No end to water flow

      CARSON CITY -- The general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority said Monday she doubts California and Arizona ever will relinquish their permanent allocations of Colorado River water.
      Pat Mulroy told the Assembly Infrastructure Committee that the two states consider the allocations they receive "their birth rights."
      Through various court decisions and federal decrees dating to the 1920s, California receives a permanent allocation of 4.4 million acre-feet of water from the river each year. Arizona receives 2.8 million acre-feet and Nevada, just 300,000 acre-feet.
      "It's a misconception to believe there ever will be a reallocation of Colorado River water," Mulroy said. "We are the little guy caught between two states that have a long history of battling each other over water."
      But she said there is no reason to fear the growing Las Vegas area will fall short of water. She said it is her agency's task to come up with creative ways to conserve and find new sources of water.
      The hearing was the second of six planned by the Infrastructure Committee to discuss the water authority's proposal for a quarter-cent sales tax increase to pay for $1.7 billion in water and $1.2 billion in sewer delivery system improvements.
      Another hearing is set for 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. Southern Nevadans can participate through a video teleconference system in the Sawyer Building in Las Vegas.
      Unlike an earlier meeting, the Monday hearing mainly dealt with how the water authority plans to secure enough water to satisfy the thirst of a growing population.
      Only one private citizen testified and legislators had few questions of Mulroy, other than concerns by Assemblywoman Merle Berman, R-Las Vegas, over the use of water by golf courses.
      "Golf is going to become a very expensive transaction unless they (courses) conserve," Mulroy said.
      The water authority wants to reduce per capita water use by 25 percent by 2010, in comparison with usage in 1990.
      Mulroy described how about 125,000 acre-feet of water has been recharged into aquifers in the Las Vegas Valley and 50,000 acre-feet banked in Arizona under a special program.
      Eventually this water can be used if the Nevada allocation of Colorado River water is exceeded.
      Mulroy said she expects to enter into new banking arrangements with Arizona in coming years that will give Las Vegas the water it needs.
      "It is the most promising alternative we are looking at," she said. "No matter the way it goes, Nevada will be taken care of."
      As it stands, Southern Nevada needs about 80,000 additional acre-feet of water to satisfy needs in the year 2025.