Nevada Supreme Court sets new precedent on managing groundwater amid drought
by GABE STERN, Associated Press
Thursday, June 23rd 2022
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A Nevada Supreme Court ruling on Thursday has set new precedent for how the state can manage groundwater in areas with severe drought.
In a 4-3 ruling issued Thursday to settle a water dispute in Diamond Valley, a rural Eureka County farm area, the court said groundwater management plans established in areas that are losing groundwater supply quickly can deviate from the longstanding senior water rights doctrine.
Nevada’s top water official, the state engineer, has authority to regulate water in the Diamond Valley area of Eureka County under a groundwater management plan approved by local farmers and water users even if the plan deviates from existing state water law, the state high court said.
In reversing a decision by a Eureka County District Court judge, the justices ruled that in some cases, water-use plans can deviate from longstanding “priority doctrine,” which gives premium rights to senior water users who’ve owned their land the longest.
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The West is experiencing a more than 20-year megadrought. Scientists say the region has become much warmer and drier in recent decades and that climate change will continue to make weather more extreme, wildfires more frequent and destructive, and water supplies less reliable.
In the agricultural Diamond Valley, severe drought and decades of water overuse have led to battles over a groundwater supply depleted because it is unable to recharge naturally.
As a result, it has been designated a Critical Management Area, the only area in the state carrying such a designation.
Because the goal of the groundwater management plan is to erase the area’s “critical” status, the court said the state engineer can take action in ways that deviate from the “priority doctrine,” the court said.
The deviations are allowed only if the plan has been approved by both the engineer and a majority of water-users within the critically designated area, the court said. It called the management plan approved in Diamond Valley a community-based solution to long-term water shortages in the valley.
“We recognize that our opinion will significantly affect water management in Nevada,” Justice James Hardesty wrote for the majority. The court ruling was first reported by the Nevada Independent.
“We are of the belief, however, that — given the arid nature of this State — it is particularly important that we effectuate the plain meaning of a statute that encourages the sustainable use of water,” Hardesty wrote.
Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, said the ruling underscored ongoing tension over water use in the West, where doctrines long have separated junior and senior holders of water rights.
“This ruling puts a magnifying glass on that tension,” Roerink said.
It comes as farmers in many parts of the state are refiguring which and how many crops they can grow amid drought and rising costs due to inflation.
“We’re risking a lot more when we go and put in a seed in the ground than we were last year,” said Eric Hull, general manager of Winnemucca Farms, a Humboldt County operation that he called the largest irrigated farm in the state. “And in a tougher environment with a lot less water,” he added.
2021 Nevada Assembly – Considers Water Related Bills – The Nevada Assembly Committee on Natural Resources (“Committee”) is considering a handful of water related bills in the upcoming 2021 legislative session. While we are continually receiving notice of new proposed bills, we wanted to provide a brief summary on the first few we reviewed. Assembly Bills (“AB”) 5, 6, and 15 were prefilled for the 2021 legislative session on November 18, 2020. If passed the bills with effect procedures currently required for temporary change applications and judicial review of Nevada Division of Water Resources, Office of the State Engineer (“State Engineer”) decisions. AB 16 also proposes reorganization of the Colorado River Commission.
Assembly Bill 5 – AB 5 proposes various new provisions relating to judicial review of State Engineer orders and decisions. As drafted, Nevada Revised Statute (“NRS”) 533.450 allows a person aggrieved by a State Engineer action to seek judicial review in the nature of an appeal. AB 5 limits circumstances under which a person can seek judicial review. Under AB 5 the State Engineer decision being reviewed must be (1) a formal order, ruling or decision that is a final decision in writing; and (2) must materially affect the person’s interest. AB 5 also clarifies that the judicial review of State Engineer decisions shall apply civil appellate practices.
We have provided the link below for you to submit your comments. Click on “Submit Opinion” at right. AB5 Meetings (state.nv.us)
Assembly Bill 6 – AB 6 contains proposed revisions of the laws governing temporary change applications for appropriated water. NRS 533.325 requires a water right holder wishing to make a temporary change to place of use, point of diversion, or manner of use of their water to file an application with the State Engineer. NRS 533.345 requires the State Engineer to hold a hearing if the State Engineer determines that the temporary change may not be in the public interest or may impair existing right. AB 6 proposes that the hearing under NRS 533.345 be discretionary. This will allow the State Engineer to either hold a hearing or make a decision absent one.
We have provided the link below for you to submit your comments. Click on “Submit Opinion” at right.
AB6 Meetings (state.nv.us)
December 2019
Public Hearing at the Nye County Commissioners Meeting 10:00 – For Possible Action – Public Hearing, discussion and deliberation on Appeal of the Nye County Water District Governing Board’s December 9, 2019 decision to raise the per parcel fee in Basin 162 to $35.00 a year for a minimum of 3 years for funding of the carbonate aquifer exploratory project. The Board may affirm, modify or reverse the decision.
Commissioner Koenig listed the additional back-up as follows :
• Nye County Water District Agenda Information Form, item 9, dated December 29, 2019, and the back-up for that item.
• Nye County Water District Board minutes from December 29, 2019.
• December 18, 2019, appeal letter and reasons submitted by the Private Well Owners Cooperative Association of Nye County.
Approximately 50,000 taxable parcels exist in Basin 162 with a $30.00 per parcel, per year fee this would increase taxes for the beginning phases of the project to $1,5000,000.00 for one year for a total of $4,550,000.00 for the three (3) years of the first phase of the project.
Private Well Owners Cooperative Association of Nye County Post Office Box 2073 Pahrump Nevada 89041-2073
“Every Drop Counts”
Dear Commissioners,
Please find attached our Appeal to the Nye County Board of Commissioners on the decision made on December 9, 2019 by the Nye County Water District Governing Board to vote raising the per parcel fee of all parcels served by Basin 162.
Our two-page appeal, as per your request at the December 17, 2019 meeting during your hearing on this matter is attached, and we believe that it was your decision to place this matter on the agenda for the Janurary14, 2020 Nye County Commissions meeting.
You will see in our appeal on page 2 and 3 we request that you reverse the decision of The Nye County Water District Governing Board at your January 14, 2020 meeting.
Matthew H Burg
President
APPEAL TO THE NYE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Date: December 18, 2019
Applicant’s Name: Private Well Owners of Nye County.
Applicant’s Address: Post Office Box 2073, Pahrump Nevada. 89041-2073.
Decision Being Appealed: The Nye County Water District Governing Board voted to fund a carbonate aquifer exploratory project by raising the per parcel fee of all parcels served by Basin 162 in the amount of $30.00 “Minimum” per year for three (3) years.
Date Decision Was Made: December 9, 2019.
Reasons why the decision of The Nye County Water District Governing Board should be reversed:
1. The Project is outside the Nye County boundaries solely within Clark County.
2. The project is completely exploratory with no significant proof that water exists.
3. The tax is a taxation without representation.
4. This is only phase one of many future phases.
5. This will create open-ended funding falling on the backs of parcel owners in Basin 162 for future phases.
6. This will do nothing more than to assist Southern Nevada Water Authority by giving them the knowledge of possible water and would set this project up for a future adverse water grab in Basin 162.
7. There was no discussion as to when and if water is found who will have the permits for water.
8. Who will control the water if any is found?
9. If there is water found there will most definitely be an acceleration of pumpage in the name of development.
10. Larger developments over the last few years have caused most of the issues on added useage of water in Basin 162. When do we just say NO?
Matt Burg,
President.