Vol. 2, No. 22
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September 15, 2005
Nevada's Online State News Journal
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CRIMINAL DEFENSE |
COPYWRITING
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Colorado River Commission Meets New Rules, Changes In The Mix
Most Clark County Water Comes From Lake Mead Sources
Water from the Colorado River is spread among seven states on its long run from Wyoming to the Gulf of California, and each of the users taking from the system have specific needs they are not willing to give up to any or all of the others. This has put Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) in the awkward position of having to fight for something they feel is a natural; taking water from the Virgin River.
Nevada' share of Colorado River water amounts to 300,000 acre feet annually, the smallest share among the various users, but the life blood of southern Nevada. SNWA officials want to add to their water base by taking water from ground sources in White Pine County and Lincoln County and piping it into Clark County, and they want to be able to use water from the Virgin River.
The Virgin is a natural tributary into the Colorado system and upstream users in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico feel that if Nevada takes water from the Virgin, the amount taken should be deducted from the amount drained from Lake Mead.
SNWA gave indications at a recent meeting held in San Diego that they will be willing to go to court over the issue. The seven-state compact was originally drawn up in 1922 but has been changed multiple times over the years.
Colorado Commission meetings will be continuing, the next scheduled for Santa Fe, New Mexico. Letters have been sent to Interior Secretary Gale Norton discussing some of the issues dealing with issues such as the Virgin River tributary desires by SNWA and others.
A continuing drought in the upper reaches of the Colorado River and a serious drop in the level of Lake Mead have led to these discussions. Each of the seven states needs to feel secure in their water rights, doesn't want to see any loss, and each has said it will defend its rights in court. The growth in southern Nevada has led to efforts by SNWA to find other water sources. The 300,000-acre feet of water allocated to southern Nevada are used to the last drop most years.
An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons and water experts feel one-acre foot will maintain two households for a year.
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