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Sloan flood channel neighbors fear potentially deadly pest problem
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Summer monsoons created new problems for people living along the Sloan flood channel.
Neighbors near the east end of the channel that empties into the wash that leads to Lake Mead were hit with unexpected flooding.
But neighbors near the start of the channel -- near Nellis Air Force Base -- were hit with a new pest problem they fear could become deadly. They asked Action News to investigate.
It's been nearly eighteen months since North Las Vegas defied Clark County and started flushing treated waste water into the Sloan Flood Channel. They're suing each other over use of the channel.
The water flowing from North Las Vegas' new treatment plant has been pretty clear since North Las Vegas and Clark County began cooperating on keeping the channel clean, but neighbors are still bugged.
Timmi Reed says lives just yards away from the plant. She says the heavy machinery used to break up bug-breeding algae cut down on clouds of gnat-like insects called "midges". But recent rains attracted mosquitoes.
Timmi says, "I mean, I've got bites on my legs, my arms, my fingers. And what's weird is, you can't really see them because they're so small"
Timmi is worried, the insects could be deadly. She tells Action News, "The West Nile Virus is carried through the mosquitoes, and we did have a small outbreak of it. That's the only thing that really concerns me, especially with the huge children population that's here in this neighborhood."
Officials in North Las Vegas and the Clark County share her concern.
Senior utilities engineer Kenny Eickelberg says North Las Vegas handles bug maintenance in the Sloan Channel.. from the plant, east to Sahara. Clark County handles the rest.
Eickelberg tells Action News, "In conjunction with that, the county's vector control group also assists us in where to go, and what to do."
In other words, county insect experts are watching out for West Nile too. Eickelberg adds, the regular clean up won't end with dry weather. He says, "We're planning on going every week, through the whole year."
Timmi Reed sees one encouraging sign. She says, "It's not dirty. I actually saw a family of ducks swimming in there the other day, so, I mean, it can't be that bad."
The first court date for the dueling lawsuits was delayed from September to January. Stay tuned to Action News for the latest updates.
If you have a question or concern you would like us to address, send an e-mail to 13Investigates@ktnv.com.







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