Deseret News | Groups press fight over water for Las Vegas

Reader comments
Groups press fight over water for Las Vegas

JTM | 12:23 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
All of this water would go to Vegas.
However, the side effects would be shared with Utah.
Gov Hunstman has the power to veto this.
So, it looks like UT gets some of the issues, yet none of the benefits. What possible reason could there be that this hasn't been shot down by now?

Water Rights | 3:43 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

For Las Vegas to start confiscating the waters of Utah is a RED flag we should all be concerned with. Las Vegas has shown no signs of being conservative with the water they have already confiscated from their entire state. Now they are reaching in to Utah's domain and water rights. Natural resources are limited and underground aquafirs are already being stretched and drained. Even in Utah and in the northern valleys we are running out of water because of uncontrolled growth and developement. All states should learn to control its growth to conserve its resources. This aquafir Las Vegas is trying to confiscate is also feeding California who is experiencing water shortages. The whole western united states, which is mostly desert for a reason, needs to be more conservative in growth and developement. The Colorado river once ran all the way to the pacific ocean but with overuse and draught it no longer reaches the ocean. This same thing happens to the aquafirs but at a faster pace. It takes years for surface water, the supply, to trickle to the underground rivers. Surface water has been stripped from the rivers and lakes, now we want to strip our reserves.

Amazed | 5:48 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Utah officials must protest against more of its water being used by another state. I think California would be in real trouble without a lot of Utah's Colorado River water. Let's stop Las Vegas from getting use of our water. This must be done prior to their becoming dependent upon it. Nevada has always been a very dry state--they need to deal with that. This is necessarly done by appropriately controlling growth. In the future, there will be a time when water is more precious than gold. At least, we can do now what is necessary to postpone that time.

Comments continue below

priorities | 7:04 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

What could possibly worse than the Bellagio Fountains to be drained?

powernap | 7:18 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

SNWA is one of the most powerful agencies in the west. Utah needs to get their act together and assemble a group to battle SNWA. This group in addition to attorneys and politicians needs to included civil engineers and scientists who have the background to push the hard issues. The sierra club and some of these other org. are not going to cut it.

Protection | 7:45 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

We need to preserve and protect our water resources here in Utah. A report on CNN.com this morning shows CO2 levels increasing, accelerating the demise of glaciers, which provide year round flow in our rivers. If the Colorado and Green rivers dry up later in the year each year we've got to have some way to make up the difference, and if Vegas has slurped up all our potential then we'll be high and dry... Protect our resources and don't give in to the power of $$ on politics!

Las Vegas Mistake | 8:15 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

I think we're all missing the mark. Las Vegas shouldn't have been developed in the first place. If people are going to live in a desert, they have to live like they are in a desert. This is ridiculous.

noreastnv | 9:08 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Hopefully you folks in Utah can stop this water grab. The people in Nevada that it hurts has no say in the matter at all. reid and ensign our senators and most of the state legislature are from the vegas area and they care very little if at all about the rest of the state. So thank you Utah for any help you can give in stopping this water grab.

Reader | 9:17 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Las Vegas is one of the worst-planned large cities in America. It should not be allowed to raid water from other places to continue with its out-of-control growth. The bright side is that the economic slowdown and housing crisis are hitting that city hard and maybe it will get more realistic about its growth management in the future. (Let's also hope those monstrous hotel projects under construction there will sit unfinished for years and develop rust.)

Supply and demand | 9:41 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Las Vegas is the entertainment capitol of the world and playground for the rich.
It just shows you the continued disparity between the rich and ... non-rich.

Sorry folks. But that's the way capitalism works.

Supply and demand.

Just let the golf courses of Salt Lake City dry up and call them Oasis Courses or something.

Anonymous | 9:43 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

If Utah was smart they TOO would allow gambling.
It's a great money-maker and Nevada has been prospering for years because of Lady Luck.

Stop It | 9:45 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Just say NO. Washington county is in the same boat, now they want to build a multi billion dollar pipeline, say no to that also. Limited and reasonable growth should have been the word for both. Now just stop the building you have built to your resources so the party is over.

Vegas | 10:06 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Maybe Las Vegas prospers from gambling, but are you sure you want what goes with it. Higher crime, and the dregs of society.
I grew up in Las Vegas many years ago, and can say the last time I lived in the early 80s they were experiencing water problems then, but they made no attempt to resolve the growth and water use.

"The Snake" | 10:44 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Harry Reid has been pushing for this diversion of aquifer water to Las Vegas for years. His power in Washington is certainly benefitting Las Vegas.
I've said it before . . . and I'll say it again: The only "Snake" in Snake Valley is Harry Reid!

the way it is | 11:12 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Utah is dying while Vegas is prospering.
Live with it.
At least Utahns can stand around and pat each other on the backs telling each other how righteous they are for not allowing lotteries, paramutual betting, casinos ...

LOL!

Wayne in Minnesota | 12:25 p.m. Nov. 25, 2008

None of you westerners will be getting any of our water.

Hatuletoh | 12:46 p.m. Nov. 25, 2008

I was just in Las Vegas, and the good news is that it is being ravaged by the economic crisis, and development is at a standstill. Newly built sub-divisions stand empty. I feel for the cabbies, dealers, and the pool boys who are now, or will be soon, out of work. I have no sympathy, however, for the developers who would rape the land for a few million dollars. Las Vegas was, is, and probably always will be an abomination--a city that shouldn't be.

Jordan T. | 4:08 p.m. Nov. 25, 2008

I have family living down in Las Vegas, and it has hit them especially hard considering I have an uncle and cousin in the construction business.

My cousin, for example, who is the safety coordinator for a major contractor in the area, was working on Echelon Place just off the Strip, and it work on the project has been stalled for a lack of funding.

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