Friday, Aug. 1, 2003 | 5:22 a.m.
Editor's note: In August the Where I Stand column is written by guest writers. Today's columnist is Patricia Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
AN UNPRECEDENTED drought has struck the Colorado River and shattered the illusion of infinite water. Lake Mead has plummeted, its decline marked by a stark white ring around its stone banks. In less than four years the lake has dropped 70 feet. In more meaningful terms, Lake Mead now holds approximately three trillion fewer gallons of water than in February 2000.
While the drought poses a great challenge for our community, it does not have to spell disaster. Recognizing that the river's flows fluctuate, the Southern Nevada Water Authority has significant stored reserves and other resources included in its long-term Water Resource Plan. That said, there is no way to predict how long the drought will last, and bringing some of these additional water resources to the community will take time.
We need a bridge to help sustain our community until either the drought ends or other resources can be brought to bear -- that bridge is water conservation. Southern Nevada is long overdue in embracing a desert-appropriate water ethic. It must become part of our culture. Approximately two-thirds of all the water consumed in the valley is used outdoors; of that, an inexcusable 30 billion gallons a year is wasted. With a dramatic reduction in outdoor water use, there is enough water to sustain our community for decades to come.
What will it take to build this bridge? First and foremost, the elimination of purely ornamental grass and large water features with no practical or economic value. I've yet to see anyone picnic in a median, nor have I seen children splashing in a gas station's fountain. It will require residents to replace non-functional turf -- that which exists purely for aesthetic purposes -- with water-smart landscaping. This is not to say that Las Vegas should be transformed into a gravel pit; such desolation benefits neither residents nor the environment. Water-smart landscaping is not a landscape devoid of life, but rather one compatible with the desert.
We are at a crossroads. Down one path is cooperation and success; down the other, divisiveness and failure. Ultimately, our path will be determined by individuals. The first step begins with all of us. It begins with governments, which must remove excess turf and demonstrate leadership. It begins with homeowners associations, which must rethink landscape design criteria. It begins with golf courses, which must remove turf from non-play areas. It begins with developers, who must plan water-efficient communities. And it begins with residents, who must reconsider how they use water. Some of these first steps have already been taken, but the journey is long.
Some renounce conservation as fuel for growth, while others point fingers at large-scale water users. This dogmatic and overly simplistic view is counterproductive and ignores the reality that underpins our community. Some water features are bound to remain -- to shut off the Bellagio's fountains could send a signal to the rest of the country that Las Vegas is closed for business and send economic shockwaves through the entire community. Beyond that, the Bellagio holds groundwater rights separate from Nevada's Colorado River allocation, and other resorts use recycled water for outdoor needs. Still, resorts must redouble their water-efficient management practices.
We are aware of the growth debate within Southern Nevada. In 1992 the water authority commissioned a study to determine the communitywide economic impact of growth restrictions; we recently initiated an update of that research. We are optimistic the information contained in this report will contribute to an informed discussion.
The transition to sustainability need not be onerous. Cities such as Santa Fe, N.M., and Tucson, Ariz., offer ample evidence that a desert-appropriate landscape can be a source of pride, and that becoming water-efficient can unite rather than divide a community. The recent Southern Nevada Water Authority Landscape Award winners demonstrate that water efficiency and aesthetic beauty are not mutually exclusive; photographs of the winning landscapes are available at www.snwa.com.
The road to water efficiency will not be easy. It will require us to thoroughly examine how outdoor water contributes to our quality of life and make difficult decisions. But beyond all else, it will require us to focus on finding solutions rather than casting blame. The power to succeed, or fail, is in our hands. Let us hope we have the wisdom to use it wisely.
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