Deseret News | Put water deal on hold

Reader comments
In our opinion: Put water deal on hold

Diligent Dave | 9:24 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I have been to Snake Valley and the beautiful mountains on Utah & Nevada's border close to a dozen times in my life (last time was 5 or 6 years ago). The Deep Creek Mountain range which straddles that border is much higher than the Wasatch Mountains (over 12,000 feet). There are several streams that run year round (Tom's Creek, Trout Creek, Granite Creek) among others. All streams have native trout. The streams run from Nevada to Utah.

If Nevada can pump out water on it's side, then Utah can retain & divert water from the Colorado River Basin to the Wasatch Front, and deprive Arizona, Nevada and California of water that otherwise flows down to them.

Allowing water to be pumped to this already desert area is far too risky for the reasons given in the DesNews' editorial and just for the several hundred residents who live there. Governor Herbert, PLEASE SAY, "NO!" to Las Vegas stealing Utah water!!!

Duh! | 9:43 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Yeah -- put it on hold for about the next 32,000 years!

It's a bad deal for us. It's a bad deal for them. It's a bad deal all around.

And, it's illegal.

Hope | 9:52 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

there is a way out of giving Las Vegas, our water.

Comments continue below

Sterling | 12:40 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I agree with "Diligent Dave" - if Nevada takes the Snake Valley Water, then we SHOULD take the Colorado River water. Huntsman, (bless his heart)did little more than try to appease Sen. Reid and the Nevada legislative contingent. Hopefuly, Herbert and other future Utah guvs. will stand up for Utahns rather than appeasing powerful Democratic interests!! If Nevada wants more casinos they SHOULD put them in Reno where there's plenty of water.

prunoid | 3:48 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Is Utah turning environmentalist? I would have never thought that. I guess when it starts affecting their own interest then they turn into one of those "hug a tree today".

anon | 3:54 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Dilligent Dave -- But then again, maybe Colorado will dam the Colorado river, and Wyoming will dam the Green river, depriving Arizona, Nevada, California, and Utah, of water that otherwise flows down to them.

For the love of Pete | 4:12 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Taking water out of Snake Valley is wrong. But I have a better suggestions, how about Utah and every other state take back their residents that they sent here becuase they didn't have enough good paying jobs and we won't need the water or fill the pockets of greedy developers. Let's start by spliting the water of the colorado evenly 50/50 and watch your green lawns die and your fountains dry up. Say "YES" to stealing Utah's and every other greedy states water until everyone learns to play nice.

Carl | 8:39 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Before we let Las Vegas have the water from Snake Valley ecosystem, everybody should look at Owens Valley-Mono Lake ecosystem. A third of Los Angelas water needs is presently pumped from this aqua-system as well as another third from Hoover Dam. As a result, the water level at Mono Lake has shrunk down to 15 feet lower at drought years. Farmers had to drill wells deeper to get water domestically. In metro Phoenix, some of the water displays are reused water from sewers which was cleaned and germicided with ultra violet lights. Maybe casinos should be able to reuse sewer-water just to save Snake Valley from being demised.

To Utah Negotiating Team | 9:48 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

That Nevada judge just blew the negotiations out of the water, don't you think? You should have listened to the locals who have said for years that you can't trust SNWA's flimsy estimates. Do you now take back all those lectures you used to deliver to the lectures about the "realities of water law in Nevada?" Sounds like you're the ones who need a gut check reality test about water law in Nevada. How does that crow taste?

NevadaBorn | 1:02 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

First of all it is Judge Norman Robison not Robinson. Second, the fat lady has not sung yet and it is a sure bet the Nevada Supreme Court will over turn said Judge

Give away water? No way! | 1:23 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

The water grab by Nevada is alot like the health care bill. No one knows the consequence and many have an uncomfortable feeling. Utah has the water now. Nevada and Las Vegas should figure out their own problems without impacting another state. I am grtateful for the Nevada Judge who called a wrong headed move wrong. I pray Gov. Herbert and the rest of Utah have the guts to decline Nevada's request. It seemed to me that before the Nevada Judge's decision, there were those in postions of authority in Utah that were willing to give away our water. Shame on them. I think they should all be identified in a public setting so that we can tell them what we think of their actions.

what in tucket? | 1:24 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

Yes give our water away so the casinos can run. Who said lotteries and gambling are taxes on the poor? We are the second driest state and we are giving water away?

re: giving water away | 4:29 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

Giving water away? Who said that it's yours. The water belongs to all of us and sooner or later the Colorado will be reapportioned and we will all have to share in the wealth and the burden.

Nevada in-laws | 4:49 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

As a native Utahn, I love rural Nevada and spend a lot of time there. SNWA has spent millions of $ to pursue this water, and they won't stop now just because a rural Nevada judge put a small roadblock in their way. I'm certain, sadly, that the water will eventually find its way to LV. The Nevada Supreme Court will bend to the political and economic reality that Vegas controls everything in Nevada. Snake Valley and other central Nevada valleys will end up like the Owens Valley, I'm afraid. By the time that happens, it will be too late to correct the damage done.

BTW, I don't think the Colorado River Compact will be re-opened. That's a political hot potato that no one can handle. Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming will fight any attempt to re-apportion with every resource available. Yes, California, Nevada and Arizona have $ and political clout, but they won't be able to overcome 4 states acting in concert. Thank God and the founding fathers for the principle of equal representation in the Senate. Those in small population states should be ever grateful for the protection this affords us.

Aqua Furr | 11:31 p.m. Nov. 13, 2009

Read the book Cadillac Desert and tell me that Las Vegas isn't doing the same thing that Los Angeles did at the turn of the century in the Owens Valley? You need to learn that in the Southwest water doesn't run downhill, it runs towards money. Unfortunately I don't think that the west desert ranchers or even the State of Utah can do anything to change this "fact" as tragic as it is. It was a beautiful piece of high desert before it dried up and blew away....

From Nevada | 7:41 a.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I have seen the causes of the overuse of the removal of underground water. We need look no further than west of downtown Las Vegas and see the bases of the wells sitting several feet above the ground as the ground has settled as the water has been removed (It has been that way since the 60's). Also, the Colorado is not an ending or a reliable source. Nevada has built a pipeline from California for gasoline/diesel/jet fuel and also a pipeline for natural gas. We should partner with California and desalinate. I know there are environmental and political hurdles but it think it can be overcome. We should build the pipeline big enough so S. Utah and N. Arizona can attach on as they will surely be in need in the future.

STEVO | 3:54 p.m. Nov. 15, 2009

Gov. Herbert: Pull out of the deal now, it is bad management and benefits no one in Utah save Mike Styler and Mike Noel.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.