In the 2021 Nevada legislative session the Assembly considers nine water related bills and the State considers 15 water related bills total. The 2021 legislative session began on February 1, 2021 and will conclude on June 1, 2021. The Assembly bills are in various stages of consideration as the session approaches its conclusion. However, the […]
Nevada Assembly Considers Nine Water Bills Read More »
2021 Idaho legislation seeks to classify irrigation pivot corners for taxation. House Bill 252 proposes additional language to Idaho Code, Title 63. This language would ensure county assessors classify pivot corners as agricultural land. Pivot corners are the parts of a square parcel that a center-pivot irrigation system misses. Idaho law considers land “farmland” and
Idaho Legislation Seeks to Classify Pivot Corners Read More »
The Nevada Supreme reversed itself on title to vested water rights on public land. The court’s seven-person panel unanimously agreed that title to vested water rights established for grazing purposes upon public land is determined by priority of possession of the water right. In other words, the water right belongs to whomever can trace its
Nevada Vested Water Rights on Public Land Read More »
The Idaho Senate introduced ten water related bills this legislative session in addition to the twelve the House introduced. Like many of the House bills, some of the water related Senate bills already passed both houses. Others are in various stages of committee or legislative review. The Senate bills considered this legislative session are briefly
Idaho Senate Introduced Ten Water Bills Read More »
In the 2021 legislative session, the Idaho House introduced twelve water related bills and the state considers twenty-two water related bills in total. The session began on January 11, 2021 and as of March 18, 2021, one of the proposed water bills is already law, one is before the Governor for signature, and multiple others
Idaho House Introduced Twelve Water Bills Read More »
The discussion of a specialized water judiciary is ramping up as Nevada considers creating water courts in both the legislative and judicial branches. I. Proposed Legislation On November 18, 2020, Senate Joint Resolution No. 1, commonly known as SJR1 was pre-filed for the 2021 legislative session. SJR1 was originally proposed by the Nevada Division of
Nevada Considers Creating Water Courts Read More »
On February 20th and 21st, Schroeder Law Offices attended the Carson Valley “Eagles and Agriculture” weekend. The Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Extension office hosted the event. It occurs annually when migratory eagles traverse the Carson Valley on their way back to Northern breeding grounds. The weekend is full of tours and workshops
SLO Attends Eagles and Agriculture Weekend Read More »
Will Nevada establish water conservation programs? The Nevada Division of Water Resources, Office of the State Engineer (“NDWR”) under the direction of Acting State Engineer Adam Sullivan distributed two draft bills to various lobbying entities. One seeks to establish a water bank system while the other considers the creation of water conservation initiatives. As of
Nevada State Engineer Seeks Water Conservation Programs Read More »
The Nevada Assembly Committee on Natural Resources (“Committee”) is considering a handful of water related bills in the upcoming 2021 legislative session. While we are continually receiving notice of new proposed bills, we wanted to provide a brief summary on the first few we reviewed. Assembly Bills (“AB”) 5, 6, and 15 were prefiled for
Nevada Assembly Considers Water Related Bills Read More »
Trading Water as a Commodity Unappropriated water has long been considered a public resource. It is subject to private ownership rights and development, to be sure. But the law generally treats water differently compared to commodities like consumer goods or other natural resources like lumber. The UN recognized water’s essential role in the public commons
California’s Water Futures Trading Read More »
Nevada Division of Water Resources (“NDWR”) has drafted proposed water related regulations and the public is encouraged to get involved by attending the upcoming workshops. The draft regulations concerning water use are R169-20 (concerning extensions of time) and R170-20 (concerning Water Right Surveyor licenses). R169-20 This draft regulation proposes, among other things, to
Nevada Water Legislation Workshops are Coming Up! Read More »
This post is one of a series highlighting the ways in which water users have adapted to life in the time of COVID-19. Shelley Roberts is the CEO of the Idaho Rural Water Association (“IRWA”). IRWA is a resource for small water systems in the State of Idaho that offers training for drinking water and
Utilities are Essential: IRWA’s Response to COVID-19 Read More »
The Nevada Division of Water Resources (NDWR) gave notice to extend the deadline for submitting written comment and testimony on Proposed Orders to Designate Hydrographic Basins related to the hearings held October 12- October 26, 2020. Information on the hearings is available at: http://water.nv.gov/hearings.aspx. December 1, 2020 is the new deadline for written testimony, noting
NDWR Extension on Comments and Testimony on Proposed Orders Read More »
The State of the Water Industry Survey In the June 2020 issue of Opflow, the American Water Works Association published a survey of 3,351 water industry professionals. The State of the Water Industry (SOTWI) survey identifies challenges to the water industry and seeks to understand their causes. Several issues regarding water resource management made the
Survey by AWWA Details Challenges Facing the Water Industry Read More »
This post is one of a series highlighting the ways in which water users have adapted to life in the time of COVID-19. In some painful ways the COVID-19 pandemic has stripped us of our ability to celebrate with those we love. Arielle Zamora of Small Yard Flowers in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, OR
Small Yard Flowers adapts during COVID-19 Read More »
In a previous blog, we looked into who owns an aquifer: does it belong to private individuals or the public? Under the ad coelum doctrine, the surface owner holds the ground itself – rocks, dirt, and the like – as private property, owned all the way down to the Earth’s core. On the other hand,
Update: Is an Aquifer’s Pore Space Public or Private Property? Read More »
This post is one of a series highlighting the ways in which water users have adapted to life in the time of COVID-19. Todd Nash is a rancher, Wallowa County Commissioner, and President Elect for the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. He and his wife, Angie, own Nash Natural Beef. They run primarily an angus cow-calf operation in
Nash Natural Beef Focuses on Customers During COVID-19 Read More »
The Nevada Division of Water Resources (NDWR) posted Notices for Hearings for Proposed Orders for hydrographic basins within numerous Nevada Counties. These include: Churchill, Clark, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Washoe, and White Pine Counties. NDWR scheduled the hears for October 12, 2020 through October 26, 2020. Information on the
NDWR Notices Hearings on Proposed Orders for Hydrographic Basins Read More »
The Slink Fire rages on in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Area. Meanwhile, pilots fly an imaginary line to drop water on wildfires according to wilderness laws and procedures. This raises the question, are wilderness firefighting laws protecting or harming wilderness areas? Wilderness Firefighting Laws Congress passed
Wilderness Firefighting Laws: Protect or Harm? Read More »
What is the Agriculture Innovation Agenda? The USDA seeks to stimulate agriculture innovations that by 2050 will (1) increase agricultural production by 40%, and (2) reduce the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture by half. Other benchmarks include: Reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030 Build landscape resiliency by investing in active forest management
USDA SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON AGRICULTURE INNOVATION AGENDA Read More »
