[tallrick]

I know that the area is a desert, but since there are empty lots ( Like the old El Rancho Vegas site) with trees on it, is there also groundwater in Vegas? I always wondered how people lived there before the dam and lake Mead. Looking at pics of Vegas destinations in the 40's and 50's it seemed like a nice place if you had water.

[olecapt]

Vegas has enough natural water for about 350,000 people. Used to be a little river that ran down about where 95 is on into the Colorado. The artesian spring were so strong that you just stuck in a pipe and the water went twenty feet into the air. There are about 12000 homes in Las Vegas on wells. Plus many of the casinos and such use well water for irrigation.

[tallrick]

That's pretty amazing. It must have been beautiful in the 40's 50's and 60's where there weren't many people and the strip was being built. I guess this is unique for a desert and the reason why Las Vegas developed in the first place. Of course once air conditioning was installed you guys face the same fate as us in Florida.

[olecapt]

Yup...in the historical period it was part of the Spanish Trail. Discovered by a couple of Mexican scouts it had long been known to the indigeneous people because of the ready availability of water. Actually had large grassy areas where animals could be grazed. It was an oasis in the desert.