Feds try to turn off spigot for project projec

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 | 7:13 a.m.

CARSON CITY - A plan to pump water from a rural valley in Lincoln County to support a housing development straddling the Clark County line would harm the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and threaten endangered species, the federal government claims.

Lincoln County and its partner, Vidler Water Co., want to draw 14,000 acre-feet of water a year from nearby Kane Valley and sell it to support the Coyote Springs development that could include 50,000 homes and 10 golf courses when finished in 30 years.

Lobbyist-turned developer Harvey Whittemore said he has water rights available for the first 5,000 homes, and construction starts in the "next couple of months."

The additional water would let the development, which could include condos, hotels and more homes, move forward.

State Engineer Hugh Ricci opens hearings on the water applications Tuesday, and in prehearing filings, the federal government argues that drawing water out of Kane Valley, 35 miles northwest of Moapa, would be detrimental.

Paul Rauch of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said the Kane Valley project "could reduce the ground water influx to the springs at the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge in the Muddy River area."

The adverse effect threatens the endangered species including the Moapa dace and the Southwestern willow flycatcher "which depend on these water resources for survival," Rauch said in papers filed for the hearing.

Charles Pettee of the National Park Service said taking water out of the unpopulated Kane Valley would reduce the water into the Muddy River, which flows into Lake Mead.

Both federal agencies say they have prior water rights that could be harmed if Ricci approves the water applications.

Federal officials also say there isn't enough water in Kane Valley, only about 500 acre-feet available a year. An acre-foot is enough water for a family of five for a year.

Vidler attorney Steve Hartman said the firm would be "comfortable" if Ricci approves 5,000 acre-feet and then orders a prolonged test to see if there are any adverse effects on the 28-mile-long Kane Valley.

Steve Walker, a consultant for Vidler, said the annual rainfall in the valley amounts to 118,000 to 127,000 acre-feet and that 5,000 to 7,000 acre-feet can safely be withdrawn.

Walker, in pre-filed testimony, said the estimates by the federal government of available water are outdated, made more than 30 years ago.

Hartman said the Fish & Wildlife Service has "legitimate issues" and he hopes something can be worked out to accommodate their fears. But he dismisses the protests of the National Park Service, which complains that the plan would reduce the flows into Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Construction at Whittemore's development, meanwhile, is now under way. Work has started on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and the PGA Golf Center.

"Nicklaus has been out there four times, and he was there just last week and everything is going well," Whittemore said.

Home construction will start "in the next couple of months," he said.

The development will have hotels, but not necessarily casinos.

"I have not decided whether to have gaming," Whittemore said. "Right now I'm not planning on it."