BLM Nevada News
NEVADA STATE OFFICE NO. 09-012
FOR RELEASE: February 19, 2009
CONTACT: Doran Sanchez (775) 861-6629

Biological and Hydrological Monitoring Plans Now Complete For
Spring Valley Hydrographic Basin

Biological and hydrological monitoring plans have been finalized that will document baseline condition of groundwater-influenced ecosystems and track response of these systems to the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) withdrawal of groundwater from Spring Valley, Nevada.

These plans were developed cooperatively by agencies of the U.S. Department of Interior -- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the SNWA. The plans are components of the Stipulation for Withdrawal of Protests on Spring Valley water rights applications (http://water.nv.gov/hearings/spring%20valley%20hearings/stipulation%20for%20withdrawal%20of%20protests.pdf) between the SNWA and the agencies of the U.S. Department of Interior.

“We have worked together to develop a monitoring system that will be able to identify potential changes in the groundwater table, providing an ‘early warning’ system that helps protect groundwater-influenced ecosystems and the sensitive wildlife species they support,” said Bob Williams, Field Supervisor for the Fish and Wildlife Service in Nevada.

In April 2007, the Nevada State Engineer granted SNWA groundwater rights in the amount of 60,000 acre feet per year (afy) in the Spring Valley Hydrographic Basin subject to a monitoring and mitigation program and staged development. Per the State Engineer’s ruling, SNWA will collect a minimum of five years of biological and hydrological baseline data. The State Engineer must review and approve the monitoring before SNWA exports groundwater from Spring Valley to southern Nevada.

Copies of the plans are available at the following web sites: http://www.fws.gov/nevada and http://www.snwa.com/.

 -BLM-