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The Pursuit of Sustainable & Reliable Water Supplies in the Desert

The Pursuit of Sustainable & Reliable Water Supplies in the Desert The Las Vegas Story Pat Mulroy Southern Nevada Water Authority August 2008. Las Vegas, Nevada. Southern Nevada. 1. “The Rush is Only Just Commencing.” Las Vegas Age, May 1905. 1960 – 116,000.

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The Pursuit of Sustainable & Reliable Water Supplies in the Desert

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  1. The Pursuit of Sustainable & Reliable Water Supplies in the Desert The Las Vegas Story Pat Mulroy Southern Nevada Water Authority August 2008

  2. Las Vegas, Nevada

  3. Southern Nevada 1

  4. “The Rush is Only Just Commencing.” Las Vegas Age, May 1905

  5. 1960 – 116,000 1970 – 270,000 1980 – 444,000 1990 – 800,000 2000 – 1.3 million Development History Population 1950 – 47,000 2008 – 2.0 million

  6. Las Vegas – Early Settlement Early inhabitants came to Las Vegas because of its abundant water supplies. 1905 Pre-1905 1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008

  7. Las Vegas – Early Settlement Even early settlers recognized the value of conservation. Photo courtesy of UNLV Special Collections. 1905 Pre-1905 1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008

  8. Las Vegas - 1905 A railroad resulted in the formation of the privately owned Las Vegas Land and Water Company. 1905 Pre-1905 1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008

  9. Las Vegas – 1920s Nevada received its Colorado River allocation; there was no projected use for this water at the time. NM UT Nevada WY AZ CO CA 1905 Pre-1905 1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008

  10. Las Vegas – 1950s Las Vegas gained popularity as a tourist destination. 1905 Pre-1905 1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008 90 % of all water comes from local groundwater supplies.

  11. Las Vegas – 1970s Colorado River water delivery facilities became operational. The Colorado River is expected to provide Las Vegas an ample water supply until the middle of the 21st century. 1905 Pre-1905 1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008

  12. Las Vegas – 1990s The Colorado River was estimated to be fully used by the early 2000s. 1905 Pre-1905 1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008

  13. “Water ignites simmering feud between city and county.” Las Vegas Review Journal, March 1991

  14. 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 Population (in Millions) 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.04 0.02 1905 Pre-1905 1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008 0 Las Vegas – 1990s • Major Issues • Competition for Colorado River water • No coordinated conservation plan

  15. “Super water agency taking shape.” Las Vegas Sun, May 1991

  16. Regional Coordination Water Conservation Regional Facilities Las Vegas – 1990s • The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) was formed by cooperative agreement (NRS 277) in 1991 to address Southern Nevada’s unique water needs on a regional basis

  17. “Nevada to be granted surplus river water.” Las Vegas Sun, December 2000

  18. Las Vegas – Early 2000s 2000 Resource Plan 5 8 800,000 9 2 4 7 700,000 3 1 600,000 Interim Surplus 500,000 1. Interim surplus (through 2016) 2. Clark County groundwater 3. Arizona Demonstration Project 4. Arizona Groundwater Bank 5. Las Vegas Valley shallow aquifer 6. Muddy River 7. Virgin River 8. Southern Nevada Groundwater Bank 9. Colorado River transfers 400,000 Water (acre-feet) Existing Resources (Colorado River) 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 2042 2026 2034 2050 2018 2002 2010

  19. Las Vegas – Early 2000s Interim Surplus • Intended as a bridge until other long-term resources could be developed. • Surplus volumes available based on Lake Mead water levels. • Meanwhile, SNWA aggressively pursues other resources: • - Conservation • - Water banking • - Exchanges with other states • - Desalination

  20. Las Vegas – Early 2000s Drought takes hold on the Colorado River…

  21. Las Vegas – Early 2000s Interim Surplus availability becomes uncertain… 800,000 Interim Surplus? 700,000 600,000 500,000 1. Interim surplus (through 2016) 2. Clark County groundwater 3. Arizona Demonstration Project 4. Arizona Groundwater Bank 5. Las Vegas Valley shallow aquifer 6. Muddy River 7. Virgin River 8. Southern Nevada Groundwater Bank 9. Colorado River transfers 400,000 Water (acre-feet) Existing Resources (Colorado River) 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 2042 2026 2034 2050 2018 2002 2010

  22. 1,240 1,200 1,160 1,120 1,080 1999 2000 2001 2002 Las Vegas – Early 2000s Lake Mead water level plunges…

  23. “Officials to draft drought plan for valley.” Las Vegas Review Journal, October 2002

  24. Las Vegas – Early 2000s Drought Plan WATER PRICING EDUCATION REGULATION INCENTIVES 17

  25. Las Vegas – Early 2000s Conservation Policies and Programs • Year-round watering schedules • Turf limitations • Golf course water budgets • Water waste enforcement • Conservation rates • Education and outreach 18

  26. “Authority takes aim at turf.” Las Vegas Review Journal, March 2006

  27. Las Vegas – Early 2000s Conservation Policies and Programs • Provides rebates to customers that replace turf with water-smart landscaping • Nearly 112 million square-feet (10 million square meters) converted since program inception • Over 4.3 billion gallons (23.4 billion liters) saved annually

  28. “Storm fails to make dent in drought.” Las Vegas Review Journal, June 2003

  29. Las Vegas – Current Lake Powell Annual Inflows 120% 105% 105% Normal 100% 73% 80% 68% 62% 59% 53% 51% 60% 40% 25% 20% 0% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (Projected) Historical 8-Year Average Inflow: 62% of normal 4

  30. Historical and Forecast Lake Mead Elevation Las Vegas – Current 1,225 Top of Spillway 1,175 1,125 End of Month Elevation (feet) 1,075 Historical Shortage Forecast Jul-08 1,025 Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Source: Bureau of Reclamation, December 2007 and July 2008

  31. Las Vegas – Current Hoover Dam/Lake Mead 1983 2008

  32. Las Vegas – Current Colorado River at Lake Mead 90% of regional water supplies come from the Colorado River.

  33. … ‘future droughts will recur and may exceed the severity of droughts of historical experience, such as the drought of the late 1990s and early 2000s.’ NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL Colorado River Basin Management: Evaluating and Adjusting to Hydroclimatic Variability

  34. Current Priorities Priorities SNWA’s future depends on: • Conservation • Diversification of Resources • Regional Partnerships

  35. Current Priorities Conservation 325,000 279,000 270,000 265,000 265,000 265,000 Water Use (Acre-feet) 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 In 2007, the SNWA served more than 400,000 new residents and nearly 40 million annual visitors with approximately 15 billion gallons (56.8 billion liters) less water than five years ago. 31

  36. Current Priorities Resource Diversification Spring Valley Snake Valley Cave Valley Dry Lake Valley Delamar Valley Coyote Spring Valley

  37. Current Priorities Resource Diversification 1,400,000 Transfers & Exchanges NV/CA Bank 1,200,000 Three Lakes Arizona Bank Arizona Bank Coyote Spring 1,000,000 CR Augmentation Drop 2 800,000 Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Project, 164,000 af Acre-Feet 600,000 Muddy/Virgin Rivers 400,000 Current Resources 200,000 Chart assumes full consumption of all resources 2048 2052 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 2028 2032 2036 2040 2044 Year

  38. Current Priorities Regional Partnerships • Shortage sharing among states • Arizona water bank • California water bank • System conservation • Tri-state desalination projects • Bi-National resource management and desalination projects

  39. The face of the new Southwest…

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