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Water
Season
The water season in a normal 100% year will be from
approximately March 15th to November 15th. Final
determination of the season start and finish dates will be made by the
Board of Directors. Factors such as snow pack, winter moisture in the
Project area, water orders, applicable operating criteria and procedures,
and storage will be considered in setting the starting and ending dates of
the season. The Board will set the start of the season at the March Board
Meeting.
The last day to accept water orders will be five days
prior to the close of the irrigation season. In a normal season, November
10th will be the last day water orders will be accepted (or the
next business day if the 10th is on a holiday or weekend).
Requests for water delivery after the last day to order will not be
guaranteed delivery.
Notice of the starting date and the closing date of the
season will be posted in the Lahontan Valley News and in the Fernley
Leader-Courier for five consecutive days. The closing date of the season
and the last day to order water will be posted on the October water card
in a normal water year. In a short water season, every effort will be made
to post the last day for delivery of water and the last day to order water
on the water card that is mailed prior to the close. (12/7/99)
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Change
in Water Duty
Upon request by the landowner or Bureau of Reclamation for
a change in water duty on a farm unit or units of single ownership, the
District’s Board of Directors will review the request and make a
recommendation to the Federal Water Master regarding the change in water
duty. The recommendation will be based on information presented to the
Board by the landowner and/or the Bureau of Reclamation as well as other
information provided to the Board. Beneficial use of water for the
production of alfalfa will be the standard to be applied when considering
the amount of irrigation water necessary.
Information presented to the Board should include all
relevant factors such as water tables; soil types and their water holding
capacities; surrounding soil types; farming practices, which should
include water conservation practices; cropping patterns and practices; and
a history of water use. The information provided with the application for
change in water allocation should be as complete as possible in order to
avoid delays in the review process.
The following is a checklist of items that should be
considered and included with the petition to the Board for a request in
change in water allocation for an individual farm unit or units within the
same ownership:
REQUIRED:
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Soil scientist review performed by NRCS or private
consultant which would identify:
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Location of farm unit(s) on soil survey map
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Water holding capacity of soil(s)
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Water table data and monitoring information
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Recommendation of the soil scientist
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Irrigation engineer review:
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Adequacy of maintenance of water user irrigation
facilities
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Evaluation of the adequacy of TCID system with
respect to the individual’s operation
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Recommendation of the irrigation engineer as to
how the applicant could improve his operation
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Irrigation History: (5 to 10 year history)
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Number of acre-feet applied per irrigated acre
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Irrigation scheduling
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Acres in production
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Type of crop(s)
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Farm management
OPTIONAL: Cropping history
to compare to "standard" yields
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Procedures
for Ordering and Delivery of Water
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Procedures
ORDERS
Orders can be placed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except holidays, by calling 423-6511 in
Fallon; 575-2211 in Fernley, or in person at the District’s office at
2666 Harrigan Road. NO ORDERS WILL BE TAKEN BY THE DITCHRIDER in the field
or at his home. The water user should place an order 48 hours
before needed. However, the water user should be prepared to take delivery
of water any time after placing the order. The delivery can occur within
the 48 hour period but, may be slightly longer during peak periods of use.
At the time of the order, the water user should estimate as close as
possible the flow in cfs (cubic feet per second) and the number of hours
the water will be needed. (12/7/99)
Orders that are placed after 3:00 p.m. Monday through
Thursday will not be processed until the following day. Water is delivered
with efficiency as a priority and is not delivered in accordance with the
time the order is placed. Orders for specific time or day will not be
accepted.
Please give the following information to the
dispatcher:
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TCID serial number of property;
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Property owner’s name;
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Name of irrigator, if applicable;
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Local telephone number where the water user can be
contacted by the Ditchrider;
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Lateral and take-out number (example: V5-T1 "V5
is lateral", "T1 is take-out"). These numbers are on
District headgate(s).
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Amount of CFS and amount of time (hours, minutes)
If the water user wants delivery from more than one
canal or lateral, separate water orders will be required.
No water order will be taken for land which is
delinquent in the payment of assessments and charges due the District.
DELIVERY
The ditchriders will pick up the water orders at 4:00
p.m., Monday through Friday and will call the water user between 5 p.m.
and 9 p.m. the evening of the day the water was ordered. If the water user
is not available during this time, it will be the water user's
responsibility to call the ditchrider or have a message recorder on his
phone. The ditchrider will schedule your water and advise the water user
as to the approximate time the water will be delivered. For scheduling and
proper management of the water, the ditchrider may limit water orders to
120% of the "estimated" hours. It should be understood that it
is not possible to deliver the exact cfs that is ordered in most cases
but the water user will be informed of the amount of water that is
delivered. The end-of-month Water Service Summary card will reflect the
actual water delivered and not what was ordered.
