Applications for Water Rights
SNWA has acquired and continues to develop in-state
groundwater resources.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is developing in-state groundwater resources. These resources are intended to provide Southern Nevada with a more balanced mix of Colorado River water and non-Colorado River water than currently exists.
Spring, Delamar, Dry Lake and Cave Valleys
In fall 2011, the Nevada State Engineer held a hearing on SNWA groundwater applications in Spring, Delamar, Dry Lake and Cave valleys. A ruling was issued on March 22, 2012, granting SNWA 61,127 acre-feet per year (AFY) from Spring Valley and 22,861 AFY from Delamar, Dry Lake and Cave valleys.
The water rights were granted subject to:
- Existing rights
- A minimum of two years of biological and hydrological data collection, as approved by the State Engineer, prior to exportation
- A hydrologic monitoring, mitigation and management program
- A biologic monitoring plan
- A computer groundwater flow model that must be updated as directed by the State Engineer to help predict impacts.
In addition, the Spring Valley applications are to be developed in stages:
- Stage 1: Development of 38,000 AFY over 8 years
- Stage 2: Development of an additional 12,000 AFY over 8 years may be granted depending on Stage 1 pumping
- Stage 3: Development of the entire amount may be granted depending on Stage 2 pumping
SNWA has purchased private property and water rights in Spring Valley. As part of the Groundwater Development Project, SNWA plans to develop approximately 8,000 AFY of its existing agricultural groundwater rights associated with these properties. Approval from the Nevada State Engineer to convert the type of use and allow export from the basin would be required prior to conveyance of these water rights through the project.
Stipulated Agreements
SNWA, in partnership with several federal agencies, entered into stipulations for withdrawal of protests for water rights in Spring, Delamar, Dry Lake and Cave valleys. The agreements provide a road map for SNWA to manage groundwater development in these basins without causing injury to federal water rights and/or unreasonable adverse effects to federal resources.
Snake Valley Hearings
SNWA holds applications for approximately 50,679 AFY in Snake Valley. The Nevada State Engineer has not scheduled a hearing date for these applications. The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 requires that prior to "any transbasin diversion from groundwater basins located within both the State of Nevada and State of Utah, the State of Nevada and 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.” (Pub. L. No. 108-424, § 301(e)(3), 118 Stat. 2403, 2412).