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Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Sun topic
Sun archives
- Want your grass back? Plant it, water authority says (9-15-2011)
- Water Authority board member wants projects reconsidereds (8-22-2011)
- In rural Nevada, everyone worries about the pipeline (8-18-2011)
- Troubled waters: Las Vegas’ perpetual quest to quench itself (8-1-2011)
- Southern Nevada projects low on water priority list (7-27-2011)
- Coalition opposed to Water Authority's pipeline project wants more time for public input (7-14-2011)
- Rural Nevada vs. Las Vegas: Battle over water advances (7-6-2011)
- Water level at Lake Mead could rise thanks to wet winter, report says (1-15-2011)
- Hearings delayed on proposed water pipeline (10-20-2010)
Beyond the Sun
Gov. Brian Sandoval is taking a hands-off approach to upcoming hearings on a plan by Las Vegas officials to pump millions of gallons of water to Southern Nevada from rural eastern Nevada.
“I will leave it to the administrative process,” said the governor, who added that he’s confident state engineer Jason King will reach a “learned decision” on whether to approve the applications of the Southern Nevada Water Authority in spite of objections from rural residents.
King will start the hearings Monday and the Water Authority will outline its case over two weeks. The public will have a chance on Oct. 7 to express opinions, then the Water Authority will have another week to wrap up arguments.
The district is applying for 125,976 acre-feet of water annually from valleys in Lincoln and White Pine counties. An acre-foot of water equals 325,851 gallons.
The district’s opening statement, prepared by Carson City attorney Paul Taggart, says the Las Vegas area could be out of water by 2028, and sooner if drought conditions persist. This water is needed to serve the growing population and provide economic success for Southern Nevada and the entire state, the district says.
“Expert testimony will show that a 10.5 percent decline in water supply in Southern Nevada will result in a decrease of economic output of Southern Nevada by $9.6 billion, a loss of 84,000 jobs and a decline in wages and salaries of $3 billion,” Taggart writes.
The Water Authority says the basins are not close to metropolitan areas, major transportation corridors or a skilled labor force. Other areas in the nation offer “far superior economic advantages” for agricultural development than in Lincoln and White Pine counties. The district wants to tap water from the Delamar, Dry Lake, Cave and Spring valleys.
Clark County residents have used less water in recent years. From 2002 to 2008, annual water consumption was reduced by nearly 21 billion gallons despite an increase of about 400,000 people. And 14 million square feet of turf grass has been torn out at a savings of 127,000 acre-feet of water during the past 10 years.
But opponents see the picture differently.
Officials with the Great Basin Water Network say the Water Authority doesn’t have “the financial ability and good faith intent” to build the estimated $3.5 billion, 263-mile pipeline.
The network, in testimony prepared by New Mexico lawyer Simeon Herskovits, maintains “there is no genuine, legitimate need for the water that SNWA seeks to export from the targeted valleys.”
The network says the authority “has an unreasonable and inadequate water conservation program, given SNWA’s position and available option.”
The network says the Las Vegas area has “failed to implement a number of readily available low-cost water conservation measures and policies that would achieve water savings substantial enough to satisfy most or all of the supposed future demands for additional water.”
Officials with the Cleveland-Rogers Ranch, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believe plans by the Water Authority would threaten the White Pine County ranch’s water rights. In testimony prepared by Severin Carlson, a Reno attorney, and Paul Hejmanowski, a Las Vegas lawyer, the church says granting the water rights would hinder “its ability to survive as a viable ranching enterprise.”
The Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation also have submitted a pre-filed opening statement, saying the evidence will show the devastating effect the water plan would have.
The testimony, prepared by Paul Echohawk, an Idaho lawyer, says the abundance of clean water from the springs is important in the Spring Valley. “This area is held in reverence by the Goshute people and it is a sacred site to them.”
The area is used for festivals and other social, religious and economic activities, the tribe says.
Las Vegas originally applied in 1989 for the right to pump water from the area. The Nevada Supreme Court, however, voided the ruling of former engineer Tracy Taylor, which permitted 58,000 acre-feet to be transferred.
The hearings will recess Oct. 14, reconvene Oct. 31 and continue to Nov. 17 to hear protests. Closing arguments will be Nov. 18, then King will make the decision.
