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said it will either store its water in 14 million acre- feet of underground aquifers or work out water exchanges with farmers who pump groundwater. Arizona officials also have mentioned that the stored water may be used to settle future American Indian claims. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWDI has paid to store 89.000 acre-feet of wate] 1O Its credit in Arizona aquifers with plans in the works iOT storing more. Nevada currently has Storetl :.>L' .LOU at.re~feet of Colorado River water in !.r"wna and ha:'i signed an agreement to store more in the near tuture. Cll!!Sr - If in me eariy yea's of Coloralo p;ver H!;ocatlon controversies California drove the debate, as the 21st century opens, Nevada nas emergea as the most vocal claimant for additional water. Water users in the Las Vegas area, in particular, want to increase their share of the Colorado River - the smallest in the Lm\cr Basin. Ir~ 1991. the area's water and wastewater agencIes formed the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to create a stronger voice in regional water issues. Rapidly gr()\\'ing Las Vegas 1.\ II orkill'.! J(I enslIre Through the years, Nevada's population grew, and it is now a leading retirement and destination state with 80 percent of its current residents born out- side the state. In the 21 st Century, southern Nevada's Clark County (home to Las Vegas) remains adequate Irata supplies for the desert city. i'f,<"".~. .~ ..!. {:.::;; ~ one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States with a population approaching 2.5 million and visits from more than 25 million tourists annually. Sixty-five percent of Nevada's population lives in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Southern Nevada's groundwater and its share of the Colorado River are predicted to meet the current water demand only until about 2007. By 2025, without finding any new sources of water and even with water conservation measures in place, the Las Vegas area is projected to liferally run out of water for new development. Hence. the SNWA is actively seeking new water sources. In 2000. Interior completed a rule allowing Nevada to beglr1 storing SQrlle of IHo (or Arizona s on Nevada s behalf) unused apportionment in the Arizona Water Bank, pending a speCific Interstate agreement between the two states (see page 201. In 2001, Nevada slgnea an agreement to &tore up to 1.2 million acre-feel of water in Arizona's aquifers. Arizona law limits the recovery and interstate trans- fer of groundwater to 100.000 acre.feet per year. When Nevada finally utilizes its full entitlement from the Colorado River sometime this century, it will have the ability to cash in on the water stored in Arizona. To deliver the stored water, Arizona will decrease its diversion of Colorado River water and allow the water to continue downstream. The same amount of water left in the river by Arizona would be diverted by Nevada through its intake at Lake Mead. By doing this, Nevada would save the money if would have to spend on constructing new water facilities or obtaining water elsewhere. Other plausible options for acquiring more water exist for the state as well. The Las Vegas Valley Water District, a local purveyor of water for the Las Vegas area, announced in 2000 that it may enter into a water swap with a water district on the Virgin River for rights to use up to 5.000 acre-feet. In 1998. SNWA agreed to purchase 7,500 acre-feet of groundwater (possibly more) from Coyote Springs for 525 million. but how the water will be delivered is still being discussed. Additionaliy. in 1999. SNWA began construclion on a new $2 billion pipeline 50 feet below its current intake pipe at Lake Mead. The new pipe will allow the region a more sfable supply of water during extended dry perrods when the lake would be drawn down. leaving the old infake above the water line. Eventually, over the next 20 years, the new pipe will allow SNWA to use up to 300 million more gallons- a-day. The system is expected to go on-line by 2008.