Letter to the Editor

We live in a desert, after all

I read the Community Viewpoint article in the Oct. 11 paper and would like to make a comment on it. I think we are putting the cart before the horse here. As your paper points out in several informative articles recently, water is a main concern for any development here in Pahrump. In fact, page three has a rather detailed article about how water rights are oversubscribed here.

A regional airport is going to use water that we might not have in any abundance for it’s development and operation. To tell Clark County, for example, that we would like to carve out some of their territory for our regional airpot simply invites their criticism and scorn. I think one of the first things they might point out is that the state engineer’s office says our water rights are already oversubscribed here and, therefore, why should they even consider a secession of some of their territory to Nye County when a project like that might not get off the ground because of our water situation.

I think we need to take a more holistic approach to development before we spend any time or resources on any sizeable development. I think the better approach is to solve our long and short term water issues first and then we can develop a new master plan before we talk about any new development such as a new housing tract, golf course, mall, hotels, or a regional airport. If we don’t have the water then I cannot see how these things could be successful.

Our resources in town are pretty slim as it is. Lets not squander them in “pie in the sky” development plans that never address the water issue. After all, we live in a desert. Where are we going to get the water?

VINCE CLARK