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
• California Wash Basin
• Three Lakes Valley and Tikaboo Valley
• Indian Springs Valley
• Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Counties Groundwater
  • Coyote Spring Valley
  • Spring Valley
  • Delamar, Dry Lake and Cave Valleys
  • Snake Valley

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.

Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Counties Groundwater

SNWA has proposed a pipeline project to develop and convey 1989 groundwater rights, applications and acquired rights from Coyote Spring, 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 Develpment Project proposed pipeline would extend from the Las Vegas Valley to Spring and Snake valleys. Up to 167,000 AFY could be developed from these valleys, 3,000 AFY of which would be trasnferred to Lincoln County based on a 2003 agreement.

Final projected volumes remain uncertain because SNWA still has water rights applications pending consideration by the State Engineer.

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

In 2007, the State Engineer granted SNWA 60,000 AFY of groundwater from Spring Valley, the pumping of which is limited to 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.

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.

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.