Nevada, the driest state in the nation, faces a water crisis in the years to come. To help save the precious resources for future generations, the governor just signed two bills A.B. 104 and S.B. 36 with bipartisan support including a new, statewide program to pay people to voluntarily give up their water rights. One would only need to look to Lake Mead to understand that Nevada’s water supply is dwindling while its population is booming. Now those with entitlements to water, like multigenerational ranchers and farmers, can exchange those rights for money. … The statewide initiative enables groundwater rights holders like agricultural producers to voluntarily retire or give up their claim to water in exchange for cash in areas where use exceeds long-term water availability. Once retired, the rights are permanently removed from use. … While the law has been passed, it is unclear where the money will come to pay those willing to voluntarily give up water rights.

Related articles: 

• Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nev.): Got water rights? Nevada wants to buy them but doesn’t have the money
• Las Vegas Sun (Nev.): Editorial: Region’s water supplies dwindle, but Nevada has chance to fight it