The Division of Water Resources published on January 28, 2021 the Statewide Groundwater Pumpage Inventory for 2017. The report presents an estimate of the total amount of groundwater pumped in the State of Nevada for calendar year 2017.
As Sisolak administration abandons move to upend legal system for water rights cases, Supreme Court may study new specialty court
By Daniel Rothberg, The Nevada Independent, February 7th, 2021
On Monday, the first day of the legislative session, the state’s top water regulator sent a letter to the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Melanie Scheible: Gov. Steve Sisolak’s administration was backing away from a request that state lawmakers, then the voters, change the Constitution and alter the judicial branch’s system for how often-complex water cases are litigated in court. Click here to read the full story.
9th Circuit to District Court: Consider ‘public trust’ remedies in Walker Lake case
By Daniel Rothberg, The Nevada Independent, February 4th, 2021
A legal effort to bring more water to Walker Lake will stay afloat. In a ruling last week, a federal appellate court said Mineral County could continue to pursue its claim to require policymakers to restore the shrunken lake. It’s a major development in a case that is being closely watched by environmental groups and water users across the state. Click here to rea the full story.
State Engineer withdraws proposed regulations related Licensed Water Rights Surveyors
The State Engineer has elected to withdraw proposed regulations related Licensed Water Rights Surveyors (R170-20). The regulations were issued in response to the high volume of errors and returns for correction to water rights maps submitted to the Division. The Division will work with the State Licensed Water Rights Surveyors community to conduct training and to determine if regulations will be needed in the future. Click here to see the State Engineer’s Update.
Workshops scheduled for proposed regulations related to extensions of time to file completion of works and proof of beneficial use and for Water Right Surveyor licenses
The Nevada Division of Water Resources announced that the Legislative Counsel Bureau has completed draft regulation language for two of the Division’s regulations LCB File No. R169-20 extensions of time to file completion of works and proof of beneficial use and LCB File No. R170-20 related to Water Right Surveyor licenses. The Division plans to hold additional public workshops for each of these proposed regulations.
The first workshop for File No. R169-20 extensions of time will be held on January 13th at 9:00 a.m. The first workshop for LCB File No. R170-20 Water Right Surveyor licenses will be held on February 5th at 9:00 a.m. These workshops are currently planned to be held virtually. Public comment on the proposed regulations will be accepted through the date set for each workshop and may be extended.
Additional information can be found at water.nv.gov
Nevada Division of Water Resources Administrative Regulation Update
Nevada Division of Water Resources has trifurcated the draft regulations submitted to the Legislative Counsel Bureau on June 30, 2020. This means that each topic; hearing procedures, extensions of time and Water Right Surveyors within the initial draft regulation have been split into three separate regulations. Click here to read the full December update from DWR.
