Citing potential negative effects on the state's wildlife, the Nevada Wildlife Commission voted today to oppose the export of water from eastern Nevada to the Las Vegas area......Almost amazing that the Commissioners had the "cajones" to say NO to the water plan..........Vegas is going to denude the entire State of water if things keep going as they are..............with the result being disaster for prognhorn, mule deer, bighorn sheep, all types of birds and all the big carnivores that rely on these prey animals for food

Wildlife Commission rejects import of water from eastern Nev. to Las Vegas

Jeff Delong

With two commissioners abstaining due to a conflict-of-interest, the governor-appointed panel voted unanimously to oppose a plan members said is "severely detrimental to Nevada's wildlife."

A resolution stating the commission's concerns was being rushed to the Nevada State Engineer's office in Carson City ahead of a 5 p.m. Friday deadline to submit comments.The state engineer has held multiple hearings since September about the proposal by the Southern Nevada Water Authority to build a 300-mile-long pipeline to carry water to Las Vegas.

The water would come from aquifers in eastern Nevada that feed springs throughout the area as well as parts of western Utah.

Among other negative impacts cited by an environmental study of the plan, wildlife commissioners say it could dry 8,000 acres of wetlands and meadows and destroy 191,500 acres of habitat important to mule deer, pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep, sage grouse and other birds.
The commission's resolution urges the Southern Nevada Water Authority to "thoroughly examine other water supply options for southern Nevada."