With the approval of the Director of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the State Engineer, for and on behalf of the State of Nevada, is authorized to cooperate with the United States Government and the State of California in making a study of the various problems pertaining to the future needs and uses of the waters of Lake Tahoe in the area adjacent thereto, and, if it appears that at some future period there may be a shortage of water, to study ways and means of developing a supplemental water supply so that the development of the area will not be impeded and existing water rights not jeopardized.
NRS 532.180