There was a super interesting article on the Review Journal’s website this week about a new law that approves the use of desert landscaping in Nevada’s veteran cemeteries (where it was once mandated that they use green grass).
Mind you, the new law apparently authorizes the cemeteries in both Boulder City and Fernley, NV to set up separate areas for desert landscaping … not that any of the existing grassy areas will be converted (so nobody panic).
The RJ article (written by Sandra Chereb) says that “the state Veterans Services Division pushed for the option, citing the region‘s lingering drought, escalating irrigation costs and a desire by some to be buried in a place that reflects their love of the arid climate and its unique flora” and that not everyone embraces the concept in fear that the cemeteries will look like abandoned sandlots.
You can find the entire RJ article by CLICKING HERE – there’s also some interesting information about the three other national veteran cemeteries who have already adopted xeriscape landscaping (in Phoenix, Bakersfield and El Paso), so it’s a good read.
P.S. Something else interesting to note in the article is how much water the Boulder City Veterans Memorial Cemetery appears to use for irrigation each year — the article cites Boulder City utility records as showing that 76.3 MILLION gallons of water were used last fiscal year and the cost of irrigating the cemetery was $247,757 in 2014. Yowsa!
If you’d like to weigh in on the topic, you can do that by commenting on our Facebook page post by CLICKING HERE!
