Thirsty Las Vegas Eyes a Refuge's Water

[dArKeR]

By Bettina Boxall Times Staff Writer

DESERT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, Nev. — Water is not what comes to mind in this sun-bleached landscape of crumpled mountains and creosote-coated basins. But that's what Las Vegas thinks of when it glances across its northern border at this sprawling bighorn sheep refuge, the largest federal wildlife sanctuary in the lower 48 states.

The city of water-themed casinos and ever-expanding subdivisions is looking here to begin a massive pumping project that would reach deep into rural Nevada to tap an ancient aquifer running from western Utah to Death Valley National Park in eastern California.

In Nevada's scrappy outback, the plans have prompted comparisons to Owens Valley, Los Angeles' infamous eastern Sierra water grab of a century ago.

Federal hydrologists worry that the first round of pumping, which if approved by the state engineer could be in operation by 2007, could starve springs on public lands. They are concerned not just for this place but for several other national wildlife refuges in southern Nevada that provide havens for endangered species found nowhere else in the world.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=2026&e=5&u=/latimests/thirstylasvegaseyesarefugeswater

Pessimism never created a job but Republicans WILL destroy human life on Earth.

[Systematic Chaos]

1. Yeah, every time I walk past the Bellagio

with its huge lake and choreographed water shows, I just wanna get sick.

:puke:

I hope there will come a day, before too much longer, that I can move out of this town and never look back.

[virgdem]

2. So you live in Sodom and Gomorrah...

my sincere condolences to you. I lived there for three months in 1976 and couldn't wait to get the hell out of there. From what I've been told, I wouldn't recognize the place as it is today. And when you leave, don't look back...you may turn into a pillar of salt.

[Spinzonner]

3. That sounds like a LOT of bunk

[struggle4progress]

4. kick

:kick: