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      From: Merle Rawlings <desertlevite@hotmail.com> 
      To: <snakevalley@utah.gov> 
      Date: Tuesday - September 29, 2009 4:38 PM 
      Subject: NV/UT Water Agreement Comment 





      The amount of water (132,000 acre feet) postulated as the very foundation 
      for the Agreement is highly speculative.  Negotiators from both states, 
      have used the highest USGS BARCASS Study "guestimates" as the amount of 
      water available to be shared.  This, in spite of a one-in-three chance 
      BARCASS is incorrect in its assumptions of the real amount of water in the 
      aquifer.



      Haven't we learned anything from the disastrous Colorado River Compact 
      water distributiton fiasco?  Using data collected during some of the 
      wettest ten-year periods of river flow on record, politicians distributed 
      the highest amounts of water possible, not giving thought or consideration 
      to a simple querry:  What if the river's annual flow is less than what has 
      been forecast?



      Incredibly, it appears the NV/UT proposed Agreement is moving full speed 
      down that same road of over-promise and regret.  Why are we being so 
      generous with water that might not be there?  After all, there is a 
      greater than 30% chance (according to BARCASS) that is the case.



      I urge the negotiators from both states to reconsider the 132,000 acre 
      feet assumption as the starting point of an Agreement to divide the water 
      of the Snake Valley aquifer.  It is not too late to raise the essential 
      question:  "What if we are wrong?"





      Thank you for considering my comment.



      Merle Rawlings

      North Snake Valley, UT   
                           
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