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In-State Groundwater Resources

The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has a number of other groundwater permits and applications in southern and eastern Nevada.

Garnet and Hidden Valleys

The Nevada State Engineer permitted a combined total of 2,200 acre-feet per year (AFY) to the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) in 2001 based on 1989 groundwater applications in these basins. The majority of these rights have been leased to dry-cooled power plants, which are very efficient. SNWA owns 25 percent interest in one of these facilities, the Silverhawk Power Station.

California Wash Basin

In April 2002, the State Engineer permitted the Water Authority 2,500 AFY of groundwater rights in the California Wash Basin. As part of the settlement agreement with the Moapa Band of Paiutes, which resolved regional water resource issues on Muddy River groundwater and surface water rights, the permitted rights, as well as other SNWA applications held in abeyance, were transferred to the Moapa Band of Paiutes. SNWA is working with the Moapa Band of Paiutes to manage and develop water resources in the Muddy River and surrounding basins.

Three Lakes Valley (North and South) and Tikaboo Valley (North and South)

In 2005, the State Engineer approved permits totaling 10,605 AFY in Tikaboo and Three Lakes valleys. In 2006, the Sate Engineer approved some changes in the points of diversion. SNWA is working to develop options for the development of 8,018 AFY of groundwater permits in three Lakes Valley South and North and Tikaboo Valley South and deliver the water to the northwest part of the Las Vegas Valley. In January 2008, SNWA and the Las Vegas Valley Water District entered into an agreement with the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe establishing a right of way on the reservation for the proposed project.

Indian Spring Valley

In 2004, SNWA filed applications for 16,000 AFY of groundwater in Indian Spring Valley. The availability and development of a portion or all of this resource is subject to further research and analysis.

Coyote Spring Valley

SNWA retains approximately 13,800 AFY of pending groundwater applications in Coyote Spring Valley.

Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Counties Groundwater

SNWA has proposed a pipeline project to develop and convey groundwater rights based on applications originally filed in 1989 and acquired rights from Delamar, Dry Lake, Cave, Spring and Snake valleys for use by SNWA member agencies in Clark County. The Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project proposed pipeline would extend from the Las Vegas Valley to Spring and Snake valleys. The environmental analysis is addressing conveyance of approximately 155,755 AFY of water, including approximately 122,755 AFY of SNWA's rights and applications and the remaining capacity provided for Lincoln County based on a 2003 agreement.

Spring Valley
In 2007, the State Engineer granted SNWA up to 60,000 AFY of groundwater from Spring Valley, with an initial staged development of 40,000 AFY for the first ten years. SNWA began acquiring various properties in Spring Valley in 2006. In addition to substantial land holdings, the Water Authority also acquired surface and groundwater rights associated with the properties. To date, SNWA has acquired approximately 34,000 AFY of surface water rights, 6,000 AFY of groundwater rights and 24,000 AFY of supplemental water rights. SNWA does not intend to export the surface water rights, which will be used to help manage the groundwater basin and support other environmental management activities.

Delamar, Dry Lake and Cave Valleys
In 2008, following an administrative hearing, the State Engineer granted SNWA 18,755 AFY of groundwater in these valleys. The applications were granted subject to the development of a monitoring and mitigation plan to be approved by the State Engineer, additional data collection and regular assessment of groundwater pumping.

Snake Valley

SNWA has applications for 50,679 AFY in Snake Valley. The Lincoln County Land Act requires that the states of Nevada and Utah reach an agreement regarding the division of water resources in the basin before water can be diverted. The two states continue to work together to reach an agreement that will allow the maximum sustainable beneficial use of the water resources and protect existing water rights. A draft agreement was issued by the states in August 2009.

Hydrological Studies

The following is a list of hydrological studies and monitoring reports prepared by SNWA for In-State Groundwater Resources. To request copies of any of these reports, fill out the Groundwater Development Project Interest Form.

