Washoe voters set to decide water issues

RENO -- Washoe County residents will vote in November on requiring development and regional planning to be based on sustainable water resources.

Backers of the citizen initiative gathered enough signatures to qualify it for the Nov. 4 ballot, said Dan Burk, registrar of voters.

County commissioners in March denied a request to place an advisory question linking growth to water on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Petition backers then moved to make the question binding.

Supporters said the initiative would require regional planners to plan for 200,000 more people, for a total population of 600,000, based on current water-use patterns and the amount of water available in Washoe County.

At the outer limit, a new regional water facilities plan would provide for up to 1.2 million people.

"We're confident most voters, whether concerned about water, the environment, sprawling into rural areas or increasing unfunded liabilities, will support our measure," Galloway said.

"Water is our gold in the desert. We must protect our water supply and develop within our means," she said.