The aquifer is confined, but it does recharge in various mountain ranges. So it’s possible that Las Vegas could remove some water and still leave the aquifer in good shape for other users. The problem is that the SNWA (Southern Nevada Water Authority, which makes decisions about water use for Las Vegas) uses a groundwater model that predicts more recharge than other models out there. Going by their numbers, they’re not as a whole planning on taking more water than the aquifer provides, but they’re planning on pumping some areas (sub basins) very heavily, and others not at all. So some areas will be really negatively affected.

Drawing down water levels is a concern for other people in the area, obviously, and also to the ecosystems in the region. Most biodiversity is concentrated along springs, streams and wetlands that depend on the aquifers for water. One study predicted negative effects for the 15 endangered and 5 threatened riparian species in these areas. We’ve already seen this effect, as a minnow called the Las Vegas Dace, only found in springs in the Las Vegas Valley, went extinct in the 1980s due to overuse of groundwater.

I really think Las Vegas needs to cap its population or at least slow its growth substantially. It’s a desert. It’s made for low population density. (Easy for me to say, as I’m from humid southern Ontario, but we have our own gw supply issues here, too…)

Sorry to see you go, but glad to hear you took the long way across Nevada. Great Basin NP proudly boasts that it has cleanest air in the lower 48 states and rightly so. While the park will retain its water from the Vegas grab, it recently just dodged another bullet when Senator Reid came out against two coal power plants in Ely. A huge step on many scales, but one that ultimately guarantees the basin will also keep keep those sweeping views and gorgeous blue skies.

CJ

-M