Welcome to the Water-Saving Xeric Garden
Discover the Beauty of Sustainable Landscaping
The Bureau of Reclamation is committed to protecting water and related resources. To conserve water and reshape our water future, we transformed a once-ordinary landscape into an eco-friendly and accessible space. The new design conserves an estimated 2 million gallons of precious Colorado River water annually and reflects the desert environment of the surrounding area.
From Grass to Green: A Smart Transformation
- Low Water Usage: We’ve replaced thirsty lawns with a diverse array of drought-tolerant and native vegetation. Say hello to resilient trees, shrubs, and plants that thrive in our arid climate.
- Small change, big impact: The new design conserves an estimated 2 million gallons of precious Colorado River water annually.
Accessible and Inviting
- Community-Friendly: Community-Friendly: Our xeriscape isn’t just beautiful—it’s practical. We’ve created pathways and sidewalks that meet ADA compliance, ensuring everyone can enjoy the garden.
- Meandering Memories: Along the garden’s path, discover spots for community gatherings and field trips. It’s a place to connect, learn, and appreciate nature.
Celebrating History
- A Historic Connection: Reclamation recognizes the significance of this space and its role in Boulder City, Nevada’s heritage. The new design is centered around maintaining the integrity of the site’s historic features while accommodating modern needs.
- Preserving the View: The xeric garden design preserves the original staircase while ensuring unobstructed views of the Administration Building from the historic stairway entrance on Park Street.
Explore the layers of our landscape—the living and the legacy.
We welcome you to join us on this journey—a celebration of water, community, and resilience.
Welcome to the water-saving Xeric Garden!
Questions and Answers
Q: Why is the result different from the rendering shown to the public in 2022?
A: The elements in the completed xeric garden reflect those presented to the public. The rendering shows plants, trees and shrubs at maturity versus initial installation.
Based on public feedback, some drought-resistant plants presented during the design phase were replaced with native Mojave Desert plants that grow at various rates, and four trees originally planned for installation near the foot of the historic staircase were removed from the design to protect the view of the Administration Building from Park Street as required by the State Historic Preservation Office.
There were significant unanticipated challenges during construction. In addition to project delays, some of these challenges required design and grading adjustments to ensure the garden would meet the design intent.
- During initial excavation, workers discovered unmarked existing infrastructure/pipes.
- During excavation, workers discovered extremely hard rock. This material was left in place, and fill dirt was used to create mounded areas to support plant growth to full maturity and balance earthwork across the site.
- Some adjustments to the property’s topography were made during final design to meet the requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for the walkway.
Q: What happened to the trees that were on the site before construction began?
A: An arborist examined the trees and determined they were not healthy and were dying. For that reason, the trees were removed.
Q: Was Boulder City aware of the design changes that were made during construction?
A: The former Lower Colorado Region Deputy Director and xeriscape project managers were in regular contact with Boulder City staff and provided updates during final design and throughout construction. In addition:
- City permitting requirements involved notification when construction required street closures or other impacts to neighboring homes.
- When unmarked infrastructure or site hazards were encountered, the city was notified and provided feedback on design revisions.
Q: It looks like there are parts missing from the irrigation system.
A: Emitters control the flow of water from the tubing and often look like “caps” on the end of the irrigation tubes near the base of plants. These caps can be finicky and prone to loss or poor performance, and with the size of the xeric garden wouldn't be practicable to maintain.
The drip irrigation system design in the xeric garden has single and multi-outlet emitters located throughout the garden. They are housed inside casings that are sunk into the ground and flush with the ground surface. Tubing extends from the emitters to individual plants or emission points. This protected design allows the flow to be controlled to multiple locations to reliably provide water to the plants and trees in the garden. Droplets from the ends of the tubing can occur after flow to the emitter is turned off as pressure in the tubing equalizes to atmospheric pressure.
Reclamation maintenance personnel regularly inspect the irrigation features to determine if any repairs or equipment are needed to maintain the garden. Plants and trees in the xeric garden receive regular irrigation and over time will mature to cover approximately 85% of the area.
Q: How many plants were planted and how many died following planting? When will they be replaced?
A: Some of the plants initially installed at the end of construction succumbed to extreme heat. The summer of 2024 was exceptionally hot, breaking multiple high temperature records, including a stretch of 11 consecutive days with temperatures of 110°F or higher. As temperatures stabilized, the vegetation in the garden has flourished and grown significantly. The plants installed in the weeks ahead of that extreme weather event that did not survive will be replaced.
Q: Will Reclamation be adding plants to fill in the empty space?
A: Mature plants will cover about 85% of the xeriscaped area. There is no plan currently to add plants that were not included in the design.
Q: Why isn’t there mulch around the plants?
A: The rock mulch placed around the plants is the appropriate amount and type of mulch suitable for xeriscape maintenance.
Q: When will the trees be the size shown in the rendering?
A: The xeric garden design is about conservation and efficient use of water for future generations. While the site reflects the surrounding desert environment, the trees and plants in the xeric garden are expected to grow faster than those found in the desert. While the trees in the xeric garden will take several years to reach full maturity, the irrigation system provides consistent water to keep the plants and trees healthy and to encourage growth.
Q: Why are the mounds so big?
A: During excavation, workers discovered extremely hard rock under the grass lawn. This material was left in place and fill dirt was placed on top to create mounded areas to support plant growth to full maturity.
Q. The heat given off at the site is extremely high, significantly higher than the adjacent park. What is Reclamation planning to do to mitigate for the increased heat footprint?
A: As with any new landscape project, it requires time for the plantings to become established and mature. As the vegetation grows and fills the area, we can expect a decrease in the heat signature, leading to a cooler environment overall. Already, many of the plants, shrubs, and trees in the xeric garden are thriving, showing increased size and are blooming.
Plants that were initially installed that did not survive the extreme summer temperatures will be replaced. Plants and trees in the xeric garden receive regular irrigation and over time will mature to cover approximately 85% of the area.
Q: Rocks are falling on to the sidewalk from the steep, rocky hill causing safety hazards. What is Reclamation doing to stop it?
A: Reclamation staff walk through the area daily/regularly to inspect conditions of the area, including any potential hazards, and take appropriate steps to address any concerns.
Q: There is nothing in place to keep children from climbing on the rocks and being injured. What is Reclamation doing to ensure the site is safe?
A: The final phase of the xeric garden project is installation of interpretive signs. These include signs that identify potential dangers from the creatures that live in desert environments and among plants and rocks like those found in the xeric garden.
Questions? Email ReclamationXeriscapeBC@usbr.gov