Now it's up to 3.5 Billion (just an estimate, of course). The Union PLA will assure the total goes much higher. We are all fools. Why do we elect Union lappers like Steve Ross and Pat Mulroy?
Oh, that's right. Times are good, and we need to support the home builders who have greased enough palms here to build a Jiffy Lube. Are we ever going to learn?
Hold a "Hearing" - with ear muffs?
Read Robert Glennon's "Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis and What To Do About It". Also "Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping and the Fate of America's Fresh Waters (2002)" and know the fate which awaits who pump aquifers dry.
Glennon is the Morris K. Udall Professor of Law and Public Policy in the Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. rglennon.com
The Governor is a coward. If he supports the pipeline it could hurt his political career if it turns out to be a boondoggle. The lake is rising and they have to do something if the Board members want a big project. They will get all sorts of donations from contractors if it goes through. Hetch Hetchy is not needed now. The Aswan Dam in Egypt did not work as planned. These big projects don't work well. Go ahead and plant your lawn, use water so we can keep our jobs and keep our power.
What is really sad is the final outcome is already decided, some time ago, ALL legal casework.
IF Southern Nevada has an ounce of compassion, they would cease the massive non-stop growth model, implement a building moritorium, and truly live planning in view that this is a DESERT and WATER IS SCARCE.
Build only when it is SUSTAINABLE.
The latest SNWA allowing lawns back is only another arrogant slap in Northern Nevada's face with their hand of power, knowing they can get away with it. And when the decision comes in, and it goes against those folks, there will be a backlash....(I am praying though, in favor of Northern Nevadans, as this water source is NOT SUSTAINABLE as SNWA is telling folks; wells up North have been dropping for years now, what water?)
What we have seen here in America, is the powerful elite's money twist policy and laws over time to suit their gain, leaving the question IF there truly is "justice for ALL."
The alternative water source project is to build a transcontinental canal(following existing highway easements, as Highway 40) from the Midwest to the West to carry the yearly DISASTER FLOODS they normally expect and channel that water to drought ridden areas along the way to the west, providing AMERICAN JOBS and INDUSTRY. Considering the FEMA costs and SNWA growing project costs, this is a no-brainer and really should be looked at.
This would actually be a win win for Ely and Las Vegas. We need the water for future growth and you have think 10-20 years down the road. The project would also create lots of construction jobs in the state.
stop all building in las vegas and depopulate - do not destroy the lives of those in the great basin. lay aside greed and avarice - repent - do the right thing!
Cy, when will you wake up and research your story before publishing it?
The cost of the pipeline is now $15.5 BILLION as documented in a report provided to the state engineer by the SNWA. The pipeline is 306 miles plus laterals. The SNWA preferred alternative is for over 176,000 acre feet of water per year.
Your figure of 127,000 acre feet saved through cash for grass is bogus and way off - the correct figure is about 26 acre feet per year.
Cy,
I really wish you would include more adequate facts when you write a story. The last statistics I have read show that the pipeline cost is now in excess of $15 billion. Water bills for Las Vegas customers have been projected to triple from an average of $36/month to $90/month. Business water bills estimated to go from $300/month to $750. Do the people from Las Vegas know this? Also, why don't you read the BLM's environmental impact study, or at least the talking points. Did you know that the study shows the water table in many of these valleys is projected to drop in excess of 200 feet and that every form of vegetation without a root system deeper than 5 feet will perish? Did you also know that a company in California has offered to sell Las Vegas 500,000 acre feet (way more than this pipeline will ever provide) of California's allocation from the Colorado River for $2 billion dollars to be used in a desalination plant that will replace California's Colorado share. Wouldn't this be a much cheaper and more sensible solution - - Las Vegas use water located right next door and California do likewise? Did Pat M happen to tell you guys that much of the vegetation they will destory can not be successfully replanted?
According to a Sept. 8 in the Las Vegas Sun it was claimed that the Clean Water Coalition was "all but dead. As of Sept. 30, that will be the status of the Clean Water Coalition, an entity that has had little mandate for almost two years, as member agencies mothballed its reason for being: to create a pipeline to return filtered water to Lake Mead." When was it resurrected? I am confused.