The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is the Las Vegas Valley’s unique agency tasked with addressing the region’s water scarcity and needs. Since its establishment in 1991, SNWA’s presence in everyday Nevadans’ lives has grown, raising concerns about yet another government agency overreach.
What Is Nevada’s Assembly Bill 356 Turf Ban?
Currently, the SNWA is busy with implementation of the Assembly Bill 356 passed by the Nevada Legislature in 2021. The bill prohibits the use of water from the Colorado River for “non-functional turf.” Subsequently, all such grass must be removed by the end of 2026.
Nevada Already Leads the Region in Water Conservation
Part of the reason that the SNWA is adamant about conserving water is that Nevada’s allocation from the Colorado River is nearly negligible compared to that of the other 6 states who are part of the Colorado River Compact. Of the 15 million acre-feet divided each year, Nevada receives the smallest share with 300,000 acre-feet. And yet, the region has managed: in 2024, Southern Nevada used only 212,171 acre-feet, leaving a portion of its modest allocation untouched.
The goal, as presented by SNWA, is water conservation. But as the policy folds out across Las Vegas, a growing number of residents, horticulturalists, and legal experts are raising a question: Is the mandate doing more harm than good?
Despite that track record, SNWA considered elimination of non-functional turf from homeowner associations (HOAs), commercial properties, and multifamily developments critical for future success. Yet, the consequences, according to experts, have been far from successful.
Lawsuit Claims Turf Removal Killed 100,000 Mature Trees
A lawsuit filed by group of homeowners in the valley claims that the ban of non-functional grass has killed off 100,000 mature trees and caused $300 million in damages. Norm Schilling, a long-time desert horticulturalist and president of Schilling Horticulture and Mojave Bloom Nursery, argues that grass around established trees is not simply decorative – it provides critical cooling, moisture retention, and root support. When grass is removed and replaced with rock, irrigation patterns are disrupted, soil temperatures spike, and trees become far more vulnerable to stress, pests, disease and eventual death.
Furthermore, Las Vegas is the nation’s fastest-warming city. It needs lawns and trees to help reduce urban heat. On average, grass surfaces are about 4oF cooler than urban surfaces and can be up to 39oF cooler than synthetic turf on hot days. Through evapotranspiration and shading, trees can also reduce peak summer temperatures by up to 9oF. A policy that removes grass and kills trees is, in effect, a policy that makes Las Vegas hotter.
How SNWA’s Rebate Program Is Fueling the Shift to Synthetic Turf
Under Nevada’s AB 356 turf restrictions, certain properties such as businesses, HOAs, and multifamily developments are prohibited from installing new nonfunctional turf and must remove existing nonfunctional turf. SNWA currently offers a rebate of up to $5 per square foot for replacing eligible grass with “desert friendly landscaping”. The Clark County School District alone has committed nearly $300 million to convert roughly nine million square feet of high school athletic fields from natural grass to synthetic turf — and has received millions in SNWA rebates in the process.
Artificial Turf Brings Its Own Health and Safety Risks
But beyond removal of grass and trees, artificial turf carries its own risks. In peak summer months, surface temperature can reach 169 oF. The extreme temperatures can easily cause skin burns, heatstroke, and dehydration. In fact, a football player at Spring Valley High School received severe burns after practicing on a turf field at peak heat.
Artificial turf also poses serious environmental and health harms. It is manufactured with chemicals like lead and carcinogens that can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. Its plastic fibers shed microplastics that pollute air, water, and soil, and the chemicals it discards can contaminate storm drains and groundwater. Trading living grass for a material that causes so much harm is obviously a serious concern for public health and the environment.
Does the Turf Mandate Violate Nevada Property Rights?
Lastly, SNWA’s turf mandate raises serious questions about property rights. Residents argue that by imposing tiered and excessive fees and dictating what homeowners can grow, the government is unfairly penalizing property owners and infringing on their rights. Attorney Sam Castor, who is leading the legal fight against SNWA, argued in an interview that SNWA has used water conservation as a justification for overstepping its authority and unfairly targeting residents. The plaintiffs are hoping for the court to rule that SNWA’s application of AB 356 is unconstitutional.
A Better Path Forward for Water Conservation in Nevada
Water conservation in a desert is a necessary goal, but a good policy must weigh all consequences. Southern Nevada has become a national leader in conservation not because of government mandates, but because residents, businesses, and communities have adapted to living in a desert environment. The need to manage a limited resource encouraged innovation, efficiency, and responsible water use.
SNWA’s turf removal policy represents a shift away from encouraging conservation toward government-directed decisions about private property. The policy overlooks important tradeoffs, including the role grass plays in cooling neighborhoods, supporting trees, and maintaining livability in the valley. A policy designed to solve one problem should not create new challenges in the process.
The future of conservation should focus on innovation and effective management, not expanding government control and mandates over how residents use their own property.
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