Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1) introduced the Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act to safeguard Southern Nevada’s water security while enhancing environmental conservation efforts. The proposed bill would allow a portion of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Horizon Lateral water pipeline project to tunnel underneath Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), increasing water reliability for over a million Southern Nevadans, fortifying the region’s water infrastructure against potential outages, and minimizing disruptions and impacts to the surrounding communities. 

This legislation would also expand the Sloan Canyon NCA by 9,290 acres, to enhance the preservation of the desert landscapes and habitat unique to Southern Nevada. This is the House companion to legislation introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.

Congresswoman Dina Titus stated, “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of the climate crisis with rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. The Horizon Lateral pipeline will protect water access for District One residents and businesses while also preserving more of our state’s unique landscapes and habitat.”

The Southern Nevada Water Authority, affirmed its support, emphasizing the significance of ensuring water service reliability for the Las Vegas Valley. “This legislation preserves environmental resources while ensuring that 76 percent of Nevada’s population continues to have access to safe, quality drinking water delivered through reliable water infrastructure for generations to come,” said John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. 

Background:

The proposed underground route beneath Sloan Canyon NCA is estimated to save Southern Nevadans at least $200 million while minimizing disturbances to both residents and the local environment.

Additionally, this route ensures the water delivery system’s redundancy in emergency situations and offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.