The Cedar City Water Grab will pump billions of gallons of water away from basins in Utah’s West Desert and parts of Eastern Nevada. The project proponents are advocating for this expensive boondoggle in lieu of doing more cost-efficient and water-efficient efforts like turf removal. For years, Cedar City has over-pumped its aquifers and claims it needs a new water source to fill the chasm that its irresponsible water management has created.
The first phase of this effort, the Pine Valley Water Supply Project, will cost ratepayers in Iron County, Utah, hundreds of millions of dollars. That effort is currently undergoing environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. The project proponents also have water rights in Wah Wah Valley, which will be the home of the next phase of the project.
While water managers in Cedar City think this effort is in their best interest, we know that this project is not in the public interest. GBWN commissioned a report to demonstrate the uncertainties and likely effects to places like Snake Valley, Spring Valley, Dry Valley, Lake Valley, and other iconic locations in Nevada.
