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Dear Editor: Critical Water Supply Issue

BY PATRICIA MULROY  …  SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL  …  Posted: Feb. 11, 2011 | 2:03 a.m.   …  Updated: Feb. 11, 2011 | 8:39 a.m(Mulroy’s article is reprinted here in its entirety and was submitted with an imbedded opinion by reader Paul Miller, Phoenix, AZ. As water and its supply is a critical southwest political issue, and with local-state-national elections looming, we offer the submission and the comment, however, the comment has been separated from the article in fairness to its author, and other readers. To read Mr. Miller’s opinion, go to the comment section beneath the article.) 


Patricia Mulroy writes: Over the past 20 years, our community has faced daunting challenges to its water resource security. Staggering economic expansion strained the limits of our water supply in the 1990s, requiring new partnerships with our neighbors on the Colorado River and an investment of nearly $3 billion in treatment and delivery infrastructure.


Just as we had found a path to resolution and had regained some sense of security, the worst drought in recorded history befell the Colorado River system. During the past 11 years, the drought has posed a major threat both to Southern Nevada and the entire Southwest. Showing no signs of abating, the drought remains the defining driver of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s efforts as we begin the second decade of this century.


The past year saw Lake Mead drop to levels it had not experienced since it was originally filled. In 2010, we marked a low point elevation of 1,082 feet, a decline of approximately 130 feet from a decade earlier, when Lake Mead was brimming with water.


At elevation 1,075, the system goes into shortage conditions, causing users to curtail the amount of water they take from the river. At elevation 1,050, Southern Nevada loses the ability to deliver water through its original intake, relying exclusively upon the “second straw” we built a decade ago.


We are so close to the tipping point, one bad winter has the potential to plunge us into shortage conditions. To help reduce the likelihood of that threat, we worked closely with the Department of Interior and the State Department to craft a new partnership with Mexico in which they will leave water in Lake Mead to buoy its elevation. Building upon the partnerships we have forged in recent years, cities in California, Arizona and Nevada have combined forces to leave as much water as possible in the lake.


When in December we saw healthy snowfall on the western slopes of the Rockies, our outlook turned from dour to cautiously optimistic. However, we know from recent experience that this early bounty can literally evaporate before our eyes. What really matters is how much snow falls over the next few months and makes its way down to the Colorado River during the spring snow melt. At this point, the chances are reasonably good that, due to extraordinary efforts and improved snow conditions, the Colorado River will avoid shortage conditions in 2011. In fact, we may even see Lake Mead rise marginally this year, although not to levels that will take us out of the danger zone.


Recognizing that drought cycles have intermittent wet years, and knowing that even under favorable conditions it will take many years for the Colorado River system to recover, we must avoid complacency and remain on the path we began at the outset of this drought.


We will continue to encourage the community to conserve, complete construction of a new intake deep within Lake Mead and secure necessary permitting for unused state-controlled groundwater resources in east-central Nevada that can reduce our community’s 90 percent reliance on the drought-stricken Colorado River.


Conservation has yielded phenomenal successes thanks to your efforts, providing us a measure of protection should a shortage be declared. Last year, Southern Nevadans consumed approximately 26 billion gallons less water than in 2002, despite the addition of 400,000 new residents during that span.


On the new intake, we recognized from the beginning that tunneling under Lake Mead would be a technical challenge, and we have encountered obstacles. We are moving past those and continuing our aim of completing this engineering feat by 2014.


We are also diligently working through the permitting processes associated with bringing the in-state water resource project — which represents a safety net for Southern Nevada’s 2 million residents — to shovel-ready status.


This year, we will have a hearing in front of the state engineer to restore the water rights awarded to Southern Nevada’s residents years ago and complete the federally required environmental review process. When all of the permitting is completed, this Nevada-controlled renewable water supply will be available to protect our community should conditions on the Colorado River deteriorate to potentially catastrophic levels.


During this period of economic realignment in the wake of global economic difficulties, re-establishing Nevada as a secure and vibrant place to invest and establish businesses is foremost on everyone’s mind. A bedrock issue for a desert community is a secure water supply, even under the most challenging of circumstances. As Southern Nevadans have a right to expect, the authority will continue to plan and prepare for all eventualities.


As Winston Churchill once said, “He who fails to plan is planning to fail.” Failure is not an option Southern Nevada’s economy can afford as it begins to recover.


3 Comments

  1. Paul Miller, Phoenix AZ says:

    Make no mistake Pat Mulroy’s … Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is to Las Vegas as the Central Arizona Project (CAP) is to “metro” Phoenix … The absolute water-god … whose word on water is gospel not to be disputed … Both tied to the same water source … the diminishing Colorado River …Close your eyes it makes it easier to believe this BS from both source$ … When in doubt … just follow the $$$

  2. Water Quality in Farm Bill says:

    Addressing Water Quality in Upcoming Farm Bill: Last week a coalition of various water agricultural, environmental and state organizations submitted a letter urging Congress to support practices and policies that strengthen the links between agriculture and water quality.

    According to Ken Kirk, executive director of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), which is part of the coalition, the purpose of the letter was to encourage reductions in nutrient runoff from farmlands into the nation’s lakes, rivers and estuaries.

    The letter addressed the relationship between water quality and agricultural practices and policies, and how the development of Farm Bill during the 112th Congress can help reduce the impact on water quality through conservation practices of farms and ranchers.

    In addition to the NACWA, the coalition includes organizations such as the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, American Water Works Assn., Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators, Water Environment Federation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Sierra Club, Northeast Midwest Institute, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the National Audubon Society, among others. More than 140 groups signed the letter to Congress.

  3. Debra Emmanuelle, Verde Food Council Executive Director says:

    Watch for more information when the Verde Food Council in partnership with Gardens for Humanity presents a FOOD SECURITY EXPO on St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. John Vianney Church in Sedona. A number of presenters will speak on food-related topics throughout the day. Healthy cooking and food preservation classes, along with several showings of the movie “Dirt” will be offered in addition to events for children. Local farm producers, restaurants, grocers, and providers will be in attendance, providing information and to answer questions. Together, let’s put the green back in Verde!!! For more information, call me at (928) 282-8738
    http://www.verdefood.org.

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