Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Rights topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee hears temporary water-right change request tied to Railroad Valley exploration wells
Summary
Jay Dixon explained a temporary change to move a mining-and-milling water right in north Railroad Valley to dissolved-mineral-exploration wells to avoid plugging; he said the dissolved-mineral-exploration process allows pumping up to 5 acre-feet and that notifications to affected counties are required.
Jay Dixon (via Teams) briefed the Natural Resources Advisory Committee on a temporary change application for an existing mining-and-milling water right at the north end of Railroad Valley (previously owned by Bema Gold/Kinross). Dixon said the goal was to temporarily move the base right to dissolved-mineral-exploration wells so the wells would not have to be plugged after two years.
Dixon said the dissolved-mineral-exploration process allows pumping of "5-acre feet" for such wells and that, since 2020, the project had split 5.37 acre-feet across three exploration wells. He emphasized notification to affected counties is part of the process and recommended inviting a speaker (Jay Dixon) for a more detailed presentation to the Board of County Commissioners if the committee wanted to further engage on the application.
