Sloan Canyon Gets Bigger, Water Pipeline Gets Green Light: Conservation Area Expands, But With a Catch

The "Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act" does two main things: it expands the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area by a hefty 9,290 acres, and it gives the Southern Nevada Water Authority the go-ahead to build a water pipeline through it. The map gets a redraw, officially bumping up the protected area from 48,438 acres to 57,728 acres (SEC. 3).

More Room to Roam?

On the surface, expanding a conservation area sounds great. More protected land, right? And this bill does that. But it also greenlights a water pipeline within those expanded boundaries. The Southern Nevada Water Authority gets a right-of-way to construct and operate the pipeline and related facilities, with construction starting within one year of this bill becoming law (SEC. 3). Think of it like getting a bigger backyard, but immediately giving your neighbor permission to build a driveway through it. The impact? For hikers and nature lovers, the expanded area is a win, in theory. But for those concerned about the impact of construction on a protected area, the pipeline raises a red flag.

Pipeline Pathways and Paperwork

The bill fast-tracks the pipeline approval. The Secretary of the Interior must grant the rights-of-way within one year, "without any rental or other charge" (SEC. 3). That's quick, and "without charge" means the Water Authority doesn't pay for access. The bill also addresses what happens to the dirt and rock dug up during tunneling – the Water Authority can use it, and they'll work out a disposal plan with the Bureau of Land Management within 30 days of getting the right-of-way (SEC. 3). For construction workers, this means jobs. But for environmental watchdogs, the speed of the approval and the details of material disposal are worth watching closely.

Protecting What's Precious (and What's Not)

The bill says construction "must not harm" surface resources and can't go through designated wilderness areas (SEC. 3). The Secretary can set "reasonable terms" to protect the Conservation Area (SEC. 3). What does "reasonable" mean in practice? That's the million-dollar question, and the answer will determine how well the area is actually protected. Existing utility corridors and transmission lines are unaffected, and new ones can still be built (SEC. 3). So, while the Conservation Area is growing, so is the potential for infrastructure within it. The long-term impact? It depends on how strictly those "reasonable terms" are enforced, and how much development is ultimately allowed.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is this bill presents a trade-off. It is a classic example of balancing competing needs: conservation versus development, environmental protection versus water infrastructure. While it adds more acres to the Conservation Area, it also opens the door to a major construction project within its borders. For everyday folks, the increased conservation area is a potential boon, but the details of the pipeline's impact will be the key thing to watch.