Water ruling may come up in Nevada special session

Nevada's natural resources chief is crafting a measure to respond to a state Supreme Court ruling that could doom a huge Las Vegas water pipeline project.

Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Director Allen Biaggi said Wednesday the Legislature could take up the issue during a special budget session starting Feb. 23.

Gov. Jim Gibbons' chief of staff, Lynn Hettrick, says the governor is considering adding the water issue to the special session agenda.

Biaggi says thousands of water rights across the state could be affected by the unanimous Jan. 28 ruling by the state high court.

Justices said Nevada law required the state engineer to act within a year on Southern Nevada Water Authority water rights applications filed in 1989.

Instead, they weren't considered until 16 years later.