Nevada Water Rights Boot Camp

Typical Agenda

 

I.              The Hydrologic Cycle

 

II.           Local and State and Federal Agencies Affecting Water Use Administration

A.     Local Agencies

B.     State

 

III.         Federal Agencies Affecting Water Use Administration

A.     US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

B.     US Corps of Engineers (COE)

C.     US Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)

D.     US Geological Society (USGS)

E.      The Role of Federal Agencies

 

IV.        Prior Appropriation

A.     Beneficial Use

B.     Priority

C.     Appurtenance

 

V.           Dissecting the Water Right

A.     Source

B.     Priority

C.     Type of Use

D.     Place of Use

E.      Point of Diversion or Appropriation

F.      Volume/Duty

G.     Rate

H.     Conditions

 

VI.        Adjudications

A.     Court Directed Process

B.     Nevada Adjudications

 

VII.      Surface Water Code

 

VIII.   Groundwater Code

A.     Nevada General Water Law Act of 1913

B.     1939 Groundwater Code

C.     Domestic Groundwater Exemption

 

IX.        Applications for Water Rights

A.     Application for Permit

B.     Notice

C.     Protest

D.     Ready for Action

E.      Hearing

F.      Application Denied

G.     Application Approved

 

X.           Water Rights Characteristics Subject to Change

A.     Place of Use

B.     Type of Use

C.     Point of Diversion

D.     Rate/Duty Shaping (In-stream)

E.      Global (AB 380)

F.      Transfers

 

XI.        When Groundwater Use Interferes with Surface Water Rights or Interests

A.     Cone of Influence

B.     Cone of Influence Interference

 

XII.      Forfeiture and Abandonment

A.     Surface Rights

B.     Groundwater Rights

C.     Use of Extension to Avoid Forfeiture

D.     Initiating Forfeiture

 

XIII.   Appraising a Water Right

A.     Considerations

B.     Due Diligence

 

XIV.   Marketing/Title issues

 

XV.     Federal Interests: The Endangered Species Act

 

XVI.   Well Quality Programs

A.     Clean Water Act

B.     Groundwater Pollution

 

XVII.Future Trends

 

XVIII.    Ethical Considerations:  Conflicts of Interest

A.     Types

B.     Steps to Determine if a Conflict Exists