BEAVER DAM, Ariz. - An application to pump thousands of acre-feet of water from Arizona into southern Nevada drew more than 100 Arizona Strip residents to an emergency meeting of a rural improvement organization.

The group, RIPPLE, seeks to block a proposal by Wind River Resources, an Arizona company, to transport an alleged 14,000 acre-feet of groundwater from below Beaver Dam to the Virgin Valley Water District in Mesquite and to nearby Scenic, Ariz., according to RIPPLE spokesman Gordon Hastleman.

Representatives from Wind Water Resources were not in attendance, but several Beaver Dam business leaders and other angry residents spoke in opposition to the plan.

According to Hastleman, the population of Beaver Dam has grown by more than 10 percent annually since 2001. He estimated the population at 5,209 and quoted projections that the number might reach between 15,000 and 20,000 by the year 2020.

"Whether that happens or not, we are sure we can see the need for Arizona water to stay in our community," he said. "Beaver Dam communities will cease to exist without water."

RIPPLE represents the Mohave County communities of Beaver Dam, Littlefields, Scenic and Desert Springs, serving as an advisory board without any political authority. The group is currently pursuing the incorporation of these communities as one township.

Bob Frisby, of the Beaver Dam Water Co., said that three similar permit applications have been turned down in recent years. He fears that depletion of Beaver Dam's groundwater sources may increase the arsenic content of its water. Presently, Beaver Dam does not need to treat its water for arsenic. Mesquite does.

According to Frisby, part of the deal between Wind River Resources and Mesquite would entail the mixing of water from Beaver Dam with water from Mesquite, reducing the need for water treatment in the Virgin Valley.

"If we allow this transfer of water, it is not only going to be damaging for our community, but it's going to set a precedent for the state of Arizona," Frisby said.

One man in the audience stood in favor of the plan. Steve MacIntyre, of Beaver Dam, affiliating himself with Wind River Resources, said he had not seen the application but urged careful consideration of the proposal.

Working with Mesquite "may even be a benefit to Beaver Dam," he said, suggesting Arizona could trade its clean water for southern Nevada's infrastructure.