Lynn said the campus hosts between 7,000 and 10,000 trees, plants and bushes. Some areas are designated to house ornamental plants, because the campus administration likes to keep UNLV looking lush and green. But because the city is in the desert the campus has executed a xeriscape program to incorporate drought tolerant and indigenous plant materials.

State government has enacted some drought restrictions. Southern Nevada Water Authority is the agency that approves the irrigation amounts for the campus.

?EUR??,,????'??During the winter months the irrigation system comes on once per week and during the spring and fall times it comes on three times per week,?EUR??,,????'?? said Lynn.

?EUR??,,????'??We use caution on how we program everything. There?EUR??,,????'???s always a constant challenge on how we?EUR??,,????'???re going to get water. Our main irrigation systems run through a Rain Bird central control system. We have 17 sites on campus that run off ET and make automatic adjustments.?EUR??,,????'??

Because water can be scarce in the desert, the campus has no fountains or outside misting systems. Lynn said the fountains had to be removed because of local water restrictions.

Turf grass is seeded primarily with fescue and overseeded at temperatures below 65 degrees with rye grass on top of the Bermuda grass. Lynn said fescue stays green throughout the year, as long as there?EUR??,,????'???s an adequate supply of water. The equipment operators use 48-inch deck mowers, overseed and apply fertilizers to the turf.

The crew is broken down into different departments with separate supervisors overseeing areas such as irrigation, construction, equipment and tree care.

Currently the crew is building a pyramid in conjunction with the student organization. A reflective pool was badly damaged, so the new building will be surrounded by 20 trees and 1,000 shrubs. About 100,000 gallons of potable water is used per day for irrigation, according to Lynn. The water is tied into a main supply line in Las Vegas. At a central weather station a cluster control unit operates six mechanisms, which can detect rain.

?EUR??,,????'??If it?EUR??,,????'???s raining the controller goes to a response and turns to a runoff,?EUR??,,????'?? said Lynn. ?EUR??,,????'??If there?EUR??,,????'???s a downpour my crew moves sandbags to low-lying doorways.

As the UNLV facilities manager, Lynn would like to see the police increase their presence on the campus. The entire university is designated as an arboretum, overseen by Klaus Steckenbach, who tries to count and identify trees for campus tours.

?EUR??,,????'??I recently put in an order to have some signage installed,?EUR??,,????'?? said Lynn. ?EUR??,,????'??We used to have a whole area that identified plant materials, but the students ripped those out. We?EUR??,,????'???ve got a problem with vandalism and my maintenance crew needs to keep on top of it. When graffiti is sprayed on walls, we have to wash it off.?EUR??,,????'??

?EUR??,,????'??We have a really tight control on storing chemicals,?EUR??,,????'?? said Lynn. ?EUR??,,????'??A formulated off-site facility stores the chemicals and next to that building we have an eye wash station. We have to keep close control of everything and record it on file.

Self-contained five and 10-gallon containers are housed in an air-conditioned and fire-preventative room.?EUR??,,????'??

Although UNLV has olive trees, a local ordinance prevents the trees from producing olives, so growth inhibitors are used. This keeps sidewalks free of the droppings from a tree. Olive tree pollen has also been banned. Some desert willows were selected because of their flowering beauty, yet don?EUR??,,????'???t make a big mess.

Although the crew currently uses rotary and mulching mowers, Lynn said in 10 years he expects the campus to switch to flail type mowers. Toro riding mowers recycle the grass clippings back into the turf. With all the tree trimming done at UNLV the landscapers can create their own mulch, said Lynn.

For weed abatement the crew applies a pre-emergent granular in February to most planter areas for a three-month period. This stops the weeds from germinating. Lynn usually selects an all-purpose herbicide. Some of the campus pests include borers, aphids, white flies and spider mites. ?EUR??,,????'??We need to be careful with the application of herbicides because if it gets airborne above 85 degrees, it could kill other plants.

Another problem we have to deal with is imported fire ants. We have to apply two or three courses with ant bait.?EUR??,,????'??

Salvia, Inca felons, mock oranges, desert willows, cacti, aloes, acacia trees, sycamores and oaks decorate the university and are trimmed lightly during the summer. Major pruning is done during the winter. Mediterranean palms, Washingtonia Robusta, California palms and Mexican fan palms are trimmed by the campus?EUR??,,????'??? landscape crew, but not too much as the administration likes to see foliage at the top. Sooty canker bacteria attacks palm trees and plants next to the trees, said Lynn. That?EUR??,,????'???s why it?EUR??,,????'???s so important to clean off the blades after trimming trees with a solution of water and 10 percent bleach.

Disinfecting tools prevent other trees from becoming contaminated. All the trimming, installing, irrigating, pruning and spraying keeps the landscapers busy. So what has Lynn learned about his job over the years to help him become more effective and efficient?

?EUR??,,????'??You need to treat employees and people with respect. If you have good working relationships and everyone comes to work happy, then they?EUR??,,????'???ll enjoy their work,?EUR??,,????'?? said Lynn. ?EUR??,,????'??Even though I have to do it at times, I hate to go through disciplinary procedures. My goal is to keep a good functioning unit. If I?EUR??,,????'???ve got a problem, I?EUR??,,????'???ll go and talk to them about it. It?EUR??,,????'???s all about practicing the Golden Rule.?EUR??,,????'??

Lynn got into construction concrete work early in his landscape career.

Six years later, the university was founded officially as a southern regional division of the University of Nevada by action of the Nevada Board of Regents.

In the summer of 1957, the university opened its first classroom and administration building -Maude Frazier Hall -on its present campus site.

Twenty-nine students accepted degrees at the university?EUR??,,????'???s first commencement ceremonies in 1964. The following year, the Nevada Legislature named the school Nevada Southern University, and the Board of Regents hired the campus?EUR??,,????'??? first president.

In 1968, the university was granted autonomy under the state?EUR??,,????'???s higher education system, giving it status equal to that of the University of Nevada, Reno. The Board of Regents approved the institution?EUR??,,????'???s present name in January 1969.

Continual expansion in terms of programs, facilities and influence has characterized the university since its modest start.