Planning for Sustainability

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=1097120

This article discussed the new water restrictions imposed on Southern Nevada by the Southern Nevada Water Authority. The Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA)mission is to, “manage the region's water resources and develop solutions that will ensure adequate future water supplies for the Las Vegas Valley” (http://www.snwa.com/html/about_index.html). The SNWA is comprised of representatives from each of its 7 member agencies. This puts this issue squarely in the regional planning arena. As Wheeler wrote, “It makes sense that plans for park systems, ecologically sensitive natural areas, and air and water quality should be prepared on a regional scale, since watersheds, airsheds, and ecosystems are regional in nature rather than limited to the bounds of any municipal jurisdictions” (Wheeler 144).

The SNWA focuses specifically on the Colorado River water from Lake Mead to the Las Vegas Valley. It is funded by regional connection charges, a quarter-penny sales tax and a reliability surcharge. These are paid by Southern Nevada residents and thus it is Southern Nevada residents that are being targeted for the new water limitations. The water restrictions aim to reduce water usage mainly through a cutback on landscaping water usage. According to Las Vegas Now, “48% of the valley's water is used by homeowners and 65 % of that is for landscaping--that's why most of the restrictions involve watering your grass”. With the new mandates citizens will be restricted as to how often they can water their yard, wash their car and use misters, with violators being reported by their neighbors. Interestingly, the fees imposed on violators will be set and enforced by each city. This makes this issue one of local government planning as well.

This issue also could have been addressed at the state level. Nevada does have a statewide authority known as the Nevada Division of Water Resources (NDWR), whose mission “is to conserve, protect, manage and enhance the State's water resources for Nevada's citizens through the appropriation and reallocation of the public waters” (http://water.nv.gov/). Although I’m not familiar with the intricacies of Nevada water planning, there does seem to be some overlap between the agencies that might be confusing when implementing policies. In some ways this statewide authority might be more appropriate as it is not just Southern Nevada that is plagued by drought. At the same time Wheeler does make a good point when referencing state environmental planning, “Their foundation is often a set of broad goals for the state, with much of the implementation of these principles necessarily still local” (Wheeler 132). It is possible that the NDWR is setting goals and it is up to the SNWA to achieve those goals at the regional level.

There are multiple problems with trying to achieve the goal of water reduction at the statewide level. First of all, water use is likely to vary regionally. The SNWA includes the areas of Las Vegas and Las Vegas Valley, which is the largest metro area in the state. Given this information it makes sense to tailor the water restrictions regionally so that the areas with the most people, using a great deal of water on their landscaping are all restricted as a group. In addition the SWNA is a cooperative agency supported by Southern Nevada residents. It might be more difficult for such restrictions to be passed at the state level. At the same time I believe we need to start adopting such policies on a larger scale, especially with such important issues as water in the southwest. If we are going to plan regionally it would make more sense to plan regionally between the Colorado River basin states, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, California, who should all be greatly concerned about water usage.