1) The US government did not “commandeer millions of acres of land in the states”. The US government already owned the land PRIOR to the creation of the State of Nevada. And when the State of Nevada decided to join the Union, they agreed to not make claim to that land. In fact, it is the State of Nevada Constitution that they make no claim to that land.
2) Article 1 Section 8 (Enclave clause) allows for “... other needful buildings”. The Hover Dam is most certainly a needful building. The land in question is part of the Lake Mead National Recreational Area which includes the Hover Dam, Lake Mead, several docks, repair facilities, a Coast Guard Auxiliary. Further, the enclave clause does not limit the Congress to only military installations as some others have asserted. The fact is that the clause says “all places”.
3) In this case, the government has been abiding by the constitution. The land belongs to the US government and congress has the right to administer that land as they see fits.
LOL!
"It all depends on what the meaning of "is", is..."
Non of the reasons enumerated in the Constitution cover tortoises. The 600,000 acres in question is arid semi desert which has no other use except marginal grazing. No where in the constitution does it say the US govt can retain 80%-90% of the land of any state.
This whole thing is not about grazing rights its about states rights and in the larger picture Agenda 21. Taking back rights that have been either given away or allowed to be taken away is messy.