All water deliveries in each district within the
Project are scheduled, coordinated, monitored, and directed by the
ditchrider. The ditchrider will deliver water in accordance with District
policy as directed by the Water Master and Assistant Water Master. The
accountability for all deliveries of water, whether water changes are made
by a ditchrider or by someone authorized by the ditchrider, is the
responsibility of the ditchrider. The ditchrider must account for all time
and flow elements involved in making efficient water transactions within
his area of responsibility. (12/7/99)
If a water user experiences a problem during
deliveries, he/she should immediately take the following steps:
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First, contact your ditchrider.
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If the problem has not been resolved, contact the
Assistant Water Master, Shelby Cecil.
His phone number is 423-8299 and mobile phone 350-8754.
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If the problem still hasn’t been resolved, the user
can next contact the District’s Water Master, Willis Hyde at
423-2141, 423-7488 (home) or 350-8752 (mobile).
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If the problem cannot be resolved with the previous
steps, the user should then file a written complaint with the District’s
Office.
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If the problem cannot be resolved by District
Management, then the Board of Directors may appoint a special
mediator, if necessary, or take other action as the Board may deem
appropriate. The cost of the special mediator, or other Board action,
will be charged to the water user. If the charges for such special
actions are not paid within 30 days of billing, water orders will not
be accepted.
Ditchriders are on duty for a certain number of days,
followed by a period of days off. During those scheduled days off a relief
rider will be available.
The water user is not to OPEN, CLOSE, or
CHANGE any District gates or facilities without the ditchrider’s consent
(transfer authority). If such consent is given by the ditchrider and
agreed to by the water user, then the acting party must follow the
ditchrider’s directions completely. Upon accepting the authority to make
changes to the District facilities, the water user is then also accepting
responsibility for any damages that might occur that are caused by
negligence. In addition to the instructions from the ditchrider to record
the time and other factors of the water delivery, the ditchrider may ask
the water user to notify the next water user in line to receive
water.
This method of passing water allows a head of water to be
used efficiently. If the water is not passed to another water user, the
water user must notify the ditchrider IN ADVANCE of the completion of the
water delivery. If the water user fails to so notify the ditchrider, the
ditchrider will estimate the delivery in hours and no adjustments will be
made. Once this transaction is completed, the temporary transfer of
authority to the water user ceases. In an emergency, the water user should
take appropriate corrective action and notify the ditchrider as soon as
possible.
Due to changes in water use, water demand, and potential
canal system capacity problems, the Board of Directors has set the
following limitations on the delivery of water to the water user:
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It is not the responsibility of the ditchrider to find
the water user. It is therefore important that water users supply
phone numbers where they can be reached between the hours of 5:00 p.m.
and 9:00 p.m. If the water user will not be available during that
time, a phone recorder should be available for the ditchrider to leave
a voice message.
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THE WATER USER MUST TAKE DELIVERY OF WATER AT ANY
TIME, DAY OR NIGHT, after having ordered the water. The ditchrider
will advise the water user in advance when the water will be
available. If service is refused, the water order may be placed at the
end of the current orders. If the water user refuses after reasonable
efforts by the Ditchrider, then the order will be canceled and a new
order will not be taken for seven days.
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All water delivered will be measured by the ditchrider
as accurately as possible. Each month a report will be sent to the
water user indicating the amount of water used to date and the balance
remaining. It is the responsibility of the water user to bring
discrepancies in the report to the attention of the Water Master
before the 25th day of the month following the reporting period. It is
suggested that the water user keep an accurate account of the amount
of water delivered by recording the time the water is turned on and
off and the date of delivery. The District has the responsibility to
properly measure each delivery of water. If the water user doesn't accept
the ditchrider's measurement, then the water user should contact the
Water Department and request a metered measurement. If a metered
measurement is requested, the water user and ditchrider will be
notified of the time and place that the water will be measured so that
the water user and ditchrider, if possible, can be present at the
measurement. If the water user wants to measure the water to verify
the District's measurement, the measurement should be done at the same
time and place as the District's metered measurement. If a metered
measurement is done by the water user at another time and place, such
metered measurement should be done in accordance with the "Bureau
of Reclamation Water Measurement Manual" and the information
presented on a form provided by the District for such metered
measurement. (08/07/00)
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No water user will be allowed to divert more than
twenty-five percent (25%) of his annual water allocation during any
one month period, if, in the opinion of the Water Master, the
diversion could cause potential damages to other water users.
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Second runs of water shall not be made to the water
user’s same District headgate within a seven (7) day period, except
to protect (1) new seeding during the first 60 days; and (2) highly
sensitive crops.
