Editorial: All must share in water plan
Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 | 4:17 a.m.
Anyone still doubting that Southern Nevada needs a drought plan should walk a ways along the Historic Railroad Trail in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area north of Boulder City. The trail offers beautiful views of the lake as well as rock formations that reveal where the water level once stood and where it stands now. Three years of drought have caused a 60-foot drop in the water level, a fact all the more distressing when actually observed. The Southern Nevada Water Authority waited as long as it could before passing its drought plan last week.
The plan emphasizes conservation and enforcement. It affects nearly everyone, from those who want to wash their cars at home and plant new grass in their yards, to small businesses that want an ornamental fountain on their property, and to larger-scale water users, such as those who operate golf courses.
Already the plan has come under stiff criticism. At a hearing Thursday before the plan was passed, many people voiced the opinion that Draconian growth restrictions are vastly preferable to a drought plan. Of course, following that plan would lead to thousands of people losing their jobs and home prices soaring to the point where median-income families would be priced out of the market. And golf course operators pleaded for relief, saying the plan's conservation standards and enforcement penalties aren't feasible for their businesses. We agree with the underlying principle of the plan -- that all who are using water supplied by the SNWA must share the pain.
The SNWA stuck to its plan despite the criticism, but final power to adopt the plan resides with Clark County and the cities. Now we'll see if the local governments are equally as serious about saving water.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Wynns agree on ‘amicable’ split of assets in divorce
- Golden Nugget opens $150 million, 500-room tower
- Could the game be partly to blame for addiction?
- Sluggish starts plague Rebels in early games this season
- Hundreds mourn slain Metro officer, denounce violence
- Report: LV home prices fall despite increases nationwide
- Funeral procession for slain officer includes Las Vegas Strip
- Boyd Gaming sues man over Internet domain name
- General Growth moving subsidiaries out of bankruptcy protection
- Bellagio sues company over alleged trademark infringement
Blogs
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (1 Comment)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (1 Comment)
Now and Then
Underdog is open on a post pattern
Miech Again
Kruger contract altered in September (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond brings DWTS trophy to Las Vegas
High School Sports Scene
Prep Football: State Semifinals Picks (2 Comments)
Shark Bytes
Sharing some Thanksgiving traditions (3 Comments)
Calendar »
- 25 Wed
- 26 Thu
- 27 Fri
- 28 Sat
- 29 Sun
-
Food drive at LAX
LAX Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Judge Jules at Godskitchen
Body English | 10:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Univision TV hosts at Blush
Blush Boutique Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Mischieve Wednesdays at T&T
Tacos and Tequila
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati













