County to fight transfers of water rights

Douglas County commissioners recommended denial of a water rights transfer from the Allerman Canal Diversion Dam in Douglas County to Lyon County. The recommendation will be forwarded to the state engineer.

David E. and Karen L. Hardy obtained the water from the Jacobsen Family Trust through their agent Robert Cantley, who filed an application to divert the water in October 2005.

If approved by the state engineer, these surface rights will be transferred to an area between Highway 50 and the Carson River in north Lyon County for irrigation, according to the application.

The transaction was noticed publicly as required by law and the statutory protest period has lapsed, but the county can make a recommendation to the state engineer, requesting the project be denied.

In a subsequent discussion concerning the hiring of a consultant to help with these issues, Douglas County Engineer Karl Ruschmeyer said the county will be facing more challenges as water becomes more scarce and these transfers become more common.

For example, Clark County wants to use interbasin transfers, the transferring of groundwater to serve its burgeoning population, said Commission Chairman Jim Baushke.

"It's the whole idea of sending water rights out of the county and never getting them back," he said. "It hurts the people of Douglas County in the long run."

The first policy is, there will be no transfer of water out of Douglas County, Baushke said.

"We've talked about the possibility of leasing the water to other users, but I don't think the citizens of Douglas County will stand for the transfer of water," he said.

County Manager Dan Holler said county officials will have to develop a solid rationale for keeping the water in Douglas County.

"If we can develop a good solid water policy it will provide more weight," he said.

These transactions are between private parties and as such, fall out of the purview of government. Ensuring that the water transferred is used efficiently could minimize the transfers, according to Ed James, general manager of the Carson Water Subconservancy District.

"Some people say they need the water and are willing to spend the money to get it," he said. "I'm talking about efficiency in Lyon County. If the water can be moved efficiently, we can minimize the transfers."

The search for a consultant was approved by commissioners and will come before the commissioners for reconsideration at a later date.

Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.