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STATE OF NEVADA OFFICE OF THE STATE SNGR Carson City, Nevada Hay 6 , 1946 Hr. Ernest Cragtn, Mayor City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada Dear Mayor Craglnt Due to the rapid development of Industry within the Las Vegas Valley, a crisis Is rapidly approaching relative to the supply of underground water from which source water is furnished to the City of Las Vegas and surrounding areas. To be more specific, the annual amount of water now being taken from the underground supply is nearly equal to the annual redharge. If water were taken from the underground source in an amount equal to the permitted rights now existing, the draft would exceed the recharge. For the past two years this office in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey has been carrying on an exten­sive study on the underground waters in that area and we be­lieve that the study will be completed by this Fall. However, we are able at this tl&e to estimate with reasonable accuracy the norsgsl recharge and the condition is alarming. We feel that at the moment, the major H a l t i n g factor to the growth and prosperity of that area is the water sup­ply. If the growth depends upon the water from the underground supply then the Las Vegas Valley is nearing full development • Section 10 of the 1959 law relating to underground water (Chap. 178, Stats. 1959) provides that when the State Engineer determines that the waters from an underground source is fully appropriated, then no further permits shall be issued. Therefore, unless some positive action is taken by the people there to supplement the underground waters with water from another source it will soon become mandatory for the State Engineer to curtail the issuance of any further permits. part will have We reUlze that such action on our Las Vegas Vall ey most disastrous affect on the welfare of the as naturally no new industries, hotels and other large users of water would consider entering an area where there is an adequate supply of water.•