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<br />Three separate permit applications have been filed.
<br />First, the authority seeks to change the point of
<br />diversion for a 1989 permit application that was filed
<br />by the Las Vegas Valley Water District for 60,000 acre-
<br />feet of water from the Virgin River and an additional
<br />10,000 acre-feet of ground water. At that time, the
<br />district also filed on ground water rights throughout
<br />southern Nevada, raising vigorous protests from
<br />environmental interests and rural communities that
<br />viewed the applications as a threat to their future.
<br />
<br />The Southern Nevada Water Authority is a joint
<br />powers agency formed by the district and major local
<br />entities responsible for public water supply and
<br />sewage treatment in the Las Vegas area (WSW #903).
<br />Patricia Mulroy manages both the district and the
<br />authority. The authority filed to change the district's
<br />original point of diversion from the Virgin, which was to
<br />have been some 10 miles southwest of Bunkerville.
<br />The original proposal, under study by the Bureau of
<br />Reclamation, would have been to desalinate the water
<br />for delivery to Las Vegas by pipeline.
<br />
<br />However, the authority has now filed for 700 cubic
<br />fee.t per second or up to 150,000 acre-feet per year.
<br />Essentially any remaining unappropriated water would
<br />be 'diverted' at the mouth of the Virgin where it enters
<br />Lake Mead. The authority proposes storing up to
<br />500,000 acre-feet in Lake Mead and actually diverting
<br />the water downstream at its intake just below Las
<br />Ve\las Wash near Saddle Island.
<br />
<br />Similarly, the third permit filed is for 30,000 acre-feet
<br />of Water from the Muddy River, which flows through
<br />the Moapa Indian Reservation and into Lake Mead.
<br />
<br />Under the Colorado River Compact, the Lower
<br />Basin was apportioned 7.5M acre.feet of water, and
<br />'given the right to increase its beneficial consumptive
<br />use' by another 1M acre-feet. Arguably, that provision
<br />was included to address Arizona's use of Gila River
<br />water. "Howevel, once a state's waters reach the
<br />mainstem of the river, they appear subject to use
<br />restrictions imposed by the law of the River, which
<br />allocated 300,000 acre-feet of water from the system
<br />to Nevada for its 'exclusive...consumptive use.'
<br />Therefore, while Nevada may under state law divert,
<br />treat and transport water from the Virgin to Las Vegas,
<br />it arguably can not take the same amount of water
<br />from Lake Mead using existing facilities without
<br />addressing limits in the Compact and federal law.
<br />
<br />A prehearing conference on Virgin River issues
<br />and the Las Vegas Valley Water District/Southern
<br />Nevada Water Authority's filings will be scheduled by
<br />the State Engineer no earlier than August.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />WATER RESOURCES/WATER QUAUTY
<br />
<br />Ground Water
<br />
<br />The Natural Heritage Institute has completed work
<br />on a report entitled, 'Managing Groundwater Quality
<br />and Quantity in the Western States,' The study,
<br />carried out under a contract with EPA, '...is a
<br />preliminary examination of groundwater management
<br />issues in the [West).... The purpose...is to identify
<br />issues presented by the management of ground water
<br />for [quantity and quality]...purposes, and to explore
<br />approaches that would forward the development of
<br />public policies in this area. Proposals for legal and
<br />institutional reform are to be identified in the second
<br />stage of the project.' Denise Fort is the principal
<br />author. Call the Natural Heritage Institute for more
<br />information, (415) 288-0550.
<br />
<br />WATER RIGHTS /
<br />
<br />Federal RllSllIVed Righls/Montana
<br />
<br />The Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact
<br />Commission has successfully negotiated a compact
<br />with the federal government to settle federal reserved
<br />water rights claims for the Glacier and Yellowstone
<br />National Parks and the Big Hole National Battlefield.
<br />Related negotiations are continuing for the Big Horn
<br />Canyon National Recreation Area and the Little Big
<br />Horn Battlefield National Monument.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />The Montana legislature created the Compact
<br />Commission in 1979 as part of the statewide general
<br />stream adjudication process. It is authorized to
<br />negotiate settlements with federal agencies and Indian
<br />tribes that claim federal reserved water rights in
<br />Montana.
<br />
<br />The recent compact was reached after more than
<br />a year of intense technical work and negotiation. It
<br />was ratified by the Montana legislature on April 20,
<br />and is now awaiting official federai approval. For
<br />information contact the Reserved Water Rights
<br />Compact Commission at 1520 E. 6th Avenue, Helena,
<br />Montana, 59620-2301; (404) 444-6841.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors of .
<br />member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
<br />Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma
<br />
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