Las Vegas Groundwater Import Project

Presentation by: Boyd ClaytonMarch 15, 2005West Desert High School

The purpose of the environmental impact statement (EIS) for this project is specifically related to the rights-of-way applications for the pipelines and other facilities. The BLM is responsible for overseeing the EIS process and evaluating the potential impacts associated with granting the rights-of-way.

The EIS does not address the water rights related to this project. The Nevada Office of the State Engineer will determine whether or not to grant water rights through an independent process.

Southern Nevada Water Plan

Las Vegas Groundwater Applications

147 Wells125,000 ~ 200,000 Acft Priority ~ 1989Lincoln, White Pine, Nye, and Clark Counties

Hurdles

State Engineer ApprovalPermits and Rights of Way (EIS)CostConstruction

Groundwater Basics

Basin Fill Characteristics

Carbonate Rock Aquifer

Groundwater Flow Pattern

Current Activities

Nevada SE Three Lakes Decision

7 applications 58cfs 17,000acft Limited to 8,895 acft Monitoring Program Termination if impacts are detected

Dismissed objections without factual submissionsRejected idea of appropriating “transistional storage” and any basin “overdraft”.Considered cross basin issues and impacts on distant springs where data was available to address the issue.

HR4593 (Public Law 108-424)

Signed November 30, 2004BLM to Grant Right of Way Compliance with NEPA Groundwater Study Utah/Nevada water resources

agreement Does not preempt existing water

rights law

EIS Process

Scoping late April Early MayDraft Summer 2006Final Mid 2007

Groundwater Study

USGS, DRI, Utah to participate$6,000,000Complete 36 months (December 1, 2007)Deliverables Volume of water stored in aquifers Recharge and discharge characteristics Hydrogeologic and other controls Maps of aquifer systems

Water Resources Agreement

Prior to any transbasin diversion from ground-water basins located within both the state of Nevada and the State of Utah, the State of Nevada and the State of Utah shall reach an agreement regarding the division of water resources of those interstate ground-water flow system(s) from which water will be diverted and used by the project. The agreement shall allow for the maximum sustainable beneficial use of the water resources and protect existing water rights.

Ways to Participate

Identify Issues ASAPCollect data develop factual argumentsDigest Existing StudiesReview/Update Water RightsParticipate in Decision Processes Nevada SE Decision Right of Way EIS Utah / Nevada Interstate Water Resource

Agreement

Existing Studies

Snake Valley Tech Pub 14, 71Carbonate Aquifer (OFR 93-170)Pumping Study (WRI 95-4173)UGS Snake Valley Study (RI 254)

Websites

Utah Division of Water Rights http://waterrights.utah.gov

USGS (Nevada) http://nv.water.usgs.gov/

BLM (EIS) http://www.nv.blm.gov/ely/

Nevada Water Rights http://water.nv.gov/