Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)
The U.S. House today passed, with bipartisan support, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Dina Titus to safeguard Southern Nevada’s water security while enhancing environmental conservation efforts.
The Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act would allow a portion of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Horizon Lateral water pipeline project to tunnel beneath the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), increasing water reliability for over a million Southern Nevadans, fortifying the region’s water infrastructure against potential outages, and minimizing disruptions and impacts to the surrounding communities from water infrastructure projects.
The legislation also would expand the 48,438-acre Sloan Canyon NCA by 9,290 acres to enhance the preservation of the desert landscapes and habitat unique to Southern Nevada. The Sloan Canyon NCA contains the Sloan Petroglyph Site, which includes thousands of petroglyphs created by native cultures.
Congresswoman Titus stated, “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of the climate crisis with rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. Our precious water supply must be protected. The Horizon Lateral pipeline strikes an important balance. It will protect and enhance water access for District One residents and businesses while preserving more of the unique habitat and cultural history of Sloan Canyon.”
The Southern Nevada Water Authority has affirmed its support for the legislation, emphasizing the significance of ensuring water service reliability for the Las Vegas Valley. “This legislation increases water service reliability for more than one million residents and hundreds of businesses in Southern Nevada, helping ensure the long-term viability of our regional water system while also expanding and protecting environmental resources for our community,” said John Ensminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority
Background:
The proposed underground route beneath Sloan Canyon NCA is estimated to save Southern Nevadans at least $200 million while minimizing disturbances to both residents and the local environment.
Additionally, this route ensures the water delivery system’s redundancy in emergency situations and offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.