Saturday, December 28, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Interior Department order would cost Nevada water

Nevada would lose 10 percent of its water allotment from the Colorado River under a not-quite-final water order issued Friday by the Interior Department.

Nevada and California both would be stripped of the surplus water the two states now receive if the Imperial Irrigation District in California fails to yield by Tuesday and sell water to California cities.

The Interior Department said if the Imperial District reached a settlement agreement, Nevada will receive its full allotment: 300,000 acre-feet, plus another 30,000 acre-feet deemed surplus water.

If the California dispute isn't resolved by Tuesday, Nevada loses the 30,000 acre-feet and California loses 800,000 acre-feet.

An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, roughly enough to serve the needs of a family of five for one year.

In a telephone news conference, Interior Assistant Secretary Bennett Raley said Secretary Gale Norton has no choice but to proceed with the enforcement of the Colorado River decree first written in 1929.

State and local officials in Nevada said if the 30,000 acre-feet is not available for use, Nevada is not in dire straits, despite the drought that has been under way for four years.

"This does not put Nevada in a crisis situation because we do have adequate water in underground storage," said Greg Bortolin, spokesman for Gov. Kenny Guinn.

"We'll meet the needs," said Vince Alberta, spokesman for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. "While it's disappointing California hasn't been able to fulfill commitments and promises, we in Nevada will do what we have to do."

Alberta said in 2002, the district used 323,000 acre-feet and is projected to use 330,000 in 2003. If it becomes necessary, he said the district will turn to 350,000 acre-feet stored in groundwater tables from prior years.

Raley also confirmed that discussions are still under way to separate Nevada's fate from California's, if possible.

Alberta said while he was "still hopeful" that a special arrangement can be made for Nevada, "we have to be pragmatic. We're prepared for both scenarios."

The premise linking Nevada to California, Raley explained from Washington, D.C., is that the surplus water is like an on or off switch. "When the surplus is available, all water users benefit. When it's not, nobody gets it."

Bortolin said the governor supports Norton's firm stance in respect to California, which uses 800,000 acre-feet more than it's allocated. While it means a short term loss of water for Nevada, "in the long term it benefits Nevada," he said.

The agreement would included a provision that over the next 15 years California weans itself from the 800,000 acre-feet of surplus water it uses annually from the Colorado River.

Raley denied that the interior department is trying to turn up the heat on the Imperial District a few days before the deadline.

However, the Imperial District board is meeting at 5 p.m. Monday.