POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF

NEVADA GROUNDWATER NEVADA GROUNDWATER

DIVERSIONS TO REGIONAL DIVERSIONS TO REGIONAL

SPRING RESTORATIONSPRING RESTORATION

or…or…or…or…

How to Fuel Growth in Las Vegas byHow to Fuel Growth in Las Vegas by

Burning Regional BiodiversityBurning Regional Biodiversity

Jack E. Williams, Trout Unlimited

James E. Deacon, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Cindy Deacon Williams, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy

Austin E. Williams, University of Oregon School of Law

THE DILEMMATHE DILEMMA

Southern Nevada Water Authority proposes majorSouthern Nevada Water Authority proposes major

additional groundwater withdrawals across a broad additional groundwater withdrawals across a broad

expanse of the Great Basin, already stressed by water useexpanse of the Great Basin, already stressed by water use

�� Estimated Perennial Yield = 719,610 acEstimated Perennial Yield = 719,610 ac--ft/yrft/yr

�� Water Rights (2009)Water Rights (2009)

�� Existing = 848,474 Existing = 848,474 afyafy (118%)(118%)

�� SNWA = 187,971 (~22% of E or 26%PY)SNWA = 187,971 (~22% of E or 26%PY)

�� Pending = 1,046,006Pending = 1,046,006

�� SNWA = 162,146 (~15% of pending)SNWA = 162,146 (~15% of pending)

�� Total E + P = 1,894,480 Total E + P = 1,894,480 afyafy (~263%)(~263%)

�� Climate Change will reduce perennial yieldClimate Change will reduce perennial yield

Las Vegas Valley Las Vegas Valley

�� Perennial Yield = 35,000 Perennial Yield = 35,000 acac--ft/yrft/yr

�� Existing Rights = 92,960 Existing Rights = 92,960

Pahrump Valley Pahrump Valley

�� Perennial Yield = 19,000 Perennial Yield = 19,000 acac--ft/yrft/yr

�� Existing Rights = 60,550 Existing Rights = 60,550

HISTORICAL CHANGES HISTORICAL CHANGES Past 100 yearsPast 100 years

Existing Rights = 92,960 Existing Rights = 92,960 acac--ft/yr (377%)ft/yr (377%)

�� Spring failure ~ 1957Spring failure ~ 1957

�� Land subsidence causing Land subsidence causing structural damagestructural damage

�� Loss of biodiversity (e.g. Loss of biodiversity (e.g. Las Vegas dace)Las Vegas dace)

Existing Rights = 60,550 Existing Rights = 60,550 acac--ft/yr (319%)ft/yr (319%)

�� Spring failure ~ 1959 + 1975Spring failure ~ 1959 + 1975

�� Land subsidence causing Land subsidence causing structural damagestructural damage

�� Loss of biodiversity (e.g. Loss of biodiversity (e.g. RaycraftRaycraft Ranch Ranch poolfishpoolfish))

HISTORICAL CHANGES HISTORICAL CHANGES Past 100 yearsPast 100 years

HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 1964HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 1964Manse Ranch Spring, Pahrump Valley, NevadaManse Ranch Spring, Pahrump Valley, Nevada

HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 1976HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 1976Manse Ranch Spring, Pahrump Valley, NevadaManse Ranch Spring, Pahrump Valley, Nevada

HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 2008HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 2008Corn Creek, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, NevadaCorn Creek, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada

SPRINGSPRING--DWELLING SPECIESDWELLING SPECIES

STREAMSTREAM--DWELLING DIVERSITYDWELLING DIVERSITY

BAKER

ELY

Utah Lake

Sevier Lake

SIMULATED WATERSIMULATED WATER--LEVEL DRAWDOWN LEVEL DRAWDOWN

AT FINAL STEADYAT FINAL STEADY--STATE (SNWA 180800 AFA)STATE (SNWA 180800 AFA)

