Editorial: Tackling the drought

Friday, Dec. 17, 2004 | 4:35 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

December 18 - 19, 2004

The prolonged drought affecting the West hasn't shown signs of easing up, and federal officials have told states that use the Colorado River for drinking water that their existing allocations could be cut. Although Las Vegas has done an excellent job of conservation in recent years, it's obvious that even more has to be done.

That's why we like a plan from Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., that would take $200 million from the sale of federal lands in Southern Nevada and give it to local government agencies to help them pay for the removal of grass and the installation of desert landscaping. Ensign believes that if enough government entities, including schools, took advantage of this program it could result in 42,000 acre-feet of water being saved annually, an amount that on average is used by 63,000 households here.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority already has spent $38 million on its turf conversion program, paying businesses and homeowners to eliminate 48 million square feet of turf so far. Ensign's plan is ambitious, but it's the kind of innovative thinking that Las Vegas needs more of if we're to effectively deal with a shrinking supply of water.