Walker River Draft Environmental Impact Statement – What About The Integrity Of The System? (Post 9)
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Having spent the past couple of weeks reviewing the Bureau of Reclamation’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) so far I haven’t been able to locate any reference to the possible impacts to those who don’t sell their water. In addition to the possible financial implications, the dynamics of having less water flowing through irrigation ditches will have consequences for those who aren’t involved in the sale of water. (It requires water to deliver water and it is possible that some water right owners could be left high and dry in spite of not being “willing sellers” associated with the University of Nevada’s acquisition.)
Those who use the irrigation system for delivery of their water for agricultural production pay fees for the operations and maintenance of the system. It is not certain what level of responsibility that the University of Nevada System will assume as part of their purchases.
Actually, what will happen after the water purchases are completed is entirely up in the air, with some speculation that some type of shell entity will be created to take over the control and ownership of the water. Perhaps their argument for taking this approach will be that they are a University System and not in the business of owning lake water? If this is the case, where in the charter for Land Grant Universities do making water/land purchases, weakening agricultural economies and providing an avenue around Congressional spending limitations fit in?
It would seem that if the University System is noble enough to be taking the money that they have been receiving to do the acquiring – they ought to be accountable enough to maintain the ownership of the water that they acquire and stand up to the responsibilities associated with this ownership. The University System also needs to be held answerable for those properties (land) which might be acquired as part of the process. This includes protection from soil erosion from dewatered lands as well as prevention/control of weeds.
In spite of the irrelevance of the DEIS as a decision document, clear recognition and assurance should be provided that the loss of water from production use will not result in extra financial burden for those who don’t sell their water. The purchaser/owner of the water rights, to be put into Walker Lake, will uphold their share of water costs associated with delivering water through the system.
Consequences for possible groundwater impacts (lowering water tables because of non-irrigation) should also be highlighted with mitigation alternatives, spelled out as meaningful actions that the purchaser/owner of the water will commit to follow.
For other post on comments prepared for the DEIS, please use this link to reach the category grouping for our evaluation of the Walker River Acquisition Program.
We also hope that you will plan on attending the various local public meetings that have been scheduled:
Having spent the past couple of weeks reviewing the Bureau of Reclamation’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) so far I haven’t been able to locate any reference to the possible impacts to those who don’t sell their water. In addition to the possible financial implications, the dynamics of having less water flowing through irrigation ditches will have consequences for those who aren’t involved in the sale of water. (It requires water to deliver water and it is possible that some water right owners could be left high and dry in spite of not being “willing sellers” associated with the University of Nevada’s acquisition.)
Those who use the irrigation system for delivery of their water for agricultural production pay fees for the operations and maintenance of the system. It is not certain what level of responsibility that the University of Nevada System will assume as part of their purchases.
Actually, what will happen after the water purchases are completed is entirely up in the air, with some speculation that some type of shell entity will be created to take over the control and ownership of the water. Perhaps their argument for taking this approach will be that they are a University System and not in the business of owning lake water? If this is the case, where in the charter for Land Grant Universities do making water/land purchases, weakening agricultural economies and providing an avenue around Congressional spending limitations fit in?
It would seem that if the University System is noble enough to be taking the money that they have been receiving to do the acquiring – they ought to be accountable enough to maintain the ownership of the water that they acquire and stand up to the responsibilities associated with this ownership. The University System also needs to be held answerable for those properties (land) which might be acquired as part of the process. This includes protection from soil erosion from dewatered lands as well as prevention/control of weeds.
In spite of the irrelevance of the DEIS as a decision document, clear recognition and assurance should be provided that the loss of water from production use will not result in extra financial burden for those who don’t sell their water. The purchaser/owner of the water rights, to be put into Walker Lake, will uphold their share of water costs associated with delivering water through the system.
Consequences for possible groundwater impacts (lowering water tables because of non-irrigation) should also be highlighted with mitigation alternatives, spelled out as meaningful actions that the purchaser/owner of the water will commit to follow.
For other post on comments prepared for the DEIS, please use this link to reach the category grouping for our evaluation of the Walker River Acquisition Program.
We also hope that you will plan on attending the various local public meetings that have been scheduled:
- Monday, August 17 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) Reno – Rancho San Rafael County Park, Main Ranch House, 1595 N. Sierra ST.
- Tuesday, August 18 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) Yerington – Casino West Convention Center, 11 North Main St.
- Wednesday, August 19 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) Wellington – Smith Valley Community Center, 2783 Highway 208
- Thursday, August 20, (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) Hawthorne – Mineral County Public Library, First & “A” Street
Posted by Doug Busselman at 8/12/2009 5:53 AM 
Categories: Walker River DEIS
Tags: Walker River Basin Project Water University of Nevada
Categories: Walker River DEIS
Tags: Walker River Basin Project Water University of Nevada
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