The "Satellite timelapse" account on YouTube created a timelapse of satellite imagery of Las Vegas and nearby Lake Mead between 1986 and 2016.
As the satellite timelapse below shows, with very few exceptions 1986 and 2016, the expansion of Las Vegas has been followed by the contraction of nearby Lake Mead. To be clear, Las Vegas isn't the only city using Lake Mead's water. But the older parts of Las Vegas boomed as as construction on the Hoover Dam began, and the city's prosperity is linked to the lake to this day.
FULL STORY: Las Vegas Expansion Timelapse
Las Vegas' Growth Tied to its Dwindling Water Supply
Las Vegas has almost maximized its growth potential given projects for its future water supply—something has to give.
Needed: A New Approach to the Colorado River
In an interview with Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, former Arizona Governor and former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbit recommends new approaches to the challenges facing the Colorado River watershed.
Arizona Town Looks for New Water Sources, Insists Development ‘Full Steam Ahead’
While many Southwest cities are looking for ways to conserve water and limit growth as water supplies become strained, one town is pressing ahead with rapid development.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research