Conservationists oppose water rights for Nevada gold mine

Reno, Nev. • Five conservation groups have joined a tribe’s effort to block the expansion of a northeast Nevada gold mine they say would suck water from other area users and destroy cultural resources and habitat for sensitive wildlife dependent on nearby wetlands.The environmentalists filed protests this week with the Nevada Division of Water Resources challenging 31 water rights applications sought by Nevada Gold Mines, a joint venture between Newmont and Barrick Gold Corp. about 30