Reader comments
Readers' forum: Enlist the tree huggers

Timj | 3:51 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Be sure to make fun of them when you ask them for their help. That always works, and they should be on your side in no time.

Economics | 5:52 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

One has to decide what is a better use of that water -- growing some low-value agriculture or generating significant profits for entertainment purposes on the streets of Las Vegas? Where's the real money being generated? Las Vegas! We can get our food from South America or China. Trying to grow food in the desert was a bad idea to begin with! Who ever came up with that idea?

Anonymous | 7:37 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Good grief! Can't you do it by yourself?

Comments continue below

stevo | 8:41 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Yo Tracy, This dirt worshipping tree hugger has been fighting this from day one!

Al Gore | 9:51 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Enlist the tree huggers ?.

Where do I sign?.

_________________________

is it here?.

Charles | 10:25 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Where have Tree Hugger and Mormon Dem gone when you need them??? Guys? Gals?

To "Economics | 5:52 a.m." | 11:12 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Economics | 5:52 a.m.

This isn't just about generating the maximum income possible.

To tree-huggers like myself... when you mess with a whole eco-system like this (even if you don't appreciate the high desert eco-systems) it's asking for ecological problems we DON'T fully understand yet and possibly don't want down the road.

If we keep sticking straws into these underground aquifers and sucking them dry for entertainment profits... We will someday be sorry.

This is a perfect example of a person who puts man's greed as Priority #1... and his disregard for how his actions affect nature and long term health of the natural systems the Earth provides almost LAST.

Tree huggers | 11:21 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

are too busy trying to save the whales over in Japan.

Jen | 12:25 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Why should we have to give our water to another state when we need all we can get.Then they will say we are in a drought and can't use or water.

abdi | 12:25 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

frist sending water to los vegas is not bad but to ask maney for it is bad idea

Anonymous | 12:26 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Why should we give our water away when we need it as well? But then again when there's money involved no one else's oppinons matter!!..

manuel Lopez | 12:31 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

well if you are so worried about the water and it is so easy to prevent it, based on your idea, why don't you go and find an animal, fish or whetever that can be affect and leave the tree huggers save the whales over in japan?

Paul | 1:01 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Since the water originated in Nevada, one could say that Nevada could just build a dam and recover the water before it gets to Utah. Of course, water rights between States isn't quite that simple.

Overall, I would say it is unlikely to be a viable solution for the long term. The aquifer will likely fall (possibly helped along by lower rainfall) and then we'll see if Las Vegas will be willing to give up the water.

Sensitive species | 1:05 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

There are some sensitive species that will be affected-species nobody appreciates because you can't eat them or sell them. The least chub and spotted frog depend on springs in the area, and the springs would be the first to dry up if the aquifer is over-harvested.

Thomas | 2:21 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

I understood the aquifer straddled the Nevada-Utah border. (Am I mistaken in this?) If this is true, then Utah has a right to say how the water is used as well as Nevada.

To "Anonymous | 12:26 p.m." | 2:31 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

"Anonymous | 12:26 p.m." " abdi | 12:25 p.m" and others,

#1. We're not giving our water away. They are taking it... from wells drilled on the Navada side. The problem is, the aquifer it draws from is in both States (sort of like Lake Tahoe). Would YOU be OK if Nevada decided to drain Lake Tahoe... as long as the pumping station was on the Navada side of the lake? Of course you wouldn't. It's a similar issue.

#2. Utah's not asking for money. There's no proposal to sell the water or the water rights. Either Navada has the legal right to pump it... or they don't. There's no proposal to sell it.

At least know what you're posting about.

Why.... | 3:10 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

cant the spotted frog, or whatever species you are so emotional about, just build its own resevoir, or habitat? After all the rabid environmentalist nuts consider them the superior species, that is why they worship them. .... silly me, I keep forgetting that political power or profit, and private property takeover would not be neccesary if the "endangered species" had to adapt and survive on its own.

@Why.... | 3:32 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Why can't the species with superior thought processes. opposable thumbs, and the ability to care for others as well as themselves provide habitat for those who are almost extinct? Remember it is at our hand that those animals are nearly extinct. Biodiversity is crucial for our species,as well as all others, to survive and thrive.

Hatuletoh | 4:15 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

In this day and age it's amazing that there really are people--like Ms. Booth, "Why", et al-- who think maintaining bio-diversity is some sort of frivolous elitist hobby; and are too simple to figure out that everything is connected to everything else. I guess you think tuna grows in little cans from a magic tuna tree, right? No need to protect fish (or whales) in Japan--I git my fud from the locul Wal-Mart, and THEY have plenty of it!

As my good friend Ed used to say, "visitors to the Beehive state are always welcome, but are advised to set their watches back 50 years." Sometimes Ed meant that in a complimentary way, but he would have used it here to mock those who can't understand that when one species dies, it means many more less famous ones already have, and many others are on their way, including some that you proudly myopic know-nothings may care about.

@ 3:32 | 4:34 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

You go right ahead, I am not going to stop you. Just count me out, and absolutely don't compel me to participate in your little scheme, and selected moral activity or thoughts. "Remember" there are many "hands" involved in the cycle of life, and extinction is not solely dependant on or caused by human actiivty. According to much of your self serving scientific theories, many species were extinct on this planet long before there was a sniff of a human being. As much as you arrogantly want to believe it, "biodiversity" is likely NOT crucial for our species "to survive and thrive".

Re "Hatuletoh | 4:15 p.m." | 5:26 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Hatuletoh | 4:15 p.m.

Your rant reminded me of the animal rights activist hippie who was protesting and yelling at a group of hunters, taunting them with stuf like, "Why don't you quit killing animals and get your food at the store like the rest of us"!

How does he think his food (hamburger, products made with animal byproducts, etc) gets there? They pick it from the Fud tree or the fud-fairy drops it off at the store?

I think most hunters are MUCH more aware of where their fud comes from than this hippie who thinks it just appears in the stores.

Treehugger | 6:01 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Why should I tell the people of Nevada what to do?

I can't get the cold-hearted and stiff-necked folks here, who should know better, what their personal responsibilities should be.

If you want to go to the beach, go to the beach -- not a man-made fake like Las Vegas.

But I kinda like the letter writers idea of throwing an enviromental species in the cogs to stop things.

Hmmmm, maybe a desert tortoise or a rare spider......

Anonymous | 8:52 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Our society depends upon growth. Growth has made us great. We need to support growth and people rather a few frogs, whales, cacti. Maintaining the natural state of the planet is not necessary for our society. Give them the water so that they can continue to grow and thrive.

Posible solution | 12:29 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

I have a possible solution they could try.

Anonymous | 8:52 p.m.
This isn't a simple minded issue of "grow or don't grow". There are people who already live and support their families from ranches in the Snake River Valley (in Utah). The issue is... Will pumping the water from the underground aquifer on the Navada side of the valley and piping it to Las Vegas lower the water table in this valley that gets very little rain and may not be able to recover or replenish the water removed by the increased pumping and piping.

Nevada contends it won't lower the water table in the valley. If that is true they should have no problem drilling a test well that can be monitored to see if the water level goes down when they start pumping it to Vegas. IF it goes down... they have to stop pumping.

So IF they're right... they can pump all they want.

But IF they're wrong... they wasted a lot of money on the project that eventually had to shut down.

I suspect the Las Vegas investors aren't confident enough to take that gamble.

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