Nevada Drought Panel to Hear from Farmers, Tribes, Officials

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A panel gauging the effect of drought in Nevada is due to hear from farmers, tribes, environmentalists, water officials and others at a state Department of Agriculture hearing in Sparks.

State Climatologist Doug Boyle is also expected to update current conditions during the Nevada Drought Forum meeting on Wednesday. It'll be the final information-gathering session ahead of a Carson City drought summit in September. Gov. Brian Sandoval commissioned the panel in April to consider ways to deal with the record dry spell now in its 15th year.

Members heard from businesses last month in Las Vegas. Wednesday's meeting will be shared by closed-circuit videoconference with Nevada Department of Agriculture offices in Las Vegas and Elko, and Cooperative Extension offices in Elko and 12 other communities around the state.