Despite millions of reasons to behave differently — to take concrete steps to conserve water to eliminate or at least postpone the need to develop new water resources — SNWA's applications for groundwater rights are moving forward. One application was granted, in part.

My deepest fear with this issue is that the people of Snake Valley, who have the most compelling case to preserve their water as one can imagine, will be outgunned legally. SNWA has a lot more resources at its disposal, proceeds of wholesale water sales, and sales-tax collections to name just two. The affected Utahns will need state resources to fight to protect this water resource.

"Hidden Oasis," requested by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and funded by two private foundations, is instructive to many Western states, including Utah. The days of large-scale federal water projects are over. We've got to step up conservation efforts to live within existing resources. When new water development is necessary, we have to figure out how to pay for it and do the least amount of environmental damage.

If one has money and access to new resources, it's a lot less grief to obtain more water than it is to retrain people in the desert who are accustomed to long, hot showers and Kentucky bluegrass lawns.

But just because we can doesn't necessarily mean we should, does it?

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Marjorie Cortez, whose household water consumption should drop by half once the teenage daughter leaves for college, is a Deseret Morning News editorial writer. E-mail her at Marjorie@desnews.com.