LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep. Dina Titus will join Gov. Joe Lombardo and Southern Nevada Water Authority officials Friday to announce the passage of H.R. 972, the Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act, which was signed into law last week.
The legislation directs the Bureau of Land Management to grant rights-of-way for the construction of SNWA’s Horizon Lateral Program. The law will allow a portion of the pipeline to tunnel beneath the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, increasing water reliability for over one million Southern Nevada residents.
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The law also expands the 48,438-acre Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area by 9,290 acres to enhance preservation of desert landscapes and habitat. The conservation area contains the Sloan Petroglyph Site, which includes thousands of petroglyphs created by native cultures.
The underground route beneath Sloan Canyon is estimated to save Southern Nevada residents at least $200 million while minimizing disturbances to residents and the environment.
The route ensures the water delivery system’s redundancy in emergency situations and offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.
“This is a critical step in ensuring our water future,” Titus said. “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of the climate crisis with rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. Our precious water supply must be protected.”
The Horizon Lateral Program is a water system improvement project that will increase water service reliability and redundancy for more than one million people and hundreds of businesses in Henderson and the southern portion of the Las Vegas Valley.
“This legislation increases water service reliability for more than one million residents and hundreds of businesses in Southern Nevada, helping ensure the long-term viability of our regional water system while also expanding and protecting environmental resources for our community,” said John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
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