Southern Nevada entered into Drought Alert on Jan. 1, 2004, despite higher-than-average rainfall in the Las Vegas Valley and the community's conservation efforts in 2003. The below-average snowfall in the Rocky Mountains is the key factor to the drought. Runoff from the Rockies feeds the Colorado River, which fills Lake Mead. About 88 percent of our water is derived from the Colorado River and the other 12 percent of our water comes from groundwater that is pumped out through wells. It will take several years of above-average runoff from the Rockies to significantly raise Lake Mead's water levels, which has dropped more than 70 feet over the past few years and is expected to drop even further. The Water Authority has adopted a Drought Plan to weather the drought.   The Southern Nevada Water Authority advocates a balanced approach of responsibility managing existing water supplies and securing additional water resources. Everyone in the Las Vegas Valley plays an important role in ensuring that water is available for the future. By conserving water, our existing and future water supplies will last longer.--From the Southern NV Water Authority website.

Water conservation alone will not meet the growing community's water needs. The water demand continues to grow as more people move to the Las Vegas Valley. The Water Authority is actively pursuing additional water resources. Natural aquifers and desalinization of ocean water are possibilities. Funding for research is always the biggest hurdle. Lake Mead supplies nearly 90 percent of the water used in Southern Nevada. Drought Alert is the second step in a three-phase alert system that calls for more progressive water-use restrictions based on drought conditions, Lake Mead's water levels and the need to conserve. If the lake's water levels continue to fall, the area may enter a Drought Emergency stage in 2005. The county's Board of County Commission believes that the valley can weather this historic drought if local residents, businesses and government jurisdictions work together to make water conservation a top priority in our community. For more information, please contact the Southern Nevada Water Authority.