OVERVIEW
RECORD OF DECISION NOW AVAILABLE
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action submitted by the Lincoln County Water District (LCWD) in 2005 to obtain rights-of-way across land managed by the BLM. If granted, the rights-of-way would authorize LCWD to construct a groundwater conveyance system in Kane Springs Valley. Phase 1 of this proposed project would consist of construction of infrastructure to develop and convey 1,000 acre-feet of water, and subsequent phases would correspond to the demand for water and the issuance of future water rights. The proposed facilities and phases associated with this project are described below:
PHASE 1: Construction would occur over a 90 to 180-day time period.
Water Facilities
Pipelines: 3.8 miles of transmission pipeline (main water line) and approximately 9 miles of well field collection pipelines for up to four wells (main collection plus laterals to wells)
Wells: up to 4 production wells
Storage Tanks: one 50,000-gallon forebay storage tank on public land and one 700,000-gallon terminal storage tank on private land
Power Facilities
Power Lines: approximately 2.7 miles of 138 kilovolt (kV) overhead power lines located on private land and 14 miles of 69kV/22.8kV overhead power lines located primarily on public land
Electrical Substations: Emrys Jones substation located on private land and up to 4 smaller substations to serve each well
Ancillary Facilities: access roads, temporary workspace, and a storage yard located on private land
Ancillary Project Components
Fiber Optics Line
Monitoring Wells: 1 monitoring well is currently being used to monitor groundwater conditions in the area
Extra Work Space: up to 50 acres total; each work space would be approximately 2 acres in size and would be spaced approximately one-half mile apart
PHASE 2: Construction would occur over a 30- to 60-day time period and would begin one to three years after the completion of Phase 1.
Water Facilities
Power Facilities
Power Lines: 22.8kV underground power lines from main transmission line to substation(s)
Electrical Substations: One to two smaller substations to serve the new well(s)
Ancillary Facilities: access roads to substations
PHASE 3: Construction would occur over a 30- to 60-day time period and would begin one to three years after the completion of Phase 2. Phase 3 would only be developed if production from Phase 1 and Phase 2 was insufficient to meet anticipated demand or if production from previous wells was lower than estimated or designed.
Water Facilities
Power Facilities
Power Lines: 22.8kV underground power lines from main transmission line to substation(s)
Electrical Substations: One to two smaller substations to serve the new well(s)
Ancillary Facilities: access roads to substations
Water Rights Process
Federal agencies participate in the water rights process in the same manner as any Nevada citizen. This includes protesting water rights applications that may affect resources for which the agencies are responsible. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) was a protestant on the Kane Springs Valley water rights applications submitted by Lincoln County Water District/Vidler Water Company, Inc. The FWS withdrew their protest after completing the Kane Springs Valley Stipulated Agreement with Lincoln County Water District and Vidler Water Company, Inc.
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