Reminder!  Join us for the USCID webinar on April 12, 2023 at 11:00 AM (Pacific) to learn about title transfer of Federal reclamation projects to users and to take a look at an international database of irrigation projects throughout the world.

When the U. S Bureau of Reclamation implements and completes a project, such as a new reservoir or dam, it retains title and ownership.  The operation and maintenance of the project is typically the responsibility and obligation of the project users.  Title transfer is the process of conveying the title and ownership of these Bureau of Reclamation facilities to the project users. 

In the past, absent an Act of Congress or otherwise, project users could not receive title to their water projects.  In 2019 the law changed and now provides authority to move through the transfer process without separate and distinct Act of Congress.  See:  Title Transfer | Bureau of Reclamation (usbr.gov)

Hear from Frank Dimick, of Dimick Water Resources Engineering, to learn firsthand from someone who has undergone title transfer process both before and after the new law. Hear about how the transfer process is putting the United States on the map with international water projects!

This webinar is hosted by the United States Comittee on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID) Together with Schroeder Law Offices, PC.

Register for this free webinar today! Webinar Registration – Zoom

On March 11, 2016, Schroeder Law Offices sponsored and participated in the celebration of the finalization of the title transfer process of the Rye Patch Dan and Reservoir from the United State Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to Pershing County Water Conservation District (PCWCD). This title transfer process has taken 20+ years to substantially complete. The Pershing County Community Center provided the celebration venue on the evening of Friday, March 11, 2016. Those in attendance included the PCWCD Board of Directors, District constituents, community members, individuals involved in the process from the Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management as well as Congressmen, Senators, and Assemblymen from the State of Nevada. The award ceremony included a brief history of the process and speeches from individuals involved in the title transfer process with plaques given to those who have been directly involved and influential in the process. The ceremony was followed by a BBQ tri-tip dinner sponsored by PCWCD, Schroeder Law Offices, Bullen Law, LLC, and Stix Livestock. For more information and specifics on the title transfer please see the news release published by Schroeder Law Offices, P.C. on February 5, 2016 announcing the completion of the transfer. . The Irrigation Leader magazine has also published an article on the Humboldt Project title transfer. The article “Seeing a Strong Conviction Through: The Humboldt Project Title Transfer” is based on an interview with Distract Manger Hodges.

LOVELOCK, Nevada – The Pershing County Water Conservation District (PCWCD) has assumed sole ownership of Rye Patch Dam and Reservoir, and therefore majority control of the Humboldt Project, having acquired property and water rights from the United States Bureau of Reclamation (BOR).

The transfer process, which began in 2002, was finalized with the recording of a quitclaim deed in Pershing County on January 15^th, 2016. The deed conveyed 10,688.50 acres outright in addition to 1,519.13 acres of easement lands, 49,667.44 acre-feet of direct water diversion rights from the Humboldt River, and 115,152.32 acre-feet of water storage rights for Rye Patch Reservoir.

The Humboldt Project dates back to the early 1930s, when PCWCD began negotiations with BOR for construction as authorized under the National Industrial Recovery Act. The Public Works Administration allocated $2 million for the creation of the project, which led to the construction of Rye Patch Reservoir. The first deliveries of stored water were made in the Spring of 1941.

To help fund the project in the early part of the last century, PCWCD purchased private land and water rights from nearby ranches in the Battle Mountain and Valmy areas. PCWCD then assigned its rights under the purchase agreements to BOR, both to facilitate the transfer of water rights to storage at Rye Patch for use on district lands and as collateral for money the government had advanced PCWCD for those purchases. The lands acquired for the Humboldt Project were classified as either “withdrawn lands,” which were withdrawn from the public domain, or “acquired lands,” which were private ranch lands and associated water rights that PCWCD purchased then assigned to BOR.

PCWCD entered into a repayment contract with BOR, which called for full reimbursement of all Humboldt Project construction and acquisition costs over a 40-year period. Then, after several attempts by Nevada’s Congressional delegation to draft legislation that would transfer title of the Humboldt Project to PCWCD, the Humboldt Project Conveyance Act (Title VIII, Section 803 of Public Law 107-282) was finally passed in 2002. The Secretary of the Interior, who oversees BOR, was directed to convey to PCWCD, the state of Nevada, Pershing County, and Lander County all title and interest to the lands and features of the Humboldt Project.

Among the last steps taken was the transfer, by way of U.S. land patent, of 3,761.28 acres of withdrawn lands in August of 2015.

PCWCD will celebrate the title transfer in a ceremony at the Lovelock Community Center on Friday, March 11^th, 2016.  Federal, state and local dignitaries are expected to attend.