Water official says California farmers a key to future Nevada needs

Bob Johnson, director of the Lower Colorado Region of the Bureau of Reclamation, said farmers in California's Imperial Valley use more water than any single state on the Colorado River, and will be a major player in any future water negotiations.

"The idea is to pay agricultural users to conserve water or not to use it," Johnson told the annual meeting of the Nevada Water Resources Association. "There are lots of opportunities for agricultural users to reduce their water use through conservation. California is focusing on that idea and it could help Southern Nevada."

Southern Nevada officials believe they can solve the area's water needs for the next 20 to 30 years through a plan to purchase water from Arizona and bank it in that state. But the long-term picture remains unclear.

Speaking to water managers and engineers from throughout Nevada, Johnson said an agreement with California farmers could give Southern Nevada the closest thing to a permanent water supply the law allows - and would change the way the arid West manages it most precious resource.

"Marketing and interstate transfers are a key to solving the problems" Johnson said. "Nevada, I think, will ultimately rely on that solution to meet its future needs."

Nevada's share of water - 300,000 acre feet - is the smallest of any of the seven states in the Colorado River basin. The state uses about 250,000 acre-feet a year and is expected to use the full share by 2008.

An acre-foot serves the needs of a family of five for about one year.

Water officials are optimistic about a plan that would allow Nevada to bank water in Arizona acquifers, then draw equivalent amounts from Lake Mead when the need arises.

Arizona lawmakers and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt have endorsed the plan.

Nevada Gov. Bob Miller, who spoke at Tuesday's conference, said he expects federal officials to sign an agreement within the next few weeks that will allow Nevada and Arizona to formally discuss a banking plan.

A pilot project could begin as early as next year, Miller said, calling the deal "one of our most promising solutions."

During informal talks, the two states have discussed allowing Nevada to bank as much as 1.2 million acre-feet at a cost of $90 million to $150 million. Nevada could withdraw as much as 100,000 acre-feet a year.

Johnson said the idea of interstate transfers on the Colorado would have been taboo five or 10 years ago, but times have changed.

A major factor is the growing needs of Nevada, Arizona and California. The three lower-basin states now use their entire share of the river - 7.5 million acre feet annually - while the upper-basin states use far less.

California uses more than its share, drawing about 600,000 acre-feet a year beyond the 4.4 million acre-feet it is entitled to. With pressure mounting to live within its allotment, Johnson said California officials are eyeing farmers, who use more than 3.8 million acre-feet a year - more than 12 times Nevada's share of the river.

"We're going to have to be creative," Johnson said. "We're going to have to look for parties who are willing to compromise. We are in the process of dividing the pie differently, not making the pie bigger. It's going to take time."

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