The worst characteristics of an unresponsive, glacierlike bureaucracy are putting residents of Schurz at risk.
While bureaucrats debate the best way to move forward to protect the endangered Lahontan cutthroat trout, homes downstream of Weber Dam are themselves endangered by the shaky dam.
An earthquake of 5.8 magnitude - not extreme, by any means, in Nevada - could shake down the dam and allow the waters of Weber Reservoir to flood the town.
Design and permitting for reconstruction of the dam have been done for two years. But no work has been done. Why?
There are plenty of fingers to point. Some blame Sen. Harry Reid for enabling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department to stall the work with its "jeopardy" opinion on the effect on the trout.
But other agencies - the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Land Management - need to get together with Fish and Wildlife, as well as the Walker River Paiute tribe, to resolve their differences in order to get moving.
Clearly, the safety of Schurz residents must take priority. Second, Weber Reservoir is crucial to the ranchers who depend on its waters for irrigation.
For Fish and Wildlife to suggest removal of the dam shows such narrow, insensitive thinking that, frankly, it ought to be ignored.
We urge the agencies to move immediately to reconstruct the dam and protect the lives and livelihoods of the people who live there.
It is impossible to imagine the tragedy that could occur if they wait too long.
