Snake Valley water deal appears imminent

SALT LAKE CITY — A proposed water-sharing agreement in Snake Valley between Nevada and Utah appears destined for signature by the two states as additional revisions were aired in a Wednesday meeting of an advisory council.

Nevada officials indicated at the Snake Valley Advisory Council meeting that they are on board with the agreement as it stands, and John Harja, chairman of the council, conveyed that Utah Gov. Gary Herbert is convinced that "an agreement is better than none, and the interests of Utah are best served by an agreement."

It was also revealed at the meeting that the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which has a pending water-rights application to tap up to 50,000 acre feet from the Snake Valley aquifer, will agree to wait on a hearing for that application until 2019, but only if the agreement between the two states is signed this year.

The water authority is seeking to draw the water from the valley straddling the borders of the two states to feed a $3.5 billion pipeline to Las Vegas and neighboring cities.

Although much of the water originates in the mountains of Nevada, the majority of the land and agricultural use rests in Utah to support ranches and farms.

Controversy over the water-sharing agreement stems from fears it will dry up the valley, jeopardize the right of existing users and create dust concerns along the Wasatch Front, particularly Salt Lake County.

Although the agreement proposes to split the water 50/50, critics say Nevada ends up with too much of what is called "reserve" water, which no one is sure exists.

The first division of water recognizes the dominant use by Utah and splits unallocated water in the second category with an eye to future use.

Despite the revisions, Millard County remains opposed to the agreement, as does Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, who said he does not believe it adequately addresses air pollution and fails to provide an expedient remedy for Salt Lake County's concerns.

Members of the advisory council each plan to write a letter to Herbert explaining their position.

Directors of both the Nevada and Utah departments of natural resources say the agreement, while not everything each side wanted, will protect existing water rights and minimize environmental impacts.

e-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com