Where I Stand: We can conquer only a limited amount of the desert

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

WILL THE FLOODS in Northern California and Northern Nevada again rock the residents of that area asleep to the shortage of water in this part of our nation? They find it difficult to worry about a water shortage when what was a nearby river is now running through their living rooms.

Several weeks ago, the flooding Walker, Carson and Truckee rivers wiped out any recollection of a dry Washoe Lake and rivers that could be walked across with only the soles of shoes getting wet. Yet, these drought conditions existed only three or four short years ago, and they will return some time in the near future.

Just five years ago this month, I was in the mountains of Southern Lebanon where the snow was several feet deep. Down in the valley, the melting snow and falling rain was soaking the parched earth of Israel. For seven years, there had been a severe drought in that little country. Then, all at once, there was more than enough water flowing into Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and over its banks. The Jordan River was flooding, and it was necessary to use a boat when traveling in the lowlands around Haifa.

Last week, the following commentary appeared in the Jerusalem Post newspaper:

"Rain is finally beginning to fall again, ending weeks of unseasonably warm, dry weather. The beautiful weather was made less enjoyable by the daily reminders that Lake Kinneret is inching toward its minimum mark and is over half a meter below the level of this time last year. This week's rains will not be enough to wash away the threat of drought, and Israel is once again reminded of the dangers ahead if questions of water supply are not addressed.

"Israel has three main natural sources of water: the Kinneret and two large aquifers, one under the Coastal Plain and the other under the mountainous area of the North. The demand for water is growing at a steady clip, as the population and standards of living rise. The supply from these natural sources is, meanwhile, decreasing as the country moves dangerously close to depleting the aquifers, particularly the larger coastal one."

Sound familiar? It should sound very familiar to a person living for any length of time in a desert. We don't have to read a newspaper from Israel to be aware of the problems that can be caused by water shortages. Many politicians and business people would rather ignore the problem and hope Mother Nature will solve it. She won't. Next week, we may be hit with a downpour that will float cars and buildings down our streets, but, when the sun comes out, it will be but a matter of hours before we are again aware of our desert environment.

The Israelis have turned their country into a land of milk and honey. They have learned how to conserve water even when farming in the desert. But that, too, is now being threatened and, like some farsighted Californians, Israelis are learning there can be no such thing as cheap water set aside for special purposes. Drinking water must come first and, no matter what the price of potable water, the demand must be met. It's going to cost money.

The editors of the Jerusalem Post remind their readers:

"While the supply of natural fresh water is limited, Israel has large reservoirs of brackish water that could be desalinated for about the same price as the real market price in some parts of the country. Even if the waste caused by distorted pricing is ended, desalination and recycling of waste water will be needed to meet the growing demand. At the end of the day, there is no long-term water crisis -- only a question of how much water will cost."

The Jordan River and Lake Kinneret can't be compared to the Colorado River and Lake Mead. The mountains of Israel can't touch the bottoms of our snow-covered, majestic Rocky Mountains. Everything in Southern Nevada is on a much larger scale, but so is the demand for water.

Eventually, unless Nevada can get additional water from the Colorado River, there's going to be a point where we must face reality. Do we pay for water desalination in California and take an equal amount from that state's Colorado River allotment? Do we finally make a deal with Arizona and pay a high price for the water it can't use? At this time, we have some of our best and brightest people working to solve our water problems.

The conclusion drawn by Israel shouldn't go unnoticed. There's just no cheap or easy way out of growing populations in desert environments. We can, as Israel is doing, hedge our bets but, when all is said and done, it's going to cost us. In addition to the end result, the time of decision-making draws near. "The longer the government waits to administer the unpleasant medicine, the more bitter the medicine becomes," the Israeli editors reminded their readers.

Southern Nevadans might just as well get ready to swallow some medicine now. It goes down easier when taken with water.