Newlands Water Rights Purchase Project

The Carson Water Subconservancy District wants promised federal funding for a water rights purchase program.

Bureau of Reclamation Deputy Area Manager Steve Alcorn will appear before the board tonight to explain when the district can expect the federal allocation for the Newlands Water Rights Purchase Project.

He will update the board on the status of the required preliminary environmental assessment of the area affected by the program and the status of the contract between the bureau and the district.

The 1999 Legislature put the subconservancy district in charge of the special fund that will be used to purchase surface water rights from sellers within the Newlands Reclamation Project.

The program was established to eliminate litigation between the Paiute Tribe and area water users over unused water rights in the Newlands Project, which includes the agricultural area downstream of Lake Lahontan in Churchill County and east of Fernley.

One of several agencies contributing to the program, Congress appropriated $7 million to be passed to the conservancy district through the Bureau. According to District General Manager Ed James, each of the other agencies, including the Legislature and Sierra Pacific, has submitted at least a portion of their share of the funding.

In February the District Board expressed concern with moving forward with the water purchase project until federal funds are received. The district has already incurred $11,815 in administrative costs.

The Carson Water Subconservancy District meets at the Nevada Legislative Building, Room 3138, beginning at 6:30pm. For information call 887-7456.

IF YOU GO

What: Carson Water Subconservancy

Where: Legislative Building

When: 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday

For information: 887-7456