Federal government ready to take over Nevada’s water if states can’t agree

By Brittany Sheehan

Nevada News and Views

Picture this: You and your neighbors are trying to split up a shrinking water well that everyone depends on. But instead of working together, you’re all fighting over who gets what. Now the government is saying if you can’t figure it out by November, they’ll decide for you.

That’s exactly what’s happening with the Colorado River right now. And it could mean big trouble for Nevada and everyone who believes Washington should stay out of local decisions.

Why This Matters to Conservatives

This isn’t just about water. It’s about federal overreach at its worst. Scott Cameron, the Interior Department’s acting assistant secretary for water and science, has given state negotiators a mid-November deadline to reach an agreement on a long-term plan or face federal control.

Think about it. Seven western states have been managing water from the Colorado River for over 100 years. Sure, there have been bumps along the way. But now Trump’s people are basically saying “figure it out in a few months or we’ll do it for you.”

That should worry any conservative who values limited government and state rights. At least now we have Trump in the White House instead of Biden, but the federal bureaucrats are still trying to grab power.

The Real Problem: States Can’t Agree

“We are nowhere close to agreement,” said Colby Pellegrino from Nevada’s water authority. The seven states that share Colorado River water have been fighting for months about who should cut back and by how much.

Here’s what makes it tricky. Lake Mead is currently at about 1,054 feet above sea level — 175 feet below what’s considered full. Based on water storage, the reservoir is at 31 percent of capacity. That’s Nevada’s main water source, providing nearly 90 percent of Las Vegas’s water supply.

Nevada gets the smallest share of any state — less than 2 percent of the river’s water. But Nevada has reduced its consumption of Colorado River water by 36 percent over the past two decades through smart conservation efforts.

What the Feds Want to Do

A top Interior Department official told negotiators they must have a plan by Nov. 11 or face the federal government taking over. If that happens, bureaucrats in Washington will decide how much water Nevada gets. Not Nevada’s elected officials. Not local water managers who know the area best. Federal bureaucrats.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has already said he’s ready to step in if states don’t reach a deal. This is Trump’s Interior Secretary, so conservatives might hope for a different approach than the previous administration. But federal power is still federal power.

“We cannot afford to delay,” federal officials keep saying.

But conservatives should ask: Why can’t we afford to let states work this out themselves? Why does every problem need a federal solution?

The States Are Actually Making Progress

Critics might say the states are hopeless and need federal help. But that’s not the whole story. States did come closer to a consensus after a breakthrough proposal in July to share the waterway based on the actual flow of the river, as opposed to projected flows and historical agreements.

This new approach makes sense. Instead of basing water sharing on old estimates from 100 years ago, states would split up the water that’s actually there each year.

Nevada’s Representative Susie Lee put it well: “The best path forward for the Colorado River system is one that is jointly chartered and agreed upon by the basin states and the tribes, not one that is imposed upon us living in the West by Washington, D.C.”

What’s at Stake for Nevada

Nevada will face a 7 percent cut in its share of the Colorado River based on a reservoir projection released Friday, marking the fifth year in a row of cuts. But Nevada has prepared for this better than most states.

The state has banked water underground for dry times. Las Vegas recycles most of its indoor water. Residents can’t plant grass lawns in new developments. Nevada has done its homework.

By June 2027, Lake Mead is likely to fall to its shallowest level on record since the reservoir was filled in the 1930s. But instead of letting states continue working toward solutions, the federal government wants to take over.

What Could Happen Next

If states don’t reach a deal by November, get ready for years of court battles. When the federal government imposes water rules, states will sue. Lawyers will get rich while everyone else suffers through uncertainty.

Then the states would have until Feb. 14 to submit a detailed plan if they can convince the feds they’re close to a deal in November.

But here’s the bigger worry. If federal bureaucrats can take over water management in the West, what’s next? Energy production? Land use? Housing development?

What Conservatives Can Do

Contact Nevada’s congressional delegation and tell them to oppose federal takeover of state water rights. Support lawmakers who believe in the 10th Amendment and letting states solve their own problems.

Nevada has shown it can conserve water and manage resources responsibly. The last thing we need is Washington bureaucrats making decisions about Nevada water from thousands of miles away.

The Colorado River served the West for centuries before the federal government got involved. With some patience and respect for state authority, it can continue doing so without a federal takeover.

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Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.