dana water story 2 may 20 2024

Water is essential in Southern Nevada, with attractions like fountains, golf courses, and pools. However, the Colorado River, the main source of water, has been producing less water. Despite this, water usage has actually decreased by 30% through conservation efforts. Snowpack in the Rockies has also declined, but it should never reach zero. Additionally, the Southern Nevada Water Authority built a third intake at Lake Mead, ensuring a water supply for Las Vegas even if river flows decrease. While water supply remains a concern for the region, Las Vegas should be fine for decades. Okay, here we go. Water Story 2. This is the second piece. Cut 1 and 3, 2, 1. Water is a big part of what we do here. From one of the coolest fountains in the world, cut 2, 3, 2, 1, to some of the nicest golf courses in the country, cut 3, 3, 2, 1, to more than 200,000 pools in Southern Nevada, water is a big part of the draw. But there's also the mundane and altogether essential. Cut next in 3, 2, 1. Everyday water use for everyday Southern Nevadans. One problem, water is very much a finite resource, especially here. Ninety percent of our water comes from the Colorado River, which gets its water from the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains. And over the last 25 years, the Colorado River has been producing much less water. But will there ever come a day when we run out of water? Cut next in 3, 2, 1. More people are moving to Southern Nevada every day, and the amount of water flowing down the Colorado is decreasing. So why the optimism from John Entsmaier? He says despite the fact hundreds of thousands of people have moved here over the last couple of decades, our water use has actually declined by more than 30 percent through conservation, mainly through the removal of non-functional grass. Also, while snowpack has declined in the Rockies, it should never go to zero. Cut next in 3, 2, 1. And one more reason for optimism. We have an ace up our sleeve. To use a gambling analogy here, the Southern... Okay, cut last in 3, 2, 1. And one more reason for optimism. We have an ace up our sleeve, to use a gambling analogy. The Southern Nevada Water Authority built a new third intake at Lake Mead about 10 years ago. So even if river flows drop to near zero, that third intake or straw allows Las Vegas to draw water from Lake Mead, even when no water can be released downstream to California and Arizona and Mexico, so-called Deadpool. While water supply will continue to be a big issue for 40 million people along the Colorado River, Las Vegas, even with its limited supply, should be in decent shape for decades to come. Dana Wagner, News 3.