  • Water Resources Assessment and Hydrogeologic Report for Cave, Dry Lake, and Delamar Valleys, 2007, DDC Exhibit #236-Published Nov. 2010
  • Prieur, J. P., Farnham, I. M., Ashinhurst, C. 2010. Hydrologic Data Analysis Report for Test Well 184W101 in Spring Valley Hydrographic Area 184: Southern Nevada Water Authority Report Number DAR-ED-0003, 79 pages - Published April 2010
  • Mace, J.T., and Muller, D.C., 2010, Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well SPR7008M and Test Well SPR7008X in Spring Valley: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0020, 30 pages - Published March 2010
  • Mace, J.T., and Muller, D.C., 2010, Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well SPR7007M and Test Well SPR7007X in Spring Valley: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0019, 31 pages - Published March 2010
  • Mace, J.T. and Muller, D.C., 2010, Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well SPR7006M in Spring Valley: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0018, 23 pages - Published March 2010
  • Mace, J.T., and Muller, D.C., 2010, Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well SPR7005M and Test Well SPR7005X in Spring Valley: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0017, 30 pages - Published March 2010
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2010. 2009 Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave Valleys Hydrologic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan Status and Data Report, Report Number WRD-ED-0008, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published March 2010
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2010. 2009 Spring Valley Hydrologic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan Status and Data Report, Report Number WRD-ED-0007,PAGENUMBER. Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published March 2010
  • Kuvelis, P.P., 2010, Well completion and geologic data analysis report for Monitor Well PVE-K in Piute Valley: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0016, 29 pages - Published Jan. 2010
  • Howard, D., 2009, Well Completion and Geologic Data Analysis Report for Irrigation Well SPR7023I at Harbecke Ranch in Spring Valley: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0015, 27 pages - Published Dec. 2009
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2009, Hydrologic monitoring and mitigation plan for Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave valleys: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. WRD-ED-0006, 38 pages - Dec. 2009
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2009, Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave valleys stipulation agreement hydrologic monitoring plan status and historical data report: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. WRD-ED-0005, 162 pages - Sept. 2009
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2009, Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave valleys stipulation agreement hydrologic monitoring plan status and historical data report: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. WRD-ED-0005, 162 pages - Published Sept. 2009
  • Prieur, J.P., Farnham, I.M., and Fryer, W., 2009, Hydrologic data analysis report for Test Well 184W105 in Spring Valley: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. DAR-ED-0002, 81 pages - Published Aug. 2009
  • Eastman, H.S., and Dano, E.L., 2009, Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 169W509M in Tikaboo Valley North: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0014, 24 pages - Published July 2009
  • Eastman, H.S., and Dano, E.L., 2009, Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 169W508M in Tikaboo Valley North: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0013, 22 pages - Published July 2009
  • Dano, E.L., and Muller, D.C., 2009, Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 169M-7 in Tikaboo Valley North: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0012, 21 pages - Published July 2009
  • Eastman, H.S., and Muller D.C., 2009, Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 184W506M and Test Well 184W105 in Spring Valley: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. RDS-ED-0011, 41 pages - Published July 2009
  • Prieur, J.P., Ashinhurst, C.S., and Kuvelis P.P., 2009, Hydrologic Analysis Report for Blue Diamond Water Supply Wells in Blue Diamond, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. DAR-ED-0001, 46 pages - Published June 2009
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2009. 2008 Spring Valley Hydrologic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan Status and Data Report, Report Number WRD-ED-0004 - Published March 2009
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2009. Spring Valley Hydrologic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (Hydrographic Area 184), Report Number WRD-ED-0003, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published Feb. 2009
  • Eastman, H. S., Muller, D. C. 2009. Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 184W508M in Spring Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0010, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published Jan. 2009
  • Eastman, H. S., Muller, D. C. 2009. Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 184W502M and Test Well 184W101 in Spring Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0009, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published Jan. 2009
  • Eastman, H. S., Muller, D. C. 2009. Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 184W504M and Test Well 184W103 in Spring Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0008, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published Jan. 2009
  • Acheampong, S.Y., Farnham, I.M., Watrus, J.M., 2009, Geochemical Characterization of Ground Water and Surface Water of Snake Valley and the Surrounding Areas in Utah in Tripp, B.T., Krahulec, K., Jordan, J.L., 2009, Geology and Geologic Resources and Issues of Western Utah: Utah Geological Association Publication 38, 549 pages
