Water Authority OKs Lincoln deal

Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 | 10:03 a.m.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority approved a deal Thursday that would settle a longstanding dispute with Lincoln County over the rights to water north of Las Vegas.

The deal essentially divides the groundwater rights into three parcels, Water Authority Deputy General Manager Kay Brothers told the Water Authority board. The first parcel of rights would go to Clark County's users, the second would be shared by both Clark and Lincoln counties and the third would be exclusively Lincoln's.

The legal disputes over the water rights go back a half-decade to when the Lincoln County Commission formally protested the Water Authority's applications for water throughout the county just north of Clark.

Brothers said the deal will set a precedent that other counties where the authority has applications could follow. As part of the long-range plan to develop groundwater resources, the authority has pending applications in White Pine and Nye counties.

Brothers has estimated that the deal could ultimately provide enough water for a half-million Clark County users. Use of the water would have to be approved by the Nevada state engineer, but staff members said the agreement opens the door to greater flexibility for the authority.

"Being able to diversify the water portfolio is critical," water authority general manager Pat Mulroy told the board. She said the drought now threatening Southern Nevada's water supplies in Lake Mead, the source of 85 percent of the region's water, shows that such dependence on one source is not safe.

Lincoln County commissioners are expected to consider the deal next month.