LUND SPRINGLUND SPRING

FLAG SPRINGSFLAG SPRINGS

PRESTON

BIG SPRINGS

PRESTON

BIG SPRINGSDUCKWATER

SPRINGS

DUCKWATER

SPRINGS

MOORMAN

SPRINGS

56

7 8

VALLEY FILL AQUIFERVALLEY FILL AQUIFER

NE

VA

DA

AR

IZO

NA

U

TA

H

LAS VEGAS

ALAMO

LakeMead

Death Valley

FLAG SPRINGSFLAG SPRINGS

PANACA

WARM SPRINGS

PANACA

WARM SPRINGS

LOCKES SPRINGSLOCKES SPRINGS

HIKO SPRINGSHIKO SPRINGS

MUDDY RIVER

SPRINGS

MUDDY RIVER

SPRINGS

CRYSTAL SPRINGSCRYSTAL SPRINGS

ASH SPRINGSASH SPRINGS

ASH MEADOWS

SPRINGS

ASH MEADOWS

SPRINGS

MAJOR FLOW SYSTEMS

STUDY AREA BOUNDRY

PROPOSED WELLS

SPRINGS

1

2

34

5

0 50 100 miles

0 50 100 kilometers

100 FEET

50 FEET

PROJECTED GROUNDWATER

LEVEL DECLINE

10 FEET

1 FOOT

BAKER

ELY

Utah Lake

Sevier Lake LUND SPRINGLUND SPRING

FLAG SPRINGSFLAG SPRINGS

PRESTON

BIG SPRINGS

PRESTON

BIG SPRINGSDUCKWATER

SPRINGS

DUCKWATER

SPRINGS

MOORMAN

SPRINGS

56

7 8

SIMULATED WATERSIMULATED WATER--LEVEL DRAWDOWN LEVEL DRAWDOWN

AT FINAL STEADYAT FINAL STEADY--STATE (SNWA 180800 AFA)STATE (SNWA 180800 AFA)CARBONATE AQUIFERCARBONATE AQUIFER

NE

VA

DA

AR

IZO

NA

U

TA

H

LAS VEGAS

ALAMO

0 50 100 miles

LakeMead

Death Valley

FLAG SPRINGSFLAG SPRINGS

PANACA

WARM SPRINGS

PANACA

WARM SPRINGS

LOCKES SPRINGSLOCKES SPRINGS

HIKO SPRINGSHIKO SPRINGS

MUDDY RIVER

SPRINGS

MUDDY RIVER

SPRINGS

CRYSTAL SPRINGSCRYSTAL SPRINGS

ASH SPRINGSASH SPRINGS

ASH MEADOWS

SPRINGS

ASH MEADOWS

SPRINGS

MAJOR FLOW SYSTEMS

STUDY AREA BOUNDRY

PROPOSED WELLS

SPRINGS

1

2

34

5

0 50 100 kilometers

100 FEET

50 FEET

PROJECTED GROUNDWATER

LEVEL DECLINE

10 FEET

1 FOOT

CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE SOUTHWEST CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE SOUTHWEST Key IssuesKey Issues

�� Water supplies will become Water supplies will become

increasingly scarceincreasingly scarce

�� Increasing temp, drought, Increasing temp, drought,

wildfire, invasive species wildfire, invasive species

accelerate landscape accelerate landscape accelerate landscape accelerate landscape

transformationtransformation

�� Increased frequency and Increased frequency and

altered timing of floodingaltered timing of flooding

�� Unique tourism and Unique tourism and

recreation opportunities lostrecreation opportunities lost

�� Cities and agriculture faceCities and agriculture face

US Global Change Research Program (2009)

Global climate change impacts in the US

increasing risksincreasing risks

WILL SPRING DISCHARGE, WATER WILL SPRING DISCHARGE, WATER

TABLE, & WETLAND AREA DECLINE?TABLE, & WETLAND AREA DECLINE?

YESYES

�� Patten et al. 2008Patten et al. 2008

�� Deacon et al. 2007Deacon et al. 2007

�� Myers 2007Myers 2007

BredehoeftBredehoeft 20072007

NONO

�� SNWA 2007SNWA 2007

�� BredehoeftBredehoeft 20072007

�� Fish & Wildlife Service 2007Fish & Wildlife Service 2007

�� Welch and Bright 2007 Welch and Bright 2007

�� SNWA 2006 SNWA 2006 (Durbin model)(Durbin model)

�� Schaefer and Schaefer and HarrillHarrill 1995 1995

�� Mifflin 1968 Mifflin 1968

�� EakinEakin 19661966

SNWA CLAIMS SNWA CLAIMS -- NO ADVERSENO ADVERSE

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTSENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

…Because Stipulated Agreements Promise…Because Stipulated Agreements Promise

�� Feds/SNWA will manage to prevent unreasonable Feds/SNWA will manage to prevent unreasonable

environmental consequencesenvironmental consequences

�� Surface water in Spring Valley will be used to recharge Surface water in Spring Valley will be used to recharge

groundwatergroundwatergroundwatergroundwater

�� “Our Fed/SNWA committees will be dictating when and where “Our Fed/SNWA committees will be dictating when and where

water can be moved out of the valleys”water can be moved out of the valleys”

�� SNWA environmental stewardship demonstrated (projects in SNWA environmental stewardship demonstrated (projects in

Las Vegas wash, Moapa Valley, lower Virgin River, Spring Las Vegas wash, Moapa Valley, lower Virgin River, Spring

Valley, Las Vegas Springs Preserve, etc.)Valley, Las Vegas Springs Preserve, etc.)

