Nye County Water District approves Bureau of Reclamation grant submission to design rapid infiltration basins

The Nye County Water District Governing Board voted unanimously on Oct. 14 to approve submitting a Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART planning and design grant application (R25AP00577-00) that would fund planning and engineering for rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) in Hydrographic Basin 162.

Beck Environmental representative Kayla Armbruster told the board the grant would fund site evaluation and design work for up to three RIB sites, produce a guidance document for landowners, and deliver a 60% design package for review by the Nevada Division of Water Resources. “Today, we're gonna be discussing the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Water Smart Grant for planning and designing rapid infiltration basins here in Basin 162,” Armbruster said during the presentation.

Principal Eileen Christensen said the program is structured as cost-reimbursement and would be advanced step-by-step so the board only commits funds after proposed matches are confirmed by the Bureau of Reclamation. “This is an up to a total cost of $602,000,” Christensen said, describing the combined federal and non-federal budget and explaining that private land and technical time can be used as match to reduce cash needs.

Board discussion focused on the district's exposure if match funds are not secured. Commissioner Bruce Holden pressed for worst-case estimates; board members and staff explained the approach is incremental. Board member Michael Locke said the state engineer and the district have been cooperative and supportive in pursuing the work. After public comment urging passage, the board approved the manager's motion to forward the grant application; the vote was recorded as 5-0 with one member absent.

The board noted additional steps will come before it to confirm and accept match commitments at each milestone, and the design work will rely on local flood modeling and existing data from other RIB projects in the valley.