Nevada Sold Down The River
December 8th, 2007Nevada has passed up an opportunity to increase our water allocation from the Colorado River. The Southern Nevada Water Authority made the agreement - one that will still require a ruinous pipeline to Northern Nevada.
In the Review Journal, Pat Mulroy was quoted:
“It’s hugely important for Nevada,” said water authority General Manager Pat Mulroy. “It gives us enough of a bridge to build our instate project.”
I can’t imagine why Mulroy is hell-bent to proceed with the pipeline, which will do long-term damage to both rural Nevada’s environment and Clark County taxpayers’ wallets. Instead of giving the other states what they wanted in exchange for the minimal concessions she got, she should have negotiated for Nevada’s ability to purchase downstream water rights on the open market.
Today, Nevada gets only 4% of the water that flows past us on the Colorado. The rest goes to downstream users, mostly California and Arizona farmers whose land - and water rights - change hands on the open market today. Mulroy should have refused the other river states what they wanted out of this new agreement until they agreed to let us participate in that market, and use any water we purchased in Nevada.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Follow the money.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Why not conduct a study that reveals the actual water waste that flows into the Pacific ocean after California gets its fill and divert that amount to use for Nevada?
If there is not intent to curtail the building of residences and influx of new citizens to ensure water useage is not made critical maybe that would allow us ti make a dent in the amounts needed.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Follow the money is exactly right, but, of course, not surprising. In a free enterprise society, we follow the money every day. California does not have to construct a pipeline because their congressional delegation outflanks Nevada’s….period. We will be forced to expend our funds (and divide our State and ruin the environment) because Nevada has traded its political capital chasing away the Yucca Mountain spectre (note: a spectre is not real, but people are afraid of it anyway). The water issue is real, as are other issues we need to pay attention to like massive taxes, social security being spent to pay for votes, and a foreign policy meant only to degrade America to the rest of the world. Our congressional delegation is wooed by the sirens of reelection while the Nevada residents succomb to the yolks of increased taxes. I am in favor of just taking the water since we are first in line anyway. If Nevadans care about “states rights” as they claim in Yucca Mountain debates, let them put their money where their mouths are. I know, you say “it just aint happnein’”. You are right, of course, but you still let Mulroy run amok with your money while the water district raises our rates, rations our water and buys our grass. I long for the days of independence that was the hallmark of Nevada. It still lives outside of Las Vegas and Carson City, but, unfortunately, that is not enough any more. Stories like this prove it more and more every day. We just follow the money right into the concentration camps….wierd, huh? It seems like that is the path Nevadans now prefer.
When the light switch does not work and the water ceases to flow despite ever increasing fees, you will ask “what happened?” You are better off asking “what is happening?” now, but I guess that is a lot of work. So be it.