Groundwater Study Authorized by Congress in Lincoln County Bill

One addition which the Sierrs Club sought was added to the bill.  The bill directs a study of groundwater in White Pine and Lincoln Counties and adjacent areas in Utah.  Six million dollars was allocated for USGS and DRI to finish the studies within 3 years.  (The text of the legislation.)

• A few suggested study questions of the Club for the USGS and DRI

• evaluate the impacts of groundwater pumping and export on regional springs and groundwater levels
  
• evaluate the impacts of groundwater pumping and export over short and long term, i.e., 10-20 years and 100-500 years.
• conduct onsite study including drilling to develop models which can help to predict short and long term impacts

• United States Geological Survey (USGS) website:  Basin and Range Carbonate Aquifer System Study
  USGS Website
  

• How to get involved:  Participate in the BLM Scoping and make sure that the BLM EIS includes the findings of the USGS study.  Deadline for comment is August 1, 2005.
  

Title III: Utility Corridors - (Sec. 301) Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish on public land a 2,640-foot wide corridor for utilities in Lincoln and Clark Counties, Nevada; and (2) grant certain nonexclusive rights-of-way to the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Lincoln County Water District for the construction and operation of a water conveyance system; (3) conduct a study of water resources in White Pine and Lincoln Counties, Nevada, and in adjacent areas in Utah. Authorizes funding for such water resources study.

Withdraws such utility corridors from: (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws.