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Aquifers beneath the west desert are more connected than previously believed, indicating that a project to pump groundwater to Las Vegas from central Nevada valleys could impact neighboring Utah farmers and wildlife.
A draft analysis released by the U.S. Geological Survey reveals that groundwater flows from Nevada to Utah at a greater rate than anticipated. It also indicates that there may be more groundwater in various aquifers than expected.
That news only adds to the anxiety of ranchers and conservationists who say a proposal by the Southern Nevada Water Authority to eventually pump as much as 200,000 acre feet of water from desert valleys annually to the ever-growing Las Vegas metropolis would be "devastating."
"It's basically a very immoral thing to do," Utah rancher Cecil Garland said Monday. "Those of us in agriculture know there isn't that kind of water in these desert valleys."
Earlier this year, Nevada State Water Engineer Tracy Taylor ruled that the water authority could pump 40,000 acre-feet of water yearly from aquifers in Spring Valley, Nev. That area lies directly west of Snake Valley, which straddles the Utah-Nevada border.
After 10 years, state and federal authorities will determine whether the pumping has been harmful to the environment. If the impacts are not too great, the Nevada water authority could then pump an additional 20,000 acre-feet a year from Spring Valley to Las Vegas.
But that could be too late for fragile desert vegetation and wildlife that depend on it, said Launce Rake, spokesman for Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. Because the aquifers are so connected, a drawdown in Spring Valley will reduce flows to Snake Valley, he said.
"One of our real concerns is that we won't know what's going to happen until it starts happening," Rake said. "But there are going to be impacts in vegetation, wildlife and on the livelihoods of folks in Snake Valley. That's the bottom line," Rake said.
Pumping desert groundwater could eventually have repercussions on as many as 20 species protected under the Endangered Species Act, said Jim Deacon, professor emeritus in biology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Among the species at risk are the Pahrump pool fish in Spring Valley and the least chub in Snake Valley.
"The connectedness that's shown in the new [USGS study] is further evidence that impacts on the upstream flow system will be felt downstream," he said. Eventually, "that could impact regional springs and all the plants and animals dependent on them."
But southern Nevada officials say the draft analysis reveals plenty of water to go around.
"The data demonstrate there is a large quantity of groundwater available," said J.C. Davis, spokesman for the water authority. "That should move people past the rhetorical stage."
Further, Davis said that Nevada and federal officials are cognizant of potential environmental impacts from a groundwater drawdown and have agreed the pumping project cannot be detrimental to wildlife. Ranchers, too, will be protected.
"A permit for groundwater in Nevada is not a blank check," he said.
But among the tenets of federal legislation that authorized the pipeline is that Utah and Nevada must reach an accord that keeps wildlife and ranchers from being harmed. Such an agreement is necessary before the water authority can pursue groundwater in Snake Valley - the next phase of its pipeline project.
Mike Styler, director of Utah Department of Natural Resources, is hopeful, but after over a year of discussions, no such agreement has been reached.
"We want [the Nevada project] to succeed," Styler said. "We just don't want them to take any Utah water. Existing water rights and uses must be protected."
* A new draft study by the U.S. Geological Survey says Nevada aquifers are more connected to Utah aquifers than believed earlier.
* The study has also determined that some groundwater from Nevada's Spring Valley flows to Snake Valley in western Utah, but there may also be more groundwater in the aquifers than thought.
* The Nevada state engineer has given the Southern Nevada Water Authority approval to withdraw 40,000 acre-feet of groundwater from Spring Valley annually.
* Snake Valley ranchers on both sides of the state line and conservationists charge that such a withdrawal would harm their valley's ecosystem and damage ranchers' livelihoods.