Casinos, developers square off against rural Nevadans at water pipeline hearing

By Cy Ryan

Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 | 3:24 p.m.

Rural Nevadans lined up against Las Vegas casinos, home builders and labor over plans to pump water from Eastern Nevada to Clark County.

Members of about 10 Indian tribes staged a small demonstration during a recess of the hearing that took testimony from Ely, Caliente, Las Vegas and Carson City.

Virginia Valentine, president of the Nevada Resort Association, told the hearing that tourism is the state's biggest generator of jobs. A water shortage in Southern Nevada would have a "devastating impact" on the economy, she said in support of the project.

But Las Vegas Assemblyman Joseph Hogan called the project a blunder and said it is not a reason to create jobs. Hogan cited the potential environmental impact and referred to the Owens Valley project in California. He said users of the Los Angeles Water District are paying $1 billion a year to solve the problems that the water importation created.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has filed applications to pump 125,976 acre feet of water a year from four valleys in Eastern Nevada. It argues it needs the water to support the future growth in Las Vegas.

At the demonstration outside the hearing of the state engineer's office, Clell Pete said a prayer in his native tongue asking for preservation of the culture of the tribes. Three tribal members pounded on a drum, chanting a song honoring water. They were joined by about 40 representatives of an estimated 10 tribes.

Inside the hearing, Mandi Lindsay, representing the Associated General Contractors of Las Vegas, said water is critical to the economic recovery of Southern Nevada. She noted Southern Nevada accounts for 70 percent of the state's economy.

But A. Shirley, a Las Vegas resident, testified the project is "driven by greed." It's a way to make more profits by growth, she said. Growth should be limited to the available resources, she said.

Chad Rehea said he drove 190 miles from Utah to Ely to testify that he doesn't want to see the sensitive ecology of Eastern Nevada turned into a dust bowl.

Other speakers said the water authority should adopt stricter conservation measures or consider desalination of Pacific Ocean water, which could be piped to Las Vegas.

They also argued the "water grab" would hurt the economy of Eastern Nevada.

The 263-mile pipeline would cost an estimated $3.5 billion but that could rise to $15 billion with inflation and financing costs added in. If constructed, the authority estimates the average water bill would rise $30 a month.

State Engineer Jason King, who must make the final decision, will probably give a ruling in March, an agency spokesman said.