Stipulated Agreements Involving Department of Interior Agencies in Nevada

Department of Interior Agencies have the opportunity to protest water rights applications in the same manner as any Nevada citizen.  The agencies may also choose to enter into Stipulated Agreements with the water rights applicants and therefore withdraw their protests.  These Stipulated Agreements often provide the agencies with the opportunity to protect their resources through stringent monitoring and mitigation requirements that might not be required though the water rights appropriation.  Below are some Stipulated Agreements that involve the BLM, either as a signatory and/or because it involves a basin where the BLM is processing a right-of-way application to convey water. 

Spring Valley Stipulated Agreement

The Spring Valley Stipulated Agreement was created in response to water rights applications submitted by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA).  The water rights applications were filed in support of the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project.  This project proposes to develop and convey up to 167,000 acre-feet per year of groundwater from six hydrographic basins.  The SNWA has also submitted rights-of-way applications to the BLM for the infrastructure that would be required to transport this water.  For more information about the status of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being prepared in response to the rights-of-way applications, please visit the EIS web page.

BLM was a protestant on the Spring Valley water rights applications submitted by SNWA.  The Nevada State Engineer made a ruling for Spring Valley on April 16, 2007.  The BLM withdrew their protest after completing the Spring Valley Stipulated Agreement with SNWA.  This Stipulated Agreement establishes a process to develop and implement a monitoring, mitigation, and management plan.  A Biological Work Group (BWG), Technical Review Panel (TRP), and Executive Committee are currently working towards the completion of these plans.  The Stipulated Agreement corresponds only to the Spring Valley water rights applications.  The work of the BWG, TRP, and Executive Committee is separate and distinct from the BLM Groundwater Projects Office, whose mission is to complete the EIS for the entire SNWA Groundwater Development Project (encompassing water rights in six valleys).  However, the EIS will recognize the requirements set forth in the monitoring, mitigation, and management plans and may also require additional monitoring and mitigation. For this reason, the Groundwater Project Office Staff work closely with the BWG, TRP, and Executive Committee.

Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave Valleys Stipulated Agreement

The Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave Valleys (DDC) Stipulated Agreement was created in response to water rights applications submitted by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA).  The water rights application were filed in support of the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project.  This project proposes to develop and convey up to 167,000 acre-feet per year of groundwater from six hydrographic basins.  The SNWA has also submitted rights-of-way applications to the BLM for the infrastructure that would be required to transport this water.  For more information about the status of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being prepared in response to the rights-of-way applications, please visit the EIS web page.

BLM was a protestant on the Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave Valley water rights applications submitted by SNWA.  The BLM withdrew their protest after completing the DDC Stipulated Agreement with SNWA.  The Stipulated Agreement establishes a process to develop and implement a monitoring, mitigation, and management plan.  This Stipulated Agreement corresponds only to the Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave Valleys water rights applications.  The documents created as a result of the Stipulated Agreement are separate and distinct from the BLM Groundwater Projects Office, whose mission is to complete the EIS for the entire SNWA Groundwater Development Project (encompassing water rights in six valleys).  However, the EIS will recognize the requirements set forth in the monitoring, mitigation, and management plans and may also require additional monitoring and mitigation. For this reason, the Groundwater Projects Office Staff work closely with the individuals working on the Stipulated Agreement documents.

The Nevada State Engineer held a hearing on these applications in February 2008.  The State Engineer's Office has not yet made a ruling on these valleys.

Kane Springs Valley Stipulated Agreement

The Kane Springs Valley Stipulated Agreement was created in response to water rights applications submitted by the Lincoln County Water District (LCWD)/Vidler Water Company, Inc.  The water rights applications were filed in support of the Kane Springs Valley Groundwater Development Project.  This project proposes to construct infrastructure required to pump and convey groundwater resources in the Kane Springs Valley.  The Lincoln County Water District has also submitted rights-of-way applications to the BLM for the infrastructure that would be required to transport this water.  The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published in the Federal Register on February 8, 2008. For more information about this project or to view the Final EIS, please visit the EIS web page.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) was a protestant on the Kane Springs Valley water rights applications submitted by LCWD/Vidler Water Company, Inc.  The Nevada State Engineer made a ruling for Kane Springs Valley on February 2, 2007.  The FWS withdrew their protest after completing the Kane Springs Valley Stipulated Agreement with LCWD and Vidler Water Company, Inc.  This Stipulated Agreement establishes a process for monitoring potential impacts to resources managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, inlcuding the creation of a monitoring, manalgement, and mitigation plan.  LCWD, Vidler Water Company, and FWS are the only parties to this Stipulated Agreement.  However, the Kane Springs Valley Groundwater Development Project EIS recognizes the requirements set forth in the Agreement. For this reason, the Groundwater Project Office Staff work closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service on implementation of this agreement.

Tuffy Ranch-Lake Valley Stipulated Agreement

The Tuffy Ranch-Lake Valley Stipulated Agreement was created in response to water rights applications submitted by Tuffy Ranch Properties, LLC.  The BLM has not received any right-of-way applications for the conveyance of this water, and therefore is not developing an Environmental Impact Statement in relation to this agreement.

The BLM was a protestant on the Lake Valley water rights applications submitted by Tuffy Ranch Properties, LLC.  The BLM withdrew their protest after completing the Tuffy Ranch-Lake Valley Stipulated Agreement with Tuffy Ranch Properties, LLC.  This Stipulated Agreement establishes a collaborative effort to monitor, manage, and mitigate potential impacts to resources managed by the BLM.

The Nevada State Engineer held a hearing on these applications in February 2008.  The State Engineer's Office has not yet made a ruling on these valleys.