|
|
|
About the WCC Directors Our Supporters Donors Volunteers Join Now Current Projects Rippled Cave Windeler Events Photo Gallery Archives Newsletters Financials Minutes Organizational WCC Home |
|
 |
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is proposing to drill over 100 wells, build over 400 miles of pipeline, construct pumping stations, water treatment facilities, support facilities, and install power lines to transport up to 200,000 acre-feet per year from Clark, Lincoln and White Pine counties to the Las Vegas area. The magnitude of the pumping would have huge impacts on area springs, wells—and caves! A recent USGS study, "The Susceptibility of Water Resources in Great Basin National Park to Groundwater Pumping in Adjacent Valleys" to be published later this year, shows that the pumping will affect several watersheds in the park, including the Lehman Cave area, Baker Creek Cave System, Snake Creek Cave, and areas outside the park, like Indian Burial Cave, Forgotten Cave, and others. In addition, the proposed pipeline has conduits into Cave Valley (Cave Valley Cave) and White River Valley (Whipple Cave area).
What can you do? Send your comments to: Bruce Flinn, Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project, HC33, Box 33500, Ely, Nevada 89301-9408. In May 2006, a draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) will be written and distributed for public comment, followed by the final EIS in May 2007. A concurrent USGS study about the hydrology of the area is also due out in May 2007. It is very important to get as much public input as possible about how we want the resources we care about to be protected. If you’d like to learn more about this issue, you may contact Marianne Russo: mrusso@westerncaves.org (916) 663-2571.
RECOMMENDED READING 
|
|
 | |
 |
 |
| |
Eastern Nevada Caves in Trouble
Without water in the Baker Creek cave system, many cave biota species, including endemic
species like the newly discovered springtail in Model Cave, could disappear. In addition,
cave-forming processes could greatly be reduced in all of these areas. Just because caves
are underground and not easily seen doesn’t mean they should be ignored.