An Open Letter
Margaret Reinhardt
Board Member of the Sun Valley
General Improvement District

Water/Power Grab

The 2005 Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 26 (SCR 26) to look at statewide water issues, and SCR 26 calls for a Subcommittee to look at Washoe County water issues." The Subcommittee recommended a bill for consideration by the 2007 Nevada Legislature, and that bill amounts to nothing more than a water grab by developers, at Washoe County resident's expense.
The builders and land developers are not happy with the inconvenience of having to acquire water rights in our roomy desert state. To make it worse for them water rights went to a record $60K an acre foot in April of 2005. They have since stabilized and an acre-foot of Truckee River water rights recently sold for $10K.

The fact that they are powerful enough to do this is not as scary as the realization that it is gliding through practically unopposed.

Your grandchildren will feel the ramifications of this legislation.

Mother Nature, the free market and a few good people have kept rampant growth at bay in the past. SCR26, BDR 48-183 [bill draft request 48-183] and all its counterparts will create a water authority whose sole purpose is to benefit the builders and developers.

The recently amended regional land use plan will allow 1.2 million people in Washoe County. The current Washoe County population is a little over 400,000 people. We have water in Washoe County for approximately 600,000 people per the Regional Water Planning Commissioner. The water needed for another 600,000 people (to reach 1.2 million people) is 200,000 acre-feet.
An engineering firm recently estimated that it would cost approximately $1 Billion (with financing) to bring 40,000 acre-feet of water to the growth areas in Washoe County. The question that begs an answer is who is going to pay for the water needed by 1.2 million people that has a current cost of $5 Billion?

YOU will pay for it in your water management fees on your water bill. You'll also see more sales taxes. With your money we could actually pump parts of this state dry importing water from one region to another region that is to be developed. "Why don't they just build where the water is?" you might ask. Well, the answer is why should they when they can get you to pay to bring the water to them here, where they can sell a home for $400k instead of $100k where the water is.
BUT money isn't everything and I don't mind if they make a dozen or so billion dollars off our water and scenic beauty. I am more concerned with our environment, lifestyles and the choice to have lifestyle choices in the future. Most of us will loose the ability to choose because the water that you had for your trees and garden will be too costly for you to enjoy. You will be discouraged by the cost of the extra water that you use beyond what you actually need.

Want to help? Your help will be needed to stop the legislation. Steve Bradhurst [former Washoe County Commissioner and Director of Washoe County Department of Water Resources from 2001 to 2006] has written an analysis of the Bill Draft Resolution 48-183 that you should read.

Attend these meetings and just say no. You will need to stand up and speak or fill out a comment card. Support Steve Bradhurst’s recommendations.

Joint Water Purveyors meeting Monday Feb 5th 2007 at 6pm Reno Sparks Convention Center 4590 South Virginia St.

Washoe County Commission Meeting Tues. Feb 13th 2007 at 4:30 pm.
1001 E. Ninth Street, Building A, Reno, NV 89512

SVGID: Thurs Feb 8th at 6pm. 5000 Sun Valley Blvd. Sun Valley
TMWW Feb. 21st. at 8 am Sparks Council Chambers, Legislative Building, 745 Fourth Street Sparks, Nevada

Margaret Reinhardt