Deseret News | Water wars: Snake Valley issue is not as simple as David vs. Goliath

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Water wars: Snake Valley issue is not as simple as David vs. Goliath

Dixon | 9:20 p.m. Nov. 7, 2009

This is sad They can't see the distruction of tapping an aquifer. look at Colorado. They have done it many times for Ranch and farm water. The aquifers are real they dry up natural things when tapped. If it dries these farmers land to do so.It will be a loss greater then just thiers. Wake up if Mead can't supply you don't go for the easy solution to this problem. We need to conserve water, Not ruin the enviorment and peoples hard earned livings to get Water. There goes the food and water bill no beef thats all we need. I have driven the area it will be disaterous.

stevo | 11:53 p.m. Nov. 7, 2009

Even the courts in Nevada think this is a terrible idea. Why won't Mike Styler not pull the plan? Why such support from Mike Noel? Follow the money.

Terri | 6:52 a.m. Nov. 8, 2009

Why does the article need the negative comment about SLC?

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News Reader | 7:29 a.m. Nov. 8, 2009

It is very sad that these hearty people who have spent their lives living off this land will probably lose everything if the water is diverted to Las Vegas.

Dale | 11:50 a.m. Nov. 8, 2009

Nevadas gambling mecca is after the water for more fountains and pomp for its already dying indusry.

LindaJ | 11:57 a.m. Nov. 8, 2009

SLC needed the mention; ranchers aren't city folks,and it is "The City." Meanwhile, we will overpump every aquifer we tap if we aren't careful. There is just so much fresh water available. The old water law, "use it or lose it," needs a rewrite" "Be careful how you use it, or we will all lose it." The fact is, the climate is getting warmer, maybe drier. Less snow, more rain is probably how it will be. More rain, fast runoff. Maybe we need to conserve carefully and not add lots more use & users to the system. Maybe we need to make more conscious decisions, less accidental or old-style thinking decisions about how to use our water here in the West. Maybe water is the "new gold." Think about it.

SNWA's "duty" | 11:59 a.m. Nov. 8, 2009

"the water authority retorts that it has a duty to find water in its state for its residents"

What SNWA means is that it feels it has a duty to find water for its richest and most powerful residents.

Building this pipeline would take water not only from Utah farmers, but the Nevada residents in the basin. All while perpetuating the damaging notion that if people build it, the water will come--even if that means drying out the rest of the West and denying the livelihoods of people who have relied on that water for more than half a century to force it there.

As citizens of this planet it is all of our duty to live responsibly and take care of it as best we can. Not suck it dry for the economic benefit of the latest wave of real estate developers.

JOHNJ | 12:50 p.m. Nov. 8, 2009

A better idea pump the water out of DIXE VALLEY the whole valley is in nevada. Then let's see how the rancher's over there would like it. There is a lot of water elsewhere in nevada, I have personal knowledge of this as being a retired Driller. Having drilled over most of the state of nevada. If las vegas get's their way say goodbye to SNAKE VALLEY!

Where are the environmentalists | 1:14 p.m. Nov. 8, 2009

Very interesting Utah and their conservative politics don't want anything to do with tree hugging environmentalists - UNTIL - they feel threatened. Now the enviros (a dirty word in Utah) are welcomed partners. I guess the old saw that "my enemy's enemy is my friend" never proved to be more true.

Whoa on tapping Utah water | 3:08 p.m. Nov. 8, 2009

Hey folks, why does Las Vegas think they can get water for fountains to flush money from tourists and let Utah go dry up and blow away in the sand?
Folks - look WEST - California is next to the Pacific with plenty water (they don't bother to tap it) but desalinization plants should be built in California for California and pipe THAT to Las Vegas and let them pay for it! The southwest doesn't have extra water -- look to the ocean! Pass it on to California to build it for LA, and Las Vegas and the rest of the big cities running short - keep Utah water where it is and needed! :-)

Lazy SNWA... | 3:36 p.m. Nov. 8, 2009

Look for a real solution. Taking water from a desert is insane! What happens when we all go dry? Take the water from a rich water source. Even if it initally costs more it will be less expensive than doing it in the future when there is no water at all in Snake Valley.

