Walker River Draft Environmental Impact Statement – Where To From Here? (Post 10)
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
As we’ve gone through the process of reviewing the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) “Walker River Basin Acquisition Program” Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), it has become quite evident that while there are a number of short-comings to the document; it really might not matter, since no one appears to be going to use it anyway. The BOR has indicated (if you can believe anything that they say they intend to do) that they don’t plan on issuing a final EIS because they aren’t making a decision with regard to the acquisition program. For their part, the University of Nevada System hasn’t indicated whether they plan on following through on the advisement covered in the DEIS.
If you haven’t done so, I’d still advise going to this connection and downloading the DEIS documents from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Website http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2810 .
It would also be a good idea to attend and participate in the meeting’s scheduled as part of “the show” for public participation. Even though you can understand that it’s a sham, the dictates of public engagement still mean playing the game and not allowing government or University officials to take short-cuts. These meetings include:
There would also likely be reason for sending in written comments, which need to be received by September 14, 2009. Written Comments on the DEIS should be sent to:
Caryn Hunt DeCarlo, Walker EIS Project Lead
Bureau of Reclamation
705 N. Plaza St. Room 320
Carson City, NV 89701
Attention Needs To Concentrate On University System:
Given that the University of Nevada System is going to be the ones making whatever decision(s) relating to the water acquisition program, they should become the primary point of attention in our communications effort.
We suggest that letters, comments, etc. should be sent to:
Dan Klaich, Chancellor
Nevada System of Higher Education
2601 Enterprise Rd.
Reno, NV 89512
These communications could seek to clarify what the University System’s game plan is going to be. These are only a few of the possible questions that might be asked. If you have ideas that you consider worth sharing, please don’t hesitate to offer your comments using the feedback box below this posting…
As we’ve gone through the process of reviewing the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) “Walker River Basin Acquisition Program” Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), it has become quite evident that while there are a number of short-comings to the document; it really might not matter, since no one appears to be going to use it anyway. The BOR has indicated (if you can believe anything that they say they intend to do) that they don’t plan on issuing a final EIS because they aren’t making a decision with regard to the acquisition program. For their part, the University of Nevada System hasn’t indicated whether they plan on following through on the advisement covered in the DEIS.
If you haven’t done so, I’d still advise going to this connection and downloading the DEIS documents from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Website http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2810 .
It would also be a good idea to attend and participate in the meeting’s scheduled as part of “the show” for public participation. Even though you can understand that it’s a sham, the dictates of public engagement still mean playing the game and not allowing government or University officials to take short-cuts. These meetings include:
- 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
There would also likely be reason for sending in written comments, which need to be received by September 14, 2009. Written Comments on the DEIS should be sent to:
Caryn Hunt DeCarlo, Walker EIS Project Lead
Bureau of Reclamation
705 N. Plaza St. Room 320
Carson City, NV 89701
Attention Needs To Concentrate On University System:
Given that the University of Nevada System is going to be the ones making whatever decision(s) relating to the water acquisition program, they should become the primary point of attention in our communications effort.
We suggest that letters, comments, etc. should be sent to:
Dan Klaich, Chancellor
Nevada System of Higher Education
2601 Enterprise Rd.
Reno, NV 89512
These communications could seek to clarify what the University System’s game plan is going to be. These are only a few of the possible questions that might be asked. If you have ideas that you consider worth sharing, please don’t hesitate to offer your comments using the feedback box below this posting…
- What is the plan for making decisions on going forward?
- When will they complete and use the model they’ve been working to develop in order to assess the consequences of water purchases made from specific areas?
- How will they “publicly” report on the results of these findings?
- Who will own the water that they purchase, and if it isn’t the University itself, how will public involvement/oversight be possible?
- Do they plan to purchase water (or) what possibility will there be for going forward with the more appropriate approach of leasing water and teaming up with the Walker River Irrigation District?
- If they plan to purchase water rights, will they be responsible for their share of the operations and maintenance associated with the irrigation system that brings them the water they’ve purchased?
- What mitigation measures will they practice in order to not cause negative effects for those who didn’t sell their water?
Posted by Doug Busselman at 8/12/2009 7:57 AM 
Categories: Walker River DEIS
Tags: University of Nevada Bureau of Reclamation Walker River Acquisition
Categories: Walker River DEIS
Tags: University of Nevada Bureau of Reclamation Walker River Acquisition
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