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State Engineer’s yearly groundwater assessments approved amid questions over basin rates
Summary
The Board approved the Nevada Division of Water Resources' annual groundwater basin assessments after Dan Reynolds described metering improvements, reductions in some basin rates following the end of a USGS study, and an increase in the Humboldt River assessment rate to $0.80 per acre‑foot.
The Board considered and approved the State Engineer's annual groundwater basin assessments as presented by Dan Reynolds of the Nevada Division of Water Resources.
Reynolds explained that the assessments fund staff, field investigations, well inspections, metering and data management. He said a past USGS study along the Humboldt River increased costs for several years; with that study concluded some assessment rates have fallen. Reynolds also described the meters database (now more than 1,600 users and roughly 6,000 meters) that reduces the need for on‑site checks. He noted that some basins saw large reductions in per‑acre‑foot fees, but the Humboldt River assessment rose to $0.80 to cover equipment and staff costs.
Commissioners probed why basin rates differ; Reynolds said rates are tied to the level of field work and account activity in each basin, and that funds are tracked by basin accounts. After questions, the Board voted to approve the assessments.