Been there, seen that | 5:15 p.m. Nov. 8, 2009

How many of you have actually been to the Snake Valley? I have, and have stood at the top of Wheeler Peak, and I can tell you there is not any extra water around to pump. Except for a few irrigated green spots, there is little to no above ground water, no green ribbons of vegetation. I have also been to southern AZ, and seen the dead cottonwoods that resulted from drilling drying up the aquifers, which dried up the streams. It's one thing to feed a few hundred head of cattle, another to try to feed tens of thousands of thirsty lawns. Time for Lost Wages to learn to scale back their consumption a bit.

SINWA | 9:16 p.m. Nov. 8, 2009

Keeps telling opponents that there are safegaurds in place to protect the aquifer from over pumping. But how many of you believe that after spending 25 billion dollars to construct this seven foot pipeline that they are actually going to shut it off? you know they will not until every available drop has been mined out. and snake valley will be another "Owens Valley". the once lush valley in california that was reduced to a dust bowl, by Los Angelos stealing it's water.

Sounds fair to me? | 9:51 p.m. Nov. 8, 2009

I agree that pumping the aquifers in nothern nevada or anywhere else is insane. They are not a never ending source. But I am amazed by those who live in Utah or other states that have green lawns and fountains and they think that it is okay for them. Utah gets 5.5 times more water and Arizona 14.5 times more water out of the Colorado than Nevada. Sounds fair to me? Not... we all need to share in the burden. Sharing the water and desalinations are the better options powered by solar to run the pumps.

SJ Bobkins | 12:28 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009

The bottom line question that no one can possibly answer is; what will be the side effects of pumping out the water? Until that can be answered the water has to be left alone. The water autority claims that there is a safety margin, but it seems to be just empty words since they can't be backed up with facts. If you look at past experience, areas drying up when water is extracted seems to indicate danger. It would be wonderful to see Herbert show a backbone by drawing a line against any further extraction, along with blocking Energy Soultions plans to turn Utah into the place to put anything toxic to bed. If you have taken a look at Lake Powell or Lake Mead lately, a whole lot of water isn't there anymore. Both look like partially drained swimming pools, I'm sure that's why the SNWA will do almost anything to acquire more water. But they along with LA have an endless appetite that can never be satisfied with a dwindling supply, shouldn't we be talking conservation instead? In thise entire piece the author didn't use the C word one time.

KD | 7:23 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009

All I know, is someone is going to get rich over this. Whoever has the most money is going to win out. It is the sad nature of things in our country now. Right doesn't always win, it is generally the ones with the deepest pockets.

Water for growth. | 9:17 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009

When Vegas claims the water is for homes, they mean for growth. These homes don't exist yet. The second biggest employer in Clark county are construction related jobs.
It isn't about water, it's about money.

michaelm | 9:47 p.m. Nov. 9, 2009

being from Nevada and Utah and now in WI I think I can see some extreme problems on both sides. Utah waters everything and while it is critical of Nevada greed it makes little effort to get rid of the private acres of grass in peoples yards, homemade ponds, all kinds of plants that have no business in the Utah desert sustained by abusing the water resources. Meanwhile LV home owners have been forced to convert yards to rock gardens, parks are torn up and replaced with cement, asphalt and rock. Tress have been pulled and orchards cut down and replaced with low impact mesquite and desert plants. Vegas has a long history of doing what's best for builders while ignoring what's best for it's people and the state. Anyone who has lived there very long can tell horror stories of the many stupid things the city does to favor over building and the addiction to builder money. There is a reason half of LV is empty and in foreclosure but then Utah is not doing nearly enough to conserve and wastes water with abandon so Nevada has a hard time taking Utah concerns seriously.

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Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

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Water wars: Snake Valley issue is not as simple as David vs. Goliath

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Water wars: Snake Valley issue is not as simple as David vs. Goliath