The Pursuit of Sustainable & Reliable

Water Supplies in the Desert

The Las Vegas Story

Pat MulroySouthern Nevada Water Authority

August 2008

Las Vegas, Nevada

Southern Nevada

1

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

1950 – 47,000

1960 – 116,0001970 – 270,000

1980 – 444,000

1990 – 800,000

Population

Development History

2000 – 1.3 million

2008 – 2.0 million

1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008Pre-1905 1905

Early inhabitants came to Las Vegas because of its abundant water supplies.

Las Vegas – Early Settlement

1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008Pre-1905 1905

Las Vegas – Early Settlement

Even early settlers recognized the value of conservation.

Photo courtesy of UNLV Special Collections.

1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008Pre-1905

A railroad resulted in the formation of the privately owned Las Vegas Land and Water Company.

1905

Las Vegas - 1905

1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008Pre-1905

Nevada received its Colorado River allocation; there was no projected use for this water at the time.

1905

Nevada

AZ

CA

CO

WY

NMUT

Las Vegas – 1920s

1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008Pre-1905 1905

Las Vegas gained popularity as a tourist destination.

Las Vegas – 1950s

90 % of all water comes from local groundwater supplies.

1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008Pre-1905 1905

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.

Las Vegas – 1970s

1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008Pre-1905 1905

The Colorado River was estimated to be fully used by the early 2000s.

Las Vegas – 1990s

“Water ignites simmering feud between city and county.”

Las Vegas Review Journal, March 1991

1920 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008Pre-1905 1905

0

0.02

0.04

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

Po

pu

lati

on

(in

Mill

ion

s)

Major Issues

• Competition for Colorado River water

• No coordinated conservation plan

Las Vegas – 1990s

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

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

Regional Coordination

Regional Facilities

Water Conservation

Las Vegas – 1990s

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

1. Interim surplus (through 2016)2. Clark County groundwater 3. Arizona Demonstration Project4. Arizona Groundwater Bank5. Las Vegas Valley shallow aquifer6. Muddy River7. Virgin River8. Southern Nevada Groundwater Bank9. Colorado River transfers

1

2

34 77

85

9

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

2002 2010 2018 2026 2034 2042 2050

Interim Surplus

Existing Resources(Colorado River)

2000 Resource Plan

Wat

er (

acre

-fee

t)Las Vegas – Early 2000s

• 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

Interim Surplus

Las Vegas – Early 2000s

Drought takes hold on the Colorado River…

Las Vegas – Early 2000s

Las Vegas – Early 2000s

Interim Surplus availability becomes uncertain…

1. Interim surplus (through 2016)2. Clark County groundwater 3. Arizona Demonstration Project4. Arizona Groundwater Bank5. Las Vegas Valley shallow aquifer6. Muddy River7. Virgin River8. Southern Nevada Groundwater Bank9. Colorado River transfers

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

2002 2010 2018 2026 2034 2042 2050

Interim Surplus?

Existing Resources(Colorado River)W

ater

(ac

re-f

eet)

1,080

1,120

1,160

1,200

1,240

1999 2000 2001 2002

Las Vegas – Early 2000s

Lake Mead water level plunges…

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

EDUCATIONWATERPRICING

REGULATION INCENTIVES

17

Drought Plan

Las Vegas – Early 2000s

Year-round watering schedules

Turf limitations

Golf course water budgets

Water waste enforcement

Conservation rates

Education and outreach

18

Conservation Policies and Programs

Las Vegas – Early 2000s

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

• 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

Las Vegas – Early 2000s

Conservation Policies and Programs

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

Las Vegas – Current

Historical 8-Year Average Inflow: 62% of normal

Normal

Lake Powell Annual Inflows

4

62% 59%

25%

53% 51%

73% 68%

105%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

105%

(Projected)

Historical and Forecast Lake Mead Elevation

Source: Bureau of Reclamation, December 2007 and July 2008

Shortage Historical

Forecast Jul-081,025

1,075

1,125

1,175

1,225

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

En

d o

f M

on

th E

lev

atio

n (

fee

t)

Top of Spillway

Las Vegas – Current

20081983

Hoover Dam/Lake Mead

Las Vegas – Current

Colorado River at Lake Mead

Las Vegas – Current

90% of regional water supplies come from the Colorado River.

… ‘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

Priorities

SNWA’s future depends on:

Conservation

Diversification of Resources

Regional Partnerships

Current Priorities

Conservation

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.

270,000 265,000 265,000 265,000

325,000

279,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Wa

ter

Us

e (

Ac

re-f

ee

t)

31

Current Priorities

Cave Valley

Dry Lake Valley

Delamar Valley

Spring Valley

Snake Valley

Coyote Spring Valley

Resource Diversification

Current Priorities

Resource Diversification

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 2028 2032 2036 2040 2044 2048 2052

Year

Acr

e-F

eet

Current Resources

Muddy/Virgin Rivers

Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Project, 164,000 af

CR Augmentation

Drop 2

Coyote Spring Three LakesArizona Bank

NV/CA BankTransfers & Exchanges

Arizona Bank

Chart assumes full consumption of all resources

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

Current Priorities

The face of the new Southwest…