Drought panel hears warnings

Tuesday, March 18, 2003 | 9:42 a.m.

A select group of citizens who may hold the future of Las Vegas' water use in their hands met for the first time Monday.

The drought advisory committee -- about 30 people representing key constituencies from throughout the community -- met at the Southern Nevada Water Authority's office.

Despite the showers pelting the pavement outside, the grim news they heard was that the Colorado River, the source of more than 80 percent of the region's drinking water, is the lowest it has been in recorded history.

Pat Mulroy, Water Authority general manager, said the group would have to come up with the region's response to a drought emergency -- a time when, because of falling water levels in Lake Mead, people would be forced to make tough decisions on where to use water.

She warned that the crisis is real and growing.

Mother Nature, Mulroy warned, "has a way of doing exactly what she wants to do."

Many of the committee members appeared to take the issue seriously. Jeff van Ee, an environmental activist, noted that the falling water levels in the lake might mean the water drops below the two "straws" that bring Southern Nevada its water.

"It would seem if things continue as they have been for two more years, our intakes could really be in jeopardy," he said.

Most of the meeting consisted of a presentation by Deputy General Manager Kay Brothers on the severity of the problem. The group will be charged with coming up with responses during later meetings, which should wrap up this summer.

One issue that is simmering among the members but was not addressed Monday is growth. During debate over the proposed "drought watch" and "drought advisory" levels of reaction, some community activists have urged -- sometimes in strident terms -- that the region's political leadership stop issuing new building permits, in effect halting population growth.

Most of the political leaders have not embraced the concept. It is also anathema to developers, who also have several seats on the drought emergency committee.

"What are you going to do?" asked Colleen Wilson-Pappa, government relations director for the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association. "Put gates at the borders?"

She said the evidence suggests it is not indoor, home use that is the problem, because most of that water is returned to the lake for local "return flow credits." The problem, Wilson-Pappa said, is the water-hungry turf that surrounds many of those homes.

But John Hiatt, who is both a conservationist and chairman of the Enterprise Town Advisory Board, a citizens group that advises the Clark County Commission, said the issue has to be part of the broader discussion.