Booming Town Seeks Water From Reluctant Neighbor

An 11-year drought in the Southwest U.S. has a growing small town in Nevada looking to pump water from nearby Beaver Dam, Arizona. Many in the Arizona town are upset over the proposed water-snatch, which they say limits their own ability to develop.

1 minute read

April 7, 2007, 11:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"A water dispute is causing tension between the Southwestern towns of Beaver Dam, Ariz., and Mesquite, Nev. Residents in Beaver Dam are upset over a plan to export the town's remaining water supply across state lines to fuel a development boom in Mesquite."

The development boom in Mesquite has brought its population to nearly ten times that of Beaver Dam's 1,500 residents.

"At the current rate of growth, planners say Mesquite will be out of water within 3 to 5 years."

Friday, April 6, 2007 in NPR

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