One of the biggest
faults of Nevada Water Law has been with us since it was originally
written. And looking back, the reason is obvious. Back when the
miners, ranchers and farmers got together to divy up Nevada's water;
they obviously didn't want to share any with the Indians. So they
defined water “use” as not what Indians did with
water. In other words, Nevada Water Law essentially does not
define truly sustainable water use as “use.”
This is a crucial
flaw that has ultimately led us in the misguided direction and
over-appropriated condition we now find ourselves.
In my opinion;
Nevada water law, at it's very core, promotes waste.
Because Nevada water
law considers truly sustainable use as waste.
The irony is
terrifying.
Essentially, here in
the desert; the only legal use of water is to expend it.
My ancestors have
lived sustainably here for over 10,000 years. But with
over-appropriated water use, many parts of Nevada could be
uninhabitable in less than 200 years.
Nevada water law
needs to more rationally consider sustainable use, the environment
that supports sustainable use, and future generations that will
depend on us sustainably using what water there is.
We critically need
to start thinking long-term while that option is still available to
us.
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