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Resources Bulletin No.5, issued in 1948. Annual recharge of the ground- water reservoir in Las Vegas Valley is esti*ated at 30,000 to 35,000 acre- feet. From 5,000 to 8,000 acre-feet a year! are lost by evaporation and transpiration. In 1946 the total dischargeifrom the valley for the first time exceeded the normal recharge, and in 1~50 there was about 5,000 acre- feet depletion of ground-water storage. Ground-water levels have been de- clining at steadily increasing rate since about 1925, and the decline is widespread. A hydro graph of the average water level of 15 selected wells indicates a yearly deoline of 1.8 feet. From July 27 to August 11, 1950, the Las Vegas Land and Water Company was supplying 12,888,000 gallons o~ water a day, with a maximum of 14,293,300 gallons. This year, from June ]9 to July 13, the average rate was 16,045,300 gallons a day, with a maxim$! of 17,340,000 gallons. Climatic conditions for the two periods were simila~. Thus it appears that the summer demand for water was 20 to 25 percent higher in 1951 than in 1950. Recharge to the ground-water in L~s Vegas Artesian Basin is largely from snow on the Spring Mountain Range. Snowfall during 1950 and 1951 was below normal. Water content of the snow in 1950 was about 62 percent of the 10 year average and in 1951 about 16 percent. The time required for the re- charge water to percolate to the area of g*ound-water withdrawals is not known definitely, but it is expected the deficiency in recharge will be reflected in 1952, 1953, and 1954. The rate of decline of water levels may increase more rapidly during. the next few years. Clark County sponsored an act in 1947 to create a water district. Thereafter the Las Vegas Valley Water District was formed. In 1949 the District engaged engineers to study and report on the water supPly of Las Vegas Valley, with preliminary plans and e~timates for bringing water from Lake Mead. The report estimated increases: in population from 41,000 in 1950 to 82,100 in 1970 and 105,200 in the year ~OOO. The yearly deficienoy in ground-water supply was estimated at 5,000: acre.feet in 1950; 30,000 acre- feet in 1970; and 98,000 acre-feet in 2000.. Methods considered for supplementing the water supply comprised a direct system from Lake Mead, a conneotion to the existing Basic Magnesium Plant system supplied from Lake Mead, and pombinations of those two methods. The Las Vegas Valley Water District is st~dying the methods, and began nego- tiations with the Colorado River Commissi9n to purohasewater from the Basic Magnesium water system now owned by the State. Meanwhile, lessees at Basic are negotiating purchase of the plant and !water system, and have submitted a tentative plan to supply water to the D~strict. * * * * * * *.* ** If -22-