Carson City protests water transfer to Douglas County

Carson City will protest Douglas County's proposal to transfer water from the city to a well serving the new Wal-Mart retail development.

The city disapproved the transfer, saying it will effect groundwater wells serving residents and sets the wrong precedent. Douglas County purchased 32.5 acre feet of Eagle Valley Basin water from the Lompa family, beating out a bid by Carson City, but the transfer hinges on final approval by the state engineer.

Supervisors said they should have been consulted by Douglas County before the purchase was made. The decision to protest divided the board.

"I think we have to say no - we have to say 'hell, no,'" said Supervisor Richard Staub. "We don't want to incite a water war with Douglas County, but we have to make a strong stand now and send a clear message that we do not believe water in our basin should be taken to another basin."

Supervisors Robin Williamson and Pete Livermore said they were confident the state engineer would deny the transfer and believed the city's formal protest would further hurt relations with the southern neighbor. They voted against the protest.

"I think Indian Hills has a stronger standing," Williamson said. "I think I'll let Indian Hills carry our water on this issue."

Indian Hills General Manager Jim Bentley said the district would also be formally protesting the transfer. The district wasn't consulted by Douglas County and could more than provide for the retail development, said Bentley.

"When somebody starts sucking real water out of a well near your well, there's real impact," Bentley said. "There's no reason not to oppose this transfer."

Indian Hills wells will be affected, as will wells that serve 225 Jacks Valley residents, Bentley said.

Douglas County Engineering Manager Carol Ruschmeyer said the county doesn't plan to alter its proposal following Carson's decision. It's up to the state engineer to make a judgment.

"I don't believe it harms Carson City or that they can show it can harm them," Ruschmeyer said.

Carson City has 17,379 acre-feet of water rights from the Eagle Valley Basin but can draw out only 6,700 a year.

The city also owns water rights in the Dayton, Carson and Washoe valley basins. The city owns surface water rights in the Carson River, Kings Canyon, Ash Canyon, Clear Creek and state water.

The only reason the city would buy the Lompa water would be to protect the groundwater from further depletion and preserve residential and municipal wells, City Engineer Larry Werner said.

"We would have a net loss in the basin we're currently struggling with," Werner said. "We're already maxed out on what we can pump out of the basin."

Douglas County's purchase would ensure another 32 acre feet would be pumped from the system, he said.

Longtime resident Frankie Finlayson said she already struggles to keep her well water running during the summer and strictly conserves her water.

"I feel if there's any extra water available in this basin, it should be for this community," Finlayson said. "When somebody can just come in and buy water and not have any consideration of what they're doing for the rest of the community, I think we should take a very strong stand against this."

Public comments and the formal protest will be forwarded to the state engineer's office. A final decision may take as long as two years.

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.