Nicely written Defenders of Wildlife Report highlights some of the fundamental problems of the plan including the discrepancy between the amount of money Southern Nevada spends on water development vs. water conservation.  The SNWA spends $103 on the former vs. $19 on the latter.  The cost of the pipeline is a great concern with estimates of 2-5 billion dollars that is really an underestimate.  It also highlights the cautionary tale of Owens Valley that was an area of ecological decimation when LA developed groundwater there in the early 20th century.  As a result of this project it now is the single greatest source of particulate matter in the country as it became a giant dustbowl when the water table was severely dropped.  The water table in this case could be lowered by as much as 1,600 feet!! Certainly not an insignificant figure.  As a result of a recent water protest the Nevada state engineer has allowed the SNWA to pump 40,000 acre feet a year when recent studies estimate that at most that can be sustainably pumped is 14,000 acre feet.  Of course wildlife, local economies such as tourism and ranching are at stake by this project.  Read the full report.  http://www.defenders.org/resources/publications/programs_and_policy/habitat_conservation/federal_lands/gambling_on_the_water_table.pdf.