Nevada Drought Forum prepares deep dive for water solutions

CARSON CITY — A state panel began the tough task Monday of wading through possible changes to more than a century of water law and other measures to better position Nevada to weather prolonged drought.

Members of the Nevada Drought Forum compared notes taken during a three-day summit last week and at other public workshops this summer to list specific issues that should be addressed in the short-, medium- and long-term.

Monday marked a "pivoting" point, where the forum appointed by Gov. Brian Sandoval turned toward identifying priorities and "areas that warrant greater discussion, inclusion into a set of recommendations," said Leo Drozdoff, director of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and chairman of the forum.

A cornerstone of state water law, the "use-it-or-lose it" mandate, was a recurring topic that critics say is contrary to encouraging conservation in times of drought. Under existing law, water rights holders are in jeopardy of losing water if they don't put it to use.

Jason King, state water engineer, said at the beginning of Monday's brainstorming session that the principles of state water law are sound.

"I am a prior appropriation guy," he said, referring to another legal pillar for water allocation: Those with the oldest rights have first dibs, even when water is scarce.

"Our water law is solid," King said.

Also up for discussion: allowing the collection of rain water. Under existing law, that is prohibited.

King also said he wants to explore solutions for dealing with critical management areas such as the Pahrump Valley, where water demands exceed groundwater availability. "We need to have the tools to bring these back into balance," he said.

Water storage, particularly along the Humboldt River, was identified as another priority.

"It's just obvious that storage is a good thing," King said, noting the difference between the Reno area, with upstream reservoir storage that has allowed it to weather the drought, and rural users on the Humboldt River who lack storage.

"Nevada is always dry," King said. "It's during those wet years that water needs to be captured."

Other topics on the forum's radar include public education; better data and water monitoring; early drought warnings to help farmers and ranchers plan months ahead; inclusion of desalination in the Southern Nevada Water Authority's long-range water portfolio; and benefits of cloud seeding to boost winter snowpack.

Experts have said cloud seeding can increase snow precipitation 10 to 15 percent. But the technique only works if winter storms develop over the region. Last winter brought few storms to northwestern Nevada, and the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada was among the worst in recorded history.

The forum, created by executive order, is tasked with delivering a report on its findings and recommendations to the governor by the end of the year.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb.