A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey shows their concerns are justified.

Utah officials need more environmental data to confirm and expand on the USGS findings, but this report alone should be enough to pull the plug, at least temporarily, on Nevada's plan to pipe scarce water from Utah's fragile western desert to irrigate Las Vegas' thirsty new casinos and rapidly increasing subdivisions.

The study, requested by the Forest Service because of concerns the plan could also hurt natural features in Great Basin National Park, identifies five areas in the park and five outside that would likely be affected by withdrawing water from the aquifer that lies beneath the Nevada-Utah border.

The study does not specify how much water would have to be removed to harm the sensitive areas, and it isn't precise about what damage would occur. But it stands to reason that draining 25,000 acre-feet per year of groundwater from beneath these valleys, as the Southern Nevada Water Authority would like to do, would eventually dry up their few springs, upsetting the delicate moisture balance necessary to sustain plants, range cattle and wildlife.

Even if Nevada officials are right that ranching and other current uses claim a small percentage of the aquifer at its surface, draining the underground water could have wider effects. It would lower the overall water table and could disrupt the surrounding ecosystem by creating groundwater with much greater salinity, which could damage both the ecology and the economy of the area.

Southern Nevada must have permission from Utah officials before it can tap into the vast aquifer, as the two states share rights to the water.

This study is compelling evidence that turning over western Utah water to Nevada is a bad idea. If other research confirms it, Utah's governor and Legislature should clamp the spigot.