Glen Canyon Institute

Nevada Groundwater Project

The BLM Nevada State Director established the Nevada Groundwater Projects Office to facilitate the preparation of environmental impact statements (EIS) for three rights-of-way applications. The applications are for the placement of surface facilities (wells, roads, pipelines, and power lines) to develop and transport water across public lands. Below is detailed information for each of the three projects.

Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project

Overview

The BLM has prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action submitted by Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) in 2004 to obtain rights-of-way across land managed by the BLM. If granted, the rights-of-way would enable SNWA to develop groundwater rights authorized for development by the Nevada State Engineer. SNWA's need for the project is to diversify its water resources to ensure it can continue to meet water supply obligations and meet projected future water demands. The project would convey up to 155,000 acre-feet per year (afy) of water, with up to 122,000 afy of groundwater developed by SNWA and the remaining capacity provided for Lincoln County. The SNWA portion includes pending water rights applications in Spring, Cave, Delamar, Dry Lake and Snake valleys. The proposed facilities associated with this Project are described below:

Water Facilities

Pipelines: approximately 306 miles of buried water pipelines, between 16 and 84 inches in diameter
Pumping Stations: five pumping station facilities
Regulating Tanks: six regulating tanks, anticipated to have a capacity of between 3 and 10 million gallons each
Pressure Reducing Stations: three facilities
Water Treatment Facility/Buried Storage Reservoir: one facility site with the Water Treatment Facility anticipated to be a 150 million-gallon per day facility and the buried storage reservoir a 40-million gallon buried facility

Power Facilities

Power Lines: approximately 323 miles of 230 kilovolt (kV), 69 kV, and 25 kV overhead power lines
Electrical Substations: two primary electrical substations (230 kV to 69 kV) and five secondary substations (69 kV to 25 kV)

SNWA Agreement with Lincoln County Water District

In January 2006, SNWA and the Lincoln County Water District entered into an agreement allowing Lincoln County to obtain capacity rights in the SNWA Project. This agreement allows Lincoln County to transfer water through the SNWA pipeline. Lincoln County is responsible for obtaining the water rights for the water that would be conveyed and any actions required to develop and convey the water to the SNWA pipeline. While a specific agreement on a capacity amount has not yet been determined, it is anticipated that the SNWA Project may be used by Lincoln County to convey up to 36,000 afy for Lincoln County customers in Coyote Spring Valley. Lincoln County does not currently have any specific plans or proposals for development of water to be conveyed through the SNWA Project.

Water Rights Process

The BLM participates in the water rights process in the same manner as any member of the public. This includes protesting water rights applications that may affect resources for which BLM is responsible. BLM was a protestant on the Spring, Dry Lake, Delamar, Cave, and Snake valleys water rights applications submitted by SNWA. The BLM withdrew their protests for Spring, Dry Lake, Delamar, and Cave valleys after completing Stipulated Agreements with SNWA.

The public can comment on the proposed EIS through October 11, 2011. Send comments by mail to Penny Woods, Nevada Groundwater Projects Office, PO Box 12000, Reno, NV 89520 or by email at nvgwprojects@blm.gov.

Lincoln County Land Act Groundwater Development and Utility Right-of-Way Project

Overview

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action submitted by the Lincoln County Water District (LCWD) in 2005 to obtain rights-of-way across land managed by the BLM. If granted, the rights-of-way would authorize LCWD to construct groundwater facilities and ancillary utility infrastructure designed to pump and convey groundwater that has been permitted or may be permitted in the Clover Valley to Tule Desert Hydrographic Basins for use by LCWD customers. Specifically, the groundwater would be used to support residential, municipal, and industrial users in or near the Lincoln County Land Act (LCLA) development area north of Mesquite, NV. In addition, Southwest Gas Corporation is proposing to construct and operate a natural gas line and metering facility within the southernmost portion of the project corridor to serve planned development in the LCLA area. Project Construction is estimated to require between 18 and 24 months, and would begin upon completion of the NEPA process and acquisition of necessary permits and approvals. The proposed facilities and phases associated with this project are described below:

Water Facilities

Pipelines: Approximately 75 miles of transmission pipeline (main water line) and well field collection pipelines.
Wells: Up to 15 groundwater production wells in Clover Valley and up to 15 groundwater production wells in Tule Desert, for a total of up to 30 wells. Eighteen production or monitoring wells are currently used to monitor groundwater levels in the Tule Desert Hydrographic Basin. Additional monitoring wells may be constructed per terms and conditions associated with future water rights or Stipulated Agreements between the National Park Service and LCWD.
Storage Tanks: Two 100,000-gallon storage tanks in Clover Valley, one 300,000-gallon storage tank in Tule Desert, one 500,000-gallon storage tank near the proposed Toquop Power Plant, and one 4,000,000-gallon storage tank in the LCLA development area.
Booster Stations: Up to four booster stations, each including an above ground-set forebay storage tank with a capacity of up to 200,000 gallons and aboveground piping and pumping equipment contained within a booster station building.

