As Western states juggle expansion and water scarcity, communities from Las Vegas to Phoenix are hitting the brakes on development.
Jennifer Yachnin reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Recent legal and executive actions across Western states are limiting new construction due to the scarcity of water resources, underscoring the clash between booming populations and dwindling water supplies.
- The Nevada Supreme Court ruled against a large development outside Las Vegas, highlighting the challenges of balancing growth with environmental sustainability and water rights.
- Efforts to reduce water consumption in places like southern Nevada, through more efficient homes and restrictions on water use, point towards possible solutions amidst growing concerns.
Key quote:
"The era of limits is upon us."
— Kathy Jacobs, director of the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions at the University of Arizona
Why this matters:
Communities across states like California, Arizona, and Nevada are grappling with the reality that water, once considered an abundant resource, is now a critically limited one. In 2022, Arizona experienced the worst drought conditions in more than 1,000 years, which dried up reservoirs, exposed regulatory loopholes and further exposed environmental injustice.
