Coyote Springs, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Coyote Springs, Nevada, is a master-planned community being developed in Lincoln County
and Clark County
, Nevada
, by developer and attorney-lobbyist Harvey Whittemore
and Pardee Homes
.
designed by Jack Nicklaus
has been constructed, but additional work is on hold due to the economic recession in the United States. The planned development has attracted some controversy because of environmental concerns and allegations of political favoritism.
BrightSource Energy
has plans to build a 960 MW solar thermal power plant within the development.
to the east, a drive of less than an hour from the city of Las Vegas
and the Las Vegas Strip
. The Coyote Springs valley is bisected by several major washes
including the Pahrangat Wash and the Kane Springs Wash. The only access to the community is via U.S. Route 93 and Route 168
.
by politicians including Senator Harry Reid
.
, an environmental advocacy group, announced plans to sue the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for violations of the Endangered Species Act. The Center contends the Coyote Springs development and resultant loss of water resources and habitat would harm the desert tortoise
and potentially hasten the extinction of the Moapa dace
, both endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service and Nevada's water authority responded that they, too, are interested in protecting the Moapa dace, a small fish living in the Muddy River north of Las Vegas.
Lincoln County, Nevada
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 4,165. Its county seat is Pioche.-History:...
and Clark County
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, by developer and attorney-lobbyist Harvey Whittemore
Harvey Whittemore
Harvey Whittemore is an American lawyer and businessman in the Reno, Nevada area. As an influential lobbyist for the gambling, alcohol and tobacco industries, and for his own ventures, Whittemore has been called "one of Nevada's most powerful men"...
and Pardee Homes
Pardee Homes
Pardee Homes is a residential real-estate company founded in 1921 by George Pardee Sr. He was joined by his three sons in the Los Angeles housing boom after World War II. They began building in southern Nevada in 1952, selling affordable homes to veterans for...
.
Current development
A golf courseGolf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
designed by Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
has been constructed, but additional work is on hold due to the economic recession in the United States. The planned development has attracted some controversy because of environmental concerns and allegations of political favoritism.
BrightSource Energy
BrightSource Energy
BrightSource Energy is an Oakland, California, corporation that designs, builds, finances and operates utility-scale solar power plants that deliver clean, low-cost solar energy to utility and industrial customers worldwide at prices that compete with fossil fuels.Greentech Media ranked...
has plans to build a 960 MW solar thermal power plant within the development.
Coyote Springs location
The community is planned to cover 43000 acres (17,401.5 ha) or 65 square miles (168.3 km²). While mostly in Lincoln County, initial development is planned for the Clark County portion of the land. Coyote Springs is located between U.S. Route 93 on the west and the Meadow Valley MountainsMeadow Valley Mountains
The Meadow Valley Mountains is a mountain range in Lincoln County, Nevada....
to the east, a drive of less than an hour from the city of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
. The Coyote Springs valley is bisected by several major washes
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
including the Pahrangat Wash and the Kane Springs Wash. The only access to the community is via U.S. Route 93 and Route 168
Nevada State Route 168
State Route 168 is a state highway in Clark County, Nevada, USA. Also known as Glendale/Moapa Road, the highway connects Interstate 15 at Glendale to U.S. Route 93 northwest...
.
History
Plans for Coyote Springs were first announced in 1998. Construction on the first golf course, designed by professional golfer Jack Nicklaus, began in 2005; the course opened in 2008. Construction on the community itself was planned for around the same time, with the official ground breaking held on July 5, 2006. However, regulatory issues involving water rights and other issues delayed construction. As of 2010, all governmental and environmental approvals have been granted to begin work in Coyote Springs, but the US recession is said to have placed construction plans on hold.Controversy
Coyote Springs has proven controversial because of environmental issues and allegations of perceived favours granted developer Harvey WhittemoreHarvey Whittemore
Harvey Whittemore is an American lawyer and businessman in the Reno, Nevada area. As an influential lobbyist for the gambling, alcohol and tobacco industries, and for his own ventures, Whittemore has been called "one of Nevada's most powerful men"...
by politicians including Senator Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
.
Current controversy
In February 2009, the Center for Biological DiversityCenter for Biological Diversity
The Center for Biological Diversity based in Tucson, Arizona, is a nonprofit membership organization with approximately 220,000 members and online activists, known for its work protecting endangered species through legal action and scientific petitions...
, an environmental advocacy group, announced plans to sue the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for violations of the Endangered Species Act. The Center contends the Coyote Springs development and resultant loss of water resources and habitat would harm the desert tortoise
Desert Tortoise
The desert tortoise is a species of tortoise native to the Mojave desert and Sonoran desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They can be located in western Arizona, southeastern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. The species name agassizii is in honor of...
and potentially hasten the extinction of the Moapa dace
Moapa dace
The moapa dace is a rare cyprinid fish of Southern Nevada, United States, found only in the warm springs that give rise to the Muddy River, and in the upper parts of the river...
, both endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service and Nevada's water authority responded that they, too, are interested in protecting the Moapa dace, a small fish living in the Muddy River north of Las Vegas.