Power Facilities

Power Lines: Approximately 23.5 miles of 138 kilovolt (kV) double-circuit overhead power lines located between the exiting Mesa Substation located north of Mesquite and the proposed Tule Substation; approximately 20 miles of 22.8 kV double-circuit overhead power lines located from the proposed Tule Substation to groundwater facilities in the Clover Valley; 22.8 kV and 4.16 kV overhead distribution lines to provide electric service to wells within the Tule Desert and Clover Valley Hydrographic Basins; 22.8 kV - 4,160/480-volt aboveground substations at each well site.
Electrical Substations: one substation in the Tule Desert

Natural Gas Facilities

Up to 16-inch natural gas pipeline between the proposed Toquop Energy Project and the LCLA development area
A new natural gas metering station (tie-in to the existing Kern River Natural Gas pipeline) located immediately east of the proposed Toquop plant site.

Ancillary Project Components

Fiber Optics Line installed within the pipeline trench
Extra Work Space: Up to 50 acres (temporary). Typical dimensions of 60 feet by 200 feet and 150 feet by 150 feet, located approximately every mile along the pipeline ROW. Some larger 1- to 2-acre extra work space areas may be designed to facilitate material storage or temporary offices.
Construction Staging Areas: Up to 100 acres (temporary)
Temporary and permanent access roads

The period for public comments has passed. GCI will keep our members informed of future opportunities.

Kane Springs Valley Groundwater Development Project

Overview

PHASE 1: Construction would occur over a 90 to 180-day time period.

Water Facilities

Pipelines: 3.8 miles of transmission pipeline (main water line) and approximately 9 miles of well field collection pipelines for up to four wells (main collection plus laterals to wells)
Wells: up to 4 production wells
Storage Tanks: one 50,000-gallon forebay storage tank on public land and one 700,000-gallon terminal storage tank on private land

Power Facilities

Power Lines: approximately 2.7 miles of 138 kilovolt (kV) overhead power lines located on private land and 14 miles of 69kV/22.8kV overhead power lines located primarily on public land
Electrical Substations: Emrys Jones substation located on private land and up to 4 smaller substations to serve each well
Ancillary Facilities: access roads, temporary workspace, and a storage yard located on private land

Ancillary Project Components

Fiber Optics Line
Monitoring Wells: 1 monitoring well is currently being used to monitor groundwater conditions in the area
Extra Work Space: up to 50 acres total; each work space would be approximately 2 acres in size and would be spaced approximately one-half mile apart

PHASE 2: Construction would occur over a 30- to 60-day time period and would begin one to three years after the completion of Phase 1.

Water Facilities

Pipelines: one to two lateral pipelines from Phase 2 wells to the main collection pipeline
Wells: one to two production wells

Power Facilities

Power Lines: 22.8kV underground power lines from main transmission line to substation(s)
Electrical Substations: One to two smaller substations to serve the new well(s)
Ancillary Facilities: access roads to substations

PHASE 3: Construction would occur over a 30- to 60-day time period and would begin one to three years after the completion of Phase 2. Phase 3 would only be developed if production from Phase 1 and Phase 2 was insufficient to meet anticipated demand or if production from previous wells was lower than estimated or designed.

Water Facilities

Pipelines: one to two lateral pipelines from Phase 3 wells to the main collection pipeline
Wells: one to two production wells

Power Facilities

Power Lines: 22.8kV underground power lines from main transmission line to substation(s)
Electrical Substations: One to two smaller substations to serve the new well(s)
Ancillary Facilities: access roads to substations

Water Rights Process

Federal agencies participate in the water rights process in the same manner as any Nevada citizen. This includes protesting water rights applications that may affect resources for which the agencies are responsible. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) was a protestant on the Kane Springs Valley water rights applications submitted by Lincoln County Water District/Vidler Water Company, Inc. The FWS withdrew their protest after completing the Kane Springs Valley Stipulated Agreement with Lincoln County Water District and Vidler Water Company, Inc.

The period for public comments has passed. GCI will keep our members informed of future opportunities.