes.

"Summerlin was the first major master-planned community in Southern Nevada to embrace drought-tolerant landscaping," Warden said. "In the early 1990s when desert landscaping was considered unimaginative and unattractive, Summerlin helped to improve its image by creating colorful and interesting desert landscapes in key areas throughout the community, including the Summerlin Parkway. Low-water-use landscaping is now the standard throughout much of Summerlin."

Located on the western edge of the valley, the community is being developed as a series of villages, each built around a park or golf course. It is home to two Tournament Players Club golf courses, the Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear's Best golf course and five others. It also features nearly 100 parks, more than 45 miles of trails, 16 schools, houses of worship, shopping centers, business parks, medical centers and nearly 150 model homes.

Homes are available in a variety of styles, including single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums. Prices start from under $100,000 to more than $700,000.

Custom lots from one-quarter acre to three-quarters of an acre are priced from the mid-$100,000s to more than $1 million, and predesigned custom homes are priced from $500,000 to more than $1 million.

Apartments offer monthly rents starting from the $700s.

To visit the community's home finding center, travel west on Sahara Avenue past Hualapai Way to Town Center Drive. Or, take Interstate 215 and exit at Sahara. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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