POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF NEVADA GROUNDWATER NEVADA GROUNDWATER DIVERSIONS TO REGIONAL DIVERSIONS TO REGIONAL SPRING RESTORATION SPRING RESTORATION or… or… or… or… How to Fuel Growth in Las Vegas by How to Fuel Growth in Las Vegas by Burning Regional Biodiversity Burning Regional Biodiversity Jack E. Williams, Trout Unlimited James E. Deacon, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Cindy Deacon Williams, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy Austin E. Williams, University of Oregon School of Law
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POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF
NEVADA GROUNDWATER NEVADA GROUNDWATER
DIVERSIONS TO REGIONAL DIVERSIONS TO REGIONAL
SPRING RESTORATIONSPRING RESTORATION
or…or…or…or…
How to Fuel Growth in Las Vegas byHow to Fuel Growth in Las Vegas by
�� Land subsidence causing Land subsidence causing structural damagestructural damage
�� Loss of biodiversity (e.g. Loss of biodiversity (e.g. RaycraftRaycraft Ranch Ranch poolfishpoolfish))
HISTORICAL CHANGES HISTORICAL CHANGES Past 100 yearsPast 100 years
HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 1964HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 1964Manse Ranch Spring, Pahrump Valley, NevadaManse Ranch Spring, Pahrump Valley, Nevada
HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 1976HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 1976Manse Ranch Spring, Pahrump Valley, NevadaManse Ranch Spring, Pahrump Valley, Nevada
HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 2008HOME OF THE PAHRUMP POOLFISH: 2008Corn Creek, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, NevadaCorn Creek, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
�� Niche partitioning less possible Niche partitioning less possible in small habitatsin small habitats
�� Temperature, Temperature,
Wetland areaWetland area�� WetlandWetland--dependent species dependent species decline/disappeardecline/disappear
velocity, and substrate characteristics strongly
influence habitat suitability for most endemic species
THREATENED HABITATS AND BIOTA THREATENED HABITATS AND BIOTA
WITHIN THE 78 BASIN AREAWITHIN THE 78 BASIN AREA
�� Regional SpringsRegional Springs�� Endangered/Threatened Species Endangered/Threatened Species –– 2020
�� Unlisted, Spring Dependent Species Unlisted, Spring Dependent Species –– more than 137more than 137
�� Wetland Habitats Wetland Habitats �� State Wildlife Management Areas State Wildlife Management Areas –– 3 3 �� State Wildlife Management Areas State Wildlife Management Areas –– 3 3
�� National Wildlife Refuges National Wildlife Refuges –– 4 4
�� National Parks/Recreation Area National Parks/Recreation Area –– 3 3
�� PhreatophytesPhreatophytes�� Numerous Species And Plant CommunitiesNumerous Species And Plant Communities
�� Quality of Life TrajectoryQuality of Life Trajectory
�� Declining 46%Declining 46%
�� Improving 19%Improving 19%
CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS
1. Mining 127% to 271% of groundwater is unsustainable1. Mining 127% to 271% of groundwater is unsustainable
2. Proposed withdrawals would severely impact local 2. Proposed withdrawals would severely impact local human communitieshuman communities
3. A large proportion of the regional aquatic diversity is at 3. A large proportion of the regional aquatic diversity is at risk from these proposalsrisk from these proposals
4. The scale of these withdrawals would preclude many 4. The scale of these withdrawals would preclude many future restoration opportunitiesfuture restoration opportunities
5. There are alternatives to massive groundwater 5. There are alternatives to massive groundwater removal…. removal….
SOME POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVESSOME POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES
�� Conservation 85 K acConservation 85 K ac--ft/yrft/yr�� Outdoor potential (48 K acOutdoor potential (48 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)
�� Indoor potential (37.3 K acIndoor potential (37.3 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)
�� Indirect Potable Water Reuse 135 K acIndirect Potable Water Reuse 135 K ac--ft/yrft/yr�� Replace return flow creditReplace return flow credit
Add urban runoff (35 K acAdd urban runoff (35 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)�� Add urban runoff (35 K acAdd urban runoff (35 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)
�� Add shallow saline groundwater (100 K acAdd shallow saline groundwater (100 K ac--ft/yr)ft/yr)
�� Improve water quality (Las Vegas and downstream Colorado)Improve water quality (Las Vegas and downstream Colorado)
�� Eliminate potential future Lake Mead pollution cleanup costs as effluent Eliminate potential future Lake Mead pollution cleanup costs as effluent volume multiplies (pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, volume multiplies (pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, perchlorateperchlorate, , selenium, etc.)selenium, etc.)
�� Eliminate need for the new $800 million sewage disposal pipeline/tunnel Eliminate need for the new $800 million sewage disposal pipeline/tunnel to Lake Meadto Lake Mead
�� Desalination and trade $900/acDesalination and trade $900/ac--ft (Juarez, Mexico; California)ft (Juarez, Mexico; California)