A water conservation program piloted in rural Nevada has shown promising results and may soon be expanded statewide. Assembly Bill 104, which was discussed in a recent Assembly Committee on Natural Resources hearing, aims to create the Nevada Voluntary Water Rights Retirement Program. This program would compensate water rights holders to give up their rights to pump water, with the goal of addressing over-appropriation issues in the state.
The program is based on a successful pilot program in Diamond Valley, funded by $25 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The pilot program saw a reduction in pumping equivalent to a third of the perennial yield, a significant achievement in water conservation efforts.
While the bill has gained support from a variety of groups, including the Nevada Farm Bureau and the Sierra Club, there are critics who believe that taxpayer dollars should not be used for such programs. They argue that the state engineer already has the authority to address groundwater conflicts and should focus on resolving issues under existing statutes.
Despite the criticism, the bill is moving forward, with potential funding sources including gifts, donations, and grant funding. The support for the bill from a diverse range of stakeholders indicates a consensus that the program could be beneficial for water conservation efforts in Nevada.
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