As the 2018 irrigation season approaches, and on this eve of March 1st, please remember to review your water use right permit and certificate documents to remind yourself of any measurements you are required to take! Many water use permits and certificates require you to track your water use each month and then report your […]
Well Level and Water Use Measurements Reminder Read More »
Groundwater is one of the world’s most essential natural resources! According to the United States Geological Survey department (“USGS”) groundwater makes up approximately 1/3 of the public drinking water supply delivered though our county and municipal systems. For rural populations not connected to county or city delivery systems, groundwater makes up about 90% of their
March 11-17 is National Groundwater Awareness Week Read More »
By Therese Ure and Lisa Mae Gage Many people are familiar with looking up water right information on Nevada Division of Water Resources (“NDWR”) database and are familiar with reading water right applications, permits and certificates. Is that information reliable enough to conclusively show what your water rights are? The answer is no. Several factors
Your Water Rights Are Valuable, Do You Really Have What You Think You Do? Read More »
On December 19, 2017, Nevada State Engineer issued Order No. 1293, prohibiting the drilling of new domestic wells in the Pahrump Artesian Basin. Previously, the State Engineer designated lands in Pahrump Artesian Basin as coming under the provisions of underground water law through Orders 176, 193 and 2051. Prior Orders stated that new applications would
New Domestic Well Prohibition in the Pahrump Artesian Basin Read More »
The State Engineer issued Order 1292 on December 8, 2017 concerning underground water rights in Diamond Valley Hydrographic Basin, providing strict requirements for installation of meters, submission of records and access to wells without prior notice. Previous Order Nos. 809 and 813 were issued in 1982 and 1983 generally requiring totalizing meters or effective and
A New State Engineer Metering Order has Been Issued for Diamond Valley! Read More »
Attorney Sarah Liljefelt and Paralegal Tara Jackson attended the Oregon Ground Water Association’s Fall Convention at the end of October. Tara’s team won fourth place in the annual golf tournament, winning machetes as part of their prize package! Tara also won the women’s long drive; way to go, Tara! Sarah presented at the convention on
Oregon Ground Water Association’s Fall Convention Read More »
The week of August 28 through September 1, 2017 is “World Water Week,” an international conference organized annually in Stockholm, Sweden that focuses on new thinking and positive action toward water-related challenges and their impact on the world’s environment, health, climate, economic and poverty reduction agendas. The World Water Week annual forum is held by
World Water Week 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden Read More »
The state of Nevada began regulating water use through the enactment of the water code in 1905. Under the 1905 water code, statutory regulation for surface water began. Later, in 1913 statutes came into play for artesian groundwater rights of use, and in 1939 we see statutes for percolating groundwater rights use. Water rights established
The State Engineer held informational meetings on July 17 through July 20, 2017 regarding its Preliminary Draft Humboldt River Conjunctive Management Regulations. The State Engineer is proceeding through administrative rulemaking process to define how Humboldt River Decreed water rights and groundwater rights will be conjunctively managed. If you were unable to attend the informational meetings,
Conjunctive Management of the Humboldt River Basin and Effects on Small Businesses Read More »
The Nevada State Engineer is working on a plan to define how to conjunctively manage Humboldt River Decreed water rights hydrologically connected with groundwater rights. This plan will take form through an administrative rulemaking process and will affect many water right holders in and around the Humboldt River Corridor. Nevada Farm Bureau is assisting the
Conjunctive Water Management Planning Underway in the Humboldt River Basin Read More »
The Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRD”) issued amended rules designating the Walla Walla subbasin as a Serious Water Management Problem Area (“SWMPA”).[1] The amended rules, filed on May 22, 2017, specify new groundwater permits will not be issued in the SWMPA and new groundwater uses will only be allowed for the statutorily exempt uses outlined
Walla Walla Subbasin Closed to New Groundwater Permits Read More »
Law Clerk Jakob Wiley will be presenting on unitization approaches to aquifer governance at the next Groundwater Advisory Committee (“GWAC”) meeting held June 30, 2017. He will be presenting his research on voluntary aquifer governance agreements, focusing on aquifer governance rather than groundwater management. The approach is the topic of his graduate thesis as part
Collective Aquifer Governance by Contract Presentation Read More »
Schroeder Law Offices plays some serious water games, and so should you! Serious gaming is an emerging tool in negotiation, mediation, and water conflict. Serious water gaming acts is a way to share knowledge, interact in an engaging way, and build capacity to solve the real problems in water resources. The games allow for
Schroeder Law Offices Plays Serious Water Games Read More »
The Oregon Task Force on Drought Emergency Response met throughout 2016 to propose statewide recommendations to address current and future water shortages throughout the State. One of the task force’s recommendations has been embodied in House Bill 3051,[1] which has garnered support from Democrats and Republicans alike. H.B. 3051 will help pay for the installation,
Oregon Legislature Considers Bill to Fund Meters Measuring Groundwater Use Read More »
The upcoming 2017 Nevada Legislative Session includes proposed water law changes that could affect water rights users across the state. The 79th legislative session, which starts on February 6, 2017 and ends on June 5, 2017, contains a number of proposed water law changes. It appears there will be four senate bills submitted by the
Proposed Water Law Changes in 2017 Read More »
In a move he hopes will ease the most arduous administrative burden faced by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, Director Gary Spackman has created the state’s largest groundwater management area, encompassing the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer (ESPA) region. Hoping “to stop the drop” of the aquifer level, which has experienced an annual rate
Groundwater Management Area created for East Snake Plain Aquifer Read More »
The International Commission on Irrigation and Draining (ICID) hosted the World Irrigation Forum (WIF) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The 2016 conference serves as the second annual forum. The intent of the World Irrigation Forum is to bring together all stakeholders in order to provide a platform for the world irrigation community to work to find solutions to the problems the irrigation community faces. Some of
The Montana Supreme Court recently issued its decision in the long fraught dispute about exempt groundwater wells. The ruling by the Montana Supreme Court in The Clark Fork Coalition v. Tubbs, will protect the rights of senior water users from exempt groundwater wells that often deplete the amount of available surface water.[1] The Montana Water
Montana Recognizes Interconnection of Groundwater and Surface Water Systems Read More »
With the recent discoveries of lead in Portland Public Schools drinking water and the September 15th discovery at the University of Oregon, it becomes a reminder for us all to ensure that our groundwater supply is providing healthy and safe drinking water. According to the Oregon Health Authority, 90 percent of the population of the
How Safe is Your Drinking Water? Read More »
Below, please see the ground water management public meeting schedule posted by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Additional Information for Idaho Ground Water Management: IDWR’s website with the ESPA GWMA information: http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/water-rights/GWMA/proposed.html Director’s letter regarding ESPA GWMA: http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/files/ground_water_mgmt/20160707-Letter-to-Waters-Users-from-Gary-Spackman-Re-Proposed-ESPA-GWMA.pdf Map of Proposal: http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/files/ground_water_mgmt/espa-gwma-boundary-map.pdf
Idaho Ground Water Management Area Public Meetings are Scheduled Read More »
