Many things we do have unintended consequences. Consider for example the research suggesting mobile phones may be killing off bee colonies. The consequences of this are particularly dire on our food crops. In spite of a great apricot blossom this year we appear to have few fruit set on the trees. What we didn't have to go with the blossoms were the bees to pollinate them.

Southern Nevada Water Authority's attempt to grab water from rural Nevada and surrounding states is rife with such unintended consequences. Consider the global food supply chain that feeds Las Vegas. With the destruction of the agricultural areas of the state Las Vegas will be totally dependent on this global chain instead of having the local resources to support the community in times of crisis. We have recently seen the effects of this global supply chain when a Las Vegas company sold contaminated wheat germ to pet food manufacturers and poisoned pets across the continent. With a food supply this fragile even small disruptions have huge consequences.

The Nevada State Engineer yesterday released a decision that gives SNWA about half of the water they were looking to take from the residents of Spring Valley. The agency would like residents of Spring Valley to believe that it will spend tens of billions of dollars building a pipeline and abandon it the instant it has a detrimental impact on the state's breadbasket. With a once fertile portion of the state dried up to provide water for Las Vegas' uncontrolled growth Las Vegans will have no safety net when it comes to our food supply. Rural Nevada may never be able to completely support Las Vegas' food needs, but it is certain that without this important safeguard Vegas will be in even more peril.