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House urges caution on proposed Snake Valley water exports, asks for more science and public involvement
Summary
House Joint Resolution 1 passed unanimously asking state and interstate negotiators to weigh ecological and agricultural impacts before allowing large-scale water export proposals from Snake Valley to Nevada and to include local representation on negotiation commissions.
The Utah House adopted House Joint Resolution 1, a resolution urging caution and scientific study before interstate agreements that would allow extraction and export of large volumes of groundwater from Snake Valley.
Representative Richard Wheeler described the region as a fragile Great Basin ecosystem and said the resolution asks the executive director of the Division of Natural Resources, the state engineer and Nevada counterparts to study ecological and agricultural effects before authorizing large-scale pumping. Wheeler said scientific testing of the deep carbonate aquifer is underway and that the resolution requests citizen representation on the commission negotiating interstate agreements.
Representative Gibson, who joined a site visit to the valley, said the resolution sends a message that Utah will protect rights and resources until the science is complete. Other members noted linkages to adjacent basins (Spring Valley) and emphasized that any agreement should await the results of ongoing USGS and other hydrologic studies.
The House voted and the clerk announced HJR 1 received 73 yes votes and 0 no votes; the resolution will be referred to the Senate for consideration.
Next steps: The resolution requests the appropriate state and interstate officials to consider ecological and agricultural impacts, include local citizens in negotiations and delay action until scientific analyses are complete.
