Bill establishes Nevada panel to oversee Tahoe

A bill before the Nevada Assembly would establish a commission to oversee the workings of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Colorado River Commission.

SB216, which has generated much political wrangling, would allow the 6-member legislative panel to provide "appropriate review and oversight." It could study budgets, programs and activities of both entities, subpoena records if necessary, and make recommendations to the Legislature for new laws.

"This is a very responsible way to keep our finger on the pulse of some very important multistate resource issues," Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, told the Assembly Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, adding that the commission would monitor 85 percent of the state's water supply.

George Caan, executive director of the Colorado River Commission, said he supports oversight -- but the amount that already exists for Colorado River water is adequate.

"We don't see the need for another layer of oversight considering the oversight we have existing today," Caan said.

But Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said the new commission could help alleviate public concerns that the river commission isn't doing its job.

"Sometimes perception is reality," Giunchigliani said. "Would it not make sense to put to rest people's concerns that CRC is not functioning appropriately."

John Marshall, general counsel for the bistate TRPA, said he supports the concept of additional oversight, but would like to see the bill limited just to Tahoe.

"We're selfish," Marshall said. "We want the oversight. We want the full attention of the committee."

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said she's concerned about oversight of the Colorado River Commission and the TRPA, but she'd like to add rural counties water rights to the proposal.

Leslie said she opposes a bill now before the Assembly because of its potential to harm the rural counties. SB487 would allow agreements like one already made between Lincoln County and Vidler Water Co. to split profits from water sales to the fast-growing Las Vegas area. The bill would let Vidler also seal deals with every other county except Clark County, encompassing Las Vegas.

A high-powered Vidler lobbying team and other proponents say the bill will aid economic development by tapping unused underground aquifers for dollars. But some lawmakers and environmentalists worry public-private water partnership sets a dangerous precedent.

The committee also heard SB46, authorizing the state to issue nearly $10 million in general obligation bonds to raise money for the environmental protection of Lake Tahoe. The money would go to shoreline restoration, reforestation and increasing lake clarity, among other things.