If Lake Mead Falls 23 feet, Las Vegas Could Face Dire Consequences

The elevation of the water in Lake Mead is about 1,098 feet above sea level as of May 2009. If that elevation drops another 23 feet to 1,075 feet, certain triggers will be activated. At 1,075 feet the Feds will declare a water shortage which will require Nevada and Arizona to reduce the amount of water they pull from the Colorado River. Nevada would need to reduce its share of water by 13,000 acre-feet a year, roughly the same amount used by 26,000 average households. If Nevada must reduce its water withdrawal from the Colorado River, it will become necessary to start the pipeline to Northern Nevada to replace the lost Lake Mead water. The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates that the pipeline would cost between $2 billion and $3.5 billion and span 300 miles to the north. In addition, the Water Authority is concerned that when the lake level falls to 1,050 feet; it will be forced to shut down one of the two intakes it uses to draw water from the lake. About 90% of the valley's drinking water comes from Lake Mead. The authority has already started working on building a third intake system which is expected to be finished in 2013 at a cost of $817 million. Las Vegas might be facing a water crisis in a few years if the drought and climate change are worse than predicted, causing the lake to drop before a new intake pipe can be finished.

John Laub is the President of the CEO-CFO Group.

1. "Lake Level Trigger for Pipeline Project. Another 23-Foot Drop Would Bring Water Authority Action." Henry Brean. The Las Vegas Review-Journal. June 1, 2009.

2. "Water Authority: Mulroy Calls New Lake Mead Intake System Critical. Big Slice of Budget Goes Toward Construction of 3-Mile-Long Tunnel." Henry Brean. The Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 22, 2009.