Reid supports $175 million to acquire water in farm bill

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is using a farm bill moving through Congress to spend $175 million to acquire water for Nevada's desert lakes and restore the Walker River Basin.

The measure is supported by his fellow Nevadan, Republican Sen. John Ensign, as part of an effort begun in 2002 to rescue several lakes that have been drying up in the western part of the state, Walker Lake, Summit Lake and Pyramid Lake. However it was cited by the Agriculture Department on Wednesday as one of several unnecessary pork projects loading up the $290 billion farm bill.

The bill passed the House on Wednesday. Debate began in the Senate despite a veto threat from President Bush. He has complained it's too expensive and doesn't reduce commodity payments enough.

There were two "yes" votes and one "no" from Nevada's three-member House delegation. Voting "yes" were Democrat Shelley Berkley and Republican Jon Porter, while Republican Dean Heller voted against the bill.

Reid plans to vote in favor of the bill, while Ensign has "serious concerns" about it, according to his spokesman, Tory Mazzola.

Reid spokesman Jon Summers said the $175 million was needed to help Walker Lake, which is south of the Walker River Indian Reservation.

"The reality is the lake is drying up as a result of the combination of drought, climate change and increased usage of water from the lake, so you combine those things and those are the challenges that the lake is facing."

Agriculture Department spokesman Keith Williams said $200 million Reid earmarked in the 2002 farm bill for Nevada's desert lakes "was used for unrelated purposes."