  • McPhee, D.K., Pari, K., Baird, F., 2009, Audiomagnetotelluric investigations of Snake Valley, Eastern Nevada and Western Utah in Tripp, B.T., Krahulec, K., Jordan, J.L., 2009, Geology and Geologic Resources and Issues of Western Utah: Utah Geological Association Publication 38, 549 pages - Published 2009
  • Kistinger, G., Prieur, J.P., Rowley, P.D., Dixon, G., 2009, Characterization of Streams and Springs in the Snake Valley Area, Utah and  Nevada in Tripp, B.T., Krahulec, K., Jordan, J.L., 2009, Geology and Geologic Resources and Issues of Western Utah: Utah Geological Association Publication 38, 549 pages - Published 2009
  • Muller, D.C., Eastman, H., Gurnee, T., Mace, J., 2009, Borehole Geophysics and Geology of Test and Monitor Wells in Eastern Nevada in Tripp, B.T., Krahulec, K., Jordan, J.L., 2009, Geology and Geologic Resources and Issues of Western Utah: Utah Geological Association Publication 38, 549 pages - Published 2009
  • Rowley, P.D., Dixon, G.L., Burns, A.G., Collins, C.A., 2009, Geology and Hydrogeology of the Snake Valley Area, Western Utah and Eastern Nevada in Tripp, B.T., Krahulec, K., Jordan, J.L., 2009, Geology and Geologic Resources and Issues of Western Utah: Utah Geological Association Publication 38, 549 pages - Published 2009
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2008, Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave Valley Stipulation Agreement Hydrologic Monitoring Plan Status and Data Report, Report Number WRD-ED-0002, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published July 2008
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2008. Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave Valley Stipulation Agreement Hydrologic Monitoring Plan Status and Data Report, Report Number WRD-ED-0002, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published July 2008
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2008. Spring Valley Stipulation Agreement Hydrologic Monitoring Plan Status and Data Report, Report Number WRD-ED-0001, 1-76, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published March 2008
  • Las Vegas Valley Water District, 2008. 2007 Annual Report for Well Pumpage, Water Levels, and Recharge at Jean, Ivanpah Valley, Clark County, Nev.: Permit Nos. 17691, 21998, 51133, 51543, 51544, 52732, 52733, 52734, 52735, 52736, and 54983, Report Number LVVWD-ED-0001, 1-40, Las Vegas, Nev. - Published March 2008
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, Bureau of Land Management, 2008, Baseline Characterization Report for Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published Jan. 2008
    • Volume 1: Geology of White Pine and Lincoln Counties and Adjacent Areas, Nevada and Utah: The Geologic Framework of Regional Groundwater Flow Systems
    • Volume 2: Physical Settings of Selected Streams in Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project
    • Volume 3: Physical Settings of Selected Springs in Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project
    • Volume 4: Water-level Data Compilation and Evaluation for Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project
  • Dixon, G.L., Rowley, P.D., Burns, A.G., Watrus, J.M., Donovan, D.J., and Ekren, E.B., 2007, Geology of White Pine and Lincoln counties and adjacent areas, Nevada and Utah-The geologic framework of regional groundwater flow systems: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., Doc. No. HAM-ED-0001, 157 pages - Published Nov. 2007
  • Eastman, H. S. 2007. Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 181W909M in Dry Lake Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0007, 1-30, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Resources Department - Published Nov. 2007
  • Eastman, H. S. 2007. Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 209M-1 in Pahranagat Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0006, 1-29, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Resources Department - Published Oct. 2007
  • Eastman, H. S. 2007. Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 181M-1 in Dry Lake Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0005, 1-28, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Resources Department - Published Oct. 2007
  • Eastman, H. S. 2007. Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 180W501M in Cave Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0004, 1-29, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Resources Department - Published Oct. 2007
  • Eastman, H. S. 2007. Geologic data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 180W902M in Cave Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0003, 1-31, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Resources Department - Published Oct. 2007
  • Eastman, H. S. 2007. Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 182M-1 in Delamar Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0002, 1-29, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Resources Department - Published Oct. 2007
  • Eastman, H. S. 2007. Geologic Data Analysis Report for Monitor Well 182W906M in Delamar Valley, Report Number RDS-ED-0001, 1-30, Las Vegas, Nev.: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Resources Department - Published Oct. 2007
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2006, Water resources assessment for Spring Valley-Presentation to the Office of the Nevada State Engineer: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nev., 167 pages - Published June 2006
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority, 2005. Analysis of Potential Water-Related Effects of Southern Nevada Water Authority's Proposed Groundwater Development Project in Three Lakes Valley South, Clark County, Nev.,  Las Vegas: Southern Nevada Water Authority - Published April 2005
  • Donovan, D. J., Wallen, M. W., Brandt, J., Katzer, T. L., Smith, D. L., Southern Nevada Water Authority, Dixon, G. L. 2003. Hydrogeology of Tikaboo Valley and Three Lakes Valleys Clark and Lincoln Counties, Nev. - Published 2003
  • Las Vegas Valley Water District Artificial Recharge Annual Reports from 1993 through present (2010)
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