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

6. 19201950196019701980199020002008Pre-1905 1905 Early inhabitants came to Las Vegas because of its abundant water supplies. Las Vegas – Early Settlement

7. 19201950196019701980199020002008Pre-1905 1905 Las Vegas – Early Settlement Even early settlers recognized the value of conservation. Photo courtesy of UNLV Special Collections.

8. 19201950196019701980199020002008Pre-1905 A railroad resulted in the formation of the privately owned Las Vegas Land and Water Company. 1905 Las Vegas - 1905

9. 19201950196019701980199020002008Pre-1905 Nevada received its Colorado River allocation; there was no projected use for this water at the time. 1905 Nevada AZ CA CO WY NM UT Las Vegas – 1920s

10. 19201950196019701980199020002008Pre-1905 1905 Las Vegas gained popularity as a tourist destination. Las Vegas – 1950s 90 % of all water comes from local groundwater supplies.

11. 19201950196019701980199020002008Pre-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 21 st century. Las Vegas – 1970s

12. 19201950196019701980199020002008Pre-1905 1905 The Colorado River was estimated to be fully used by the early 2000s. Las Vegas – 1990s

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

14. 19201950196019701980199020002008Pre-1905 1905 0 0.02 0.04 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 Population (in Millions) Major Issues Competition for Colorado River water No coordinated conservation plan Las Vegas – 1990s

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

16. 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

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

18. 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 1 2 3 4 7 8 5 9 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 800,000 20022010 2018 20262034 2042 2050 Interim Surplus Existing Resources (Colorado River) 2000 Resource Plan Water (acre-feet) Las Vegas – Early 2000s

19. 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

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

21. Interim Surplus availability becomes uncertain… 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 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 800,000 20022010 2018 20262034 2042 2050 Interim Surplus? Existing Resources (Colorado River) Water (acre-feet)

22. 1,080 1,120 1,160 1,200 1,240 1999200020012002 Las Vegas – Early 2000s Lake Mead water level plunges…

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

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

25.  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

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

27. 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

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

29. 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% 200020012002200320042005200620072008 105% (Projected)

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

31. 20081983 Hoover Dam/Lake Mead Las Vegas – Current

32. Colorado River at Lake Mead Las Vegas – Current 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. Priorities SNWA’s future depends on:  Conservation  Diversification of Resources  Regional Partnerships Current Priorities

35. 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. 270,000 265,000 325,000 279,000 200220032004200520062007 Water Use (Acre-feet) 31 Current Priorities

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

37. Resource Diversification 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1,400,000 2008201220162020202420282032203620402044 20482052 Year Acre-Feet Current Resources Muddy/Virgin Rivers Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Project, 164,000 af CR Augmentation Drop 2 Coyote Spring Three Lakes Arizona Bank NV/CA Bank Transfers & Exchanges Arizona Bank Chart assumes full consumption of all resources Current Priorities

38. 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

39. The face of the new Southwest…