The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) remains committed to mining the ancient waters of the Snake and Spring Valleys to feed Las Vegas lawns. Despite the fact that the proposed water project would drop groundwater levels permanently by as much as 200 ft, Governor Herbert has chosen to side with the SNWA over well being of Utah’s citizens, west desert communities and its residents who depend on these aquifers to exist. Nevada’s own State Water Engineer has publicly called out SNWA failures in overestimating future water demand and underestimating the importance of water conservation and efficiency. The BLM recently released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and the URC urges them to adopt the “No Action” Alternative to help protect Utah’s water, the west desert environment and the way of life of west desert Utahns. The DEIS is available online at www.blm.gov/5w5c.
To submit comments before October 11:
Penny Woods, Project Manager
BLM Nevada State Office (NV-910-2)
P.O. Box 12000, Reno, NV 89520-0006
nvprojects@blm.gov
The proposed pipeline would deliver some 176,665 acre ft of water along a 300 mile corridor close to the Utah-Nevada border. That’s enough water to support 707,000 people for one year. It is clear that the permanent drawdown of ancient underground aquifer resources shared by Utah and Nevada will destroy the livelihoods of west desert ranchers and Native American tribes leaving farms and livestock without water. Economically ravaged towns may be abandoned. The mining of these ancient waters will give animal species the choice of fleeing the area or dying of thirst. Plants species will simply die off. The proposed pipeline will reap these impacts on an area the size of Vermont including 35 hydrographic basins, 5 National Wildlife Refuges, 4 state wildlife areas, 7 state parks and 2 national parks. The project will require a massive water delivery infrastructure including roads, power lines, electrical substations, pumping stations and a reservoir that will further decimate west desert ecosystems.
In January of 2010, with Governor Herbert fully prepared to sign an agreement with the SNWA to hand off Utah’s water claims to Las Vegas, the Nevada Supreme Court struck down the SNWA’s original water rights application from 1989. Unfortunately for Utah, the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 (LCCRDA) prevents the BLM from completing an EIS regarding proposed pipeline lands south of White Pine County in Nevada.
This past month concerned Utahns voiced their disapproval of the project in public meetings held by the BLM. Why did Utah’s Congressional delegation fail to show up for these proceedings? Are they unconcerned with the mining of Utah’s water? Given that Representatives Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz’s constituents stand to lose a great deal at the hands of SNWA, the URC thinks it’s time that they stepped up to the plate.