Wednesday, Jan 2 2013 9:50PM

Many groups are lobbying against a new law that will divert water away from rural Nevada counties toward Las Vegas.

The U.S. Department of the Interior issued final approval that authorizes the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to carry water away from rural counties on the Nevada-Utah border, according to The Associated Press.

The BLM can now authorize the Southern Nevada Water Authority to construct a 263-mile pipeline that will divert groundwater resources from four rural counties to Las Vegas, the AP reports.

The decision has been met by significant opposition from a range of groups, including Native Americans, environmentalists, local government and ranchers. The groups argue the decision will dry up rural counties' access to water system services and threaten local economies and environments.

Supporters of the new law say the pipeline will allow them to capitalize on the state's existing resources, rather than relying on the Colorado River.

Currently, several states depend on the Colorado River basin for water resources. The sharing agreement has resulted in some disputes among states, and growing concern that the basin may one day dry up. In response, many states have sought out new legislation to help them better allocate their own water resources. Many of these initiatives have resulted in disputes over the environmental effects, zoning and Native American rights.

For more information, check out this resource: The Associated Press