SNWA Multi-Billion Dollar Water Pipeline On Hold

The SNWA has had plans on the table to build a multi-million dollar pipeline to bring water from Eastern and Northern Nevada to Southern Nevada. Those plans are now on hold.

According to an article posted by legendary investigative report George Knapp on 8NewsNow.com, there has been a legal battle that has been waged for years between the SNWA (Southern Nevada Water Authority) and a group comprised of environmentalists and ranchers. The SNWA is willing to spend $15 billion dollars or more to build a 300-mile long pipeline to bring underground water from the Great Basin National Park and other aquifers in Nevada, to the most populous city in the state, Las Vegas.

As you might imagine, there are lots of big, important, players backing the SNWA's plan. Casinos? Sure. Land developers? You bet. Plus, the Southern Nevada Water Authority is a government agency, and those types of agencies generally have lots of cash to pursue their goals.

However, after years of court battles in which the SNWA has spent in excess of 100 million dollars of public funds trying to get this project approved, the plans have been "deferred." Per Knapp's article, all of that money was used to hire "high-priced law firms, public relations companies and lobbyists" to overcome opposition to these plans. Knapp goes on to state: "...but scientific studies showed that sucking an ocean of groundwater from the rural counties could, in effect, create a vast dead zone in Nevada."

These court battles have produced other casualties. Many of the ranchers who own the land or run the ranches have had their savings depleted fighting the SNWA through the years. And many of the opponents to this plan feel government agencies will now try to craft legislation to help them bypass Nevada water laws since they cannot win in court.

This battle may go on for years to come, but on a different playing field. I'm sure George Knapp and 8NewsNow.com will stay on the case.

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Larry Martino is the long-time Afternoon Drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

I've had so much fun at, and on Lake Mead over the years - as you can see in the pictures. But it's scary what is happening to our lake.

As of last weekend, the depth of Lake Mead is about 1045 feet above sea level, it has lost another 6 feet of water in just one month, and is now at 29% capacity.

The six foot drop in just one month is a lot, but there are a lot of reasons beyond over usage: The Bureau of Reclamation has held back water from Lake Powell to allow power to be generated at the Glen Canyon Dam is one reason, the severe prolonged drought and evaporation are also taking a toll.

If the level continues to fall a water shortage will be declared for 2023. This would mean a reduction in the water allocated to us here in the Vegas valley. Last year we used 242,000 acre feet of water with an allocation of 300,000 acre feet. FYI: An acre foot of water is what two average households use per year.

I know firsthand how low the lake is. How? I had to pay for a prop on a boat rental because I got too close to a rock - that was about 50 feet from the shore!

Have fun on the lake, but be careful out there!

Easy to see how low the lake level has dropped, by the rings.