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A plan, hatched largely beyond the public eye, to divvy up water in an already arid Utah desert and send it to Las Vegas has drawn the ire of citizens, conservationists, and elected officials. The controversial Snake Valley water deal is now the subject of a series of citizen meetings as critics try to learn why details of the four-year negotiations that led to the water deal remain secret, reports Patty Henetz of the Salt Lake Tribune.
The plan would divide water in the aquifer that runs under Utah and Nevada, and use it to feed growth in Las Vegas. "We don't have any surplus water in Snake Valley. For goodness' sake, we're the epicenter of the drought," rancher Cecil Garland said during a citizens meeting this week.
Critics warn that a drop in the water table could kick up giant toxic dust storms. The soils that would blow away could contain mercury, deadly fungal spores, and radioactive particles, yet another legacy of nuclear tests in Nevada.
The current recession has already forced many to revisit their history texts for information about the Great Depression and how we got there. Maybe it's time to re-read the chapter on the Dust Bowl.
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If you cover criminal justice in the Pacific Northwest — or want to — we’re hosting a free virtual training that may be useful to you and your newsroom
