Editorial: Water studies needed

Wednesday, March 24, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

With the drought heading into a fifth year and growth continuing unabated, we would love to have another source of water besides Lake Mead, whose level is at a record low. But we cannot go along with the Southern Nevada Water Authority's application to the state engineer.

The water authority wants to bypass studies and begin drawing 17,000 acre-feet a year from rural areas north of Las Vegas in Clark and Lincoln counties. The impact here in Las Vegas is known -- that amount of water would serve about 85,000 people. Unfortunately, no one knows what the impact would be on the rural areas.

The draw would come from underneath land that includes the 1.6-million-acre Desert National Wildlife Range and four national wildlife refuges. Death Valley National Park and the National Recreation Area surrounding Lake Mead could also be affected. Federal officials representing the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Sevice and the Bureau of Land Management testified before the state engineer Tuesday. All opposed the water authority's plans, at least until impact studies can be completed.

The immediacy of our water need is not so great that we must jeopardize some of the most beautiful and sensitive lands in the state and country. Not an ounce should be drawn until we know what we're doing.