ECOSYSTEM CONSEQUENCESECOSYSTEM CONSEQUENCESReduced Spring Discharge, Water Table and Reduced Spring Discharge, Water Table and

Wetland AreaWetland Area

Spring dischargeSpring discharge�� More rapid cooling More rapid cooling

-- thermal endemics declinethermal endemics decline

�� Reduced habitat volume Reduced habitat volume

-- reduced fish size; exponentially reduced fish size; exponentially

Water tableWater table�� PhreatophytesPhreatophytesdecline/disappeardecline/disappear

Wetland areaWetland area-- reduced fish size; exponentially reduced fish size; exponentially reduced reproductive potential reduced reproductive potential

�� Increased habitat discontinuity Increased habitat discontinuity

-- biodiversity lossbiodiversity loss

�� Niche partitioning less possible Niche partitioning less possible in small habitatsin small habitats

�� Temperature, Temperature,

Wetland areaWetland area�� WetlandWetland--dependent species dependent species decline/disappeardecline/disappear

velocity, and substrate characteristics strongly

influence habitat suitability for most endemic species

THREATENED HABITATS AND BIOTA THREATENED HABITATS AND BIOTA

WITHIN THE 78 BASIN AREAWITHIN THE 78 BASIN AREA

�� Regional SpringsRegional Springs�� Endangered/Threatened Species Endangered/Threatened Species –– 2020

�� Unlisted, Spring Dependent Species Unlisted, Spring Dependent Species –– more than 137more than 137

�� Wetland Habitats Wetland Habitats �� State Wildlife Management Areas State Wildlife Management Areas –– 3 3 �� State Wildlife Management Areas State Wildlife Management Areas –– 3 3

�� National Wildlife Refuges National Wildlife Refuges –– 4 4

�� National Parks/Recreation Area National Parks/Recreation Area –– 3 3

�� PhreatophytesPhreatophytes�� Numerous Species And Plant CommunitiesNumerous Species And Plant Communities

�� Nevada Natural Heritage DatabaseNevada Natural Heritage Database�� 347 Sensitive Species347 Sensitive Species

CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES

�� Groundwater table dropGroundwater table drop

�� Spring discharge, Spring discharge,

wetland area, and wetland area, and

biodiversity declinebiodiversity decline

Livelihood of rural Livelihood of rural �� Livelihood of rural Livelihood of rural

residents threatenedresidents threatened

�� Rapid growth of Las Rapid growth of Las

Vegas will continue; Vegas will continue;

options in much of rest options in much of rest

of state curtailedof state curtailed

LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN AREALAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN AREA19401940--2000 2000 –– fastest growth in United Statesfastest growth in United States

20002000--2008 2008 –– very rapid (but not fastest) growthvery rapid (but not fastest) growth

�� 2008 citizen opinion survey2008 citizen opinion survey

�� Public against growthPublic against growth

�� Biggest Negatives (= 58%)Biggest Negatives (= 58%)

�� Growth/overcrowding: 24%Growth/overcrowding: 24%�� Growth/overcrowding: 24%Growth/overcrowding: 24%

�� Crime/violence: 19%Crime/violence: 19%

�� Traffic congestion: 15%Traffic congestion: 15%

�� Biggest Positives (= 41%)Biggest Positives (= 41%)

�� Scenery/climate: 22%Scenery/climate: 22%

�� Jobs: 19%Jobs: 19%

�� Quality of Life TrajectoryQuality of Life Trajectory

�� Declining 46%Declining 46%

�� Improving 19%Improving 19%

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

1. Mining 127% to 271% of groundwater is unsustainable1. Mining 127% to 271% of groundwater is unsustainable

2. Proposed withdrawals would severely impact local 2. Proposed withdrawals would severely impact local human communitieshuman communities

3. A large proportion of the regional aquatic diversity is at 3. A large proportion of the regional aquatic diversity is at risk from these proposalsrisk from these proposals

4. The scale of these withdrawals would preclude many 4. The scale of these withdrawals would preclude many future restoration opportunitiesfuture restoration opportunities

5. There are alternatives to massive groundwater 5. There are alternatives to massive groundwater removal…. removal….

SOME POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVESSOME POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES

�� Discontinue Rapid Growth PoliciesDiscontinue Rapid Growth Policies

�� Conservation 85 K acConservation 85 K ac--ft/yrft/yr�� Outdoor potential (48 K acOutdoor potential (48 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)

�� Indoor potential (37.3 K acIndoor potential (37.3 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)

�� Indirect Potable Water Reuse 135 K acIndirect Potable Water Reuse 135 K ac--ft/yrft/yr�� Replace return flow creditReplace return flow credit

Add urban runoff (35 K acAdd urban runoff (35 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)�� Add urban runoff (35 K acAdd urban runoff (35 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)

�� Add shallow saline groundwater (100 K acAdd shallow saline groundwater (100 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)

�� Improve water quality (Las Vegas and downstream Colorado)Improve water quality (Las Vegas and downstream Colorado)

�� Eliminate potential future Lake Mead pollution cleanup costs as effluent Eliminate potential future Lake Mead pollution cleanup costs as effluent volume multiplies (pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, volume multiplies (pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, perchlorateperchlorate, , selenium, etc.)selenium, etc.)

�� Eliminate need for the new $800 million sewage disposal pipeline/tunnel Eliminate need for the new $800 million sewage disposal pipeline/tunnel to Lake Meadto Lake Mead

�� Desalination and trade $900/acDesalination and trade $900/ac--ft (Juarez, Mexico; California)ft (Juarez, Mexico; California)