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      From: "Earl Christensen" <EChristensen@propellerinc.com> 
      To: <snakevalley@utah.gov>, <snakevally@water.nv.gov> 
      CC: <Brad_Shafer@bennett.senate.gov>, <gfairbanks@utah.gov>, 
      <awelling@utah.gov> 
      Date: Tuesday - August 18, 2009 5:56 PM 
      Subject: Snake Valley is a bad idea 




      Building a pipeline from the Snake Valley to Las Vegas is a very bad
      idea.  Here's why:



      1)       The entire negotiation process has been deceptive to the
      public.  Why were the negotiations held behind closed doors?  Is it
      fundamentally so that the people of Utah would not understand Nevada's
      attempted water grab or so that Utah's "negotiators" wouldn't be
      embarrassed?



      2)       Despite any agreement, is there anyone who truly believes that,
      once the pipeline is built, that it would ever be turned off regardless
      of the water table level in the Snake  Valley?  Absolutely not.  Who is
      going to turn off water to thousands of people? So, fundamentally, any
      agreement is null once the pipeline is built.  All the water is going to
      Las Vegas no matter what.  Consider the water disagreement between
      Kansas and Nebraska: 



      "OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Kansas' top water resources administrator says a
      letter he received from Nebraska on Monday did nothing to move the
      states closer to an agreement in their dispute over Republican River
      Basin water.

      Nebraska Department of Resources Director Ann Bleed said in her letter
      to David Barfield that she disagrees with the methods Kansas used to
      measure the overuse of water........."

      Here's the link on the above water dispute.  Read it carefully as you
      can change the names Kansas and Nebraska with Utah and Nevada one year
      after the pipeline is built:
      http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/02/05/news/nebraska/f6072b
      e39554489a862573e60013c068.txt





      3)       The Utah "negotiators" do not know their history.  Read up on
      what Los Angeles did to the Owens Valley with their water grab.   The
      once thriving farm community is now a ghost town.  It transformed "The
      Switzerland of California" into a desert.  And, after destroying the
      Owens Valley by stealing the water, is Los Angeles any better place to
      live?   This episode is famous for creating the saying "water flows
      uphill towards money".  What happens when the money runs out?



      4)       Every community has to live within its means.  Go ahead, Las
      Vegas, grow as fast as you want.  Add more casinos, golf courses and car
      dealers.  But you can only grow until your resources run out.  I vote
      you have to stop when taking my resources begins.  I want my kids and
      grandkids to see the Snake Valley as it is and I want Utah's air to be
      dust free.  



      5)       A good relationship between states is important.  Nevada is
      showing bad judgment, disrespect for Utah, and poor statesmanship.



      I vote no on the pipeline and seriously question the Utah negotiators.
      What are you thinking?  How do we get out of this mess?



      Sincerely,



      Earl G. Christensen

      President

      Propeller, Inc.

      office 801-607-3211

      cell 801-368-7100

      362 S. University Avenue

      Provo, UT 84601

      www.propellerinc.com <http://www.propellerinc.com/> 

      Awarded "Utah's fastest growing company" in 1997