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The scheduling of water delivery by the District will
allow for consideration of the needs of the water users. For instance,
new seeding (alfalfa and pasture during the first 60 days and corn
during the first 90 days) may have a preference over established
crops.
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No water user will be allowed more than one head of
water on the same ditch when the ditchrider has other water users
demanding water. A head of water in excess of 30 cfs shall be
considered as two heads of water and may be reduced by the ditchrider
when necessary to meet other demands.
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Deliveries of water to any one takeout shall be
limited to 30 cfs or less, if, in the opinion of the Water Master or
ditchrider, it is felt that the safe-rated capacity of the District’s
facilities is being exceeded.
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On laterals that service a number of small acreages,
the delivery will be completed in one run if, at the discretion of the
Water Master, it can be done. Water will be put in the lateral and all
small users will use the water in rotation mutually agreed upon by the
parties involved. If no agreement can be reached then, by request, the
Water Master shall establish the rotation and users shall be bound by
the decision. Once a delivery day is established, it will be changed
only at the discretion of the District. If it is impossible to measure
the water to each individual water user then the total water delivered
to the lateral shall be measured and prorated to each water user
according to the acreage irrigated.
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Water will not be delivered in excess of allocation.
Unauthorized use of water (irrigating without having placed a water
order and/or without having been told to proceed by the ditchrider)
will result in the water user’s takeout being padlocked and a
financial penalty imposed in accordance with Board policy. Service
will not be restored until such time as the water user appears before
the Board of Directors to resolve the unauthorized use.
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Water must be used to the best advantage. Any water
user wasting water, such as running on and off a border simultaneously, will be warned by letter. For any offense following
such notice, the water will be shut off and service will only be
resumed when the water user appears before the Project Manager or
Water Master and satisfactorily explains the reasons therefore. The
water user will also then be required to appear before the Board of
Director at the next regular Board meeting. (07/07/00)
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Water delivery to a water user’s ditch and/or
takeout may be refused if it is in such condition that water delivery
would cause or result in an adverse impact or effect upon the District’s
operations or water delivery system. Before action is taken, the Board
director representing that area, the Water Master, and the ditchrider
shall jointly inspect the ditch to decide whether water delivery shall
be discontinued and determine what actions, if any, would be necessary
to remedy the situation. In the case of more than one water user using
the same ditch, water will be refused to all of the water users until
the ditch and/or takeouts are cleaned and/or repaired. When work is
completed to the satisfaction of the Project Manager or Water Master,
deliveries will be resumed. (12/7/99)
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Water users and the District are regulated by court
approved Operating Criteria and Procedures (OCAP) which limit the use
of water to irrigated water right acres. Non-compliance will result in
penalties as established in the OCAP. Any changes in irrigated acreage
should be reported to the District’s engineering department along
with appropriate documentation to show what acreage changes are going
to be made.
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Relations between ditchriders and water users should
be that of mutual respect and assistance. Abuse or abusive language on
the part of any ditchrider or any water user to each other will not be
tolerated. Necessary steps to stop any abuse will be taken by the
Truckee-Carson Irrigation District Board and management.
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Ditchriders are not employees of the Board members or
of the water users, but of the District as a whole. Instructions as to
management of water shall come from management in conformance with
policy established by the Board of Directors.
(08/09/99)
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Water
Right Transfers
Any temporary transfer or permanent water right
transfer must be filed and approved by the Nevada State Engineer 60 days
prior to the end of a normal irrigation season (75% or above) for addition
to the water right owner’s allocation during the current irrigation
season. During a short irrigation season (75% or below), the deadline for
approval by the Nevada State Engineer would be July 1st. The
District cannot guarantee that water will be available nor can the
District guarantee delivery of water if the time limits as stated above
are not adhered to. (12/7/99)
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Subdivisions
In the case of property having been subdivided, the
District will deliver water to the original takeout only. It shall be the
obligation of the subdivider and purchasers of the subdivided land to
construct and maintain necessary facilities to irrigate from original
District structures in accordance with District policy.
A watering subdivision is made up of the water
users in a neighborhood who irrigate from an original takeout. The
irrigation allowance of each member of the group is added together to
arrive at the allocation for the subdivision. The members of the
subdivision shall irrigate under one delivery, and no additional
deliveries will be made for a period of seven days. Water will be measured
at the original District takeout only.
The members of each watering subdivision shall choose
ONE person to act as Coordinator within the watering subdivision and ONE
alternate and submit those names to the District Water Master for
approval. These two persons will be the ditchrider’s and District’s
contact. Other members of the subdivision are required to contact their
coordinator. The responsibilities of the Coordinator would be to: (1)
order water as needed by users within the subdivision; (2) coordinate and
organize the efficient distribution of water within the subdivision; and
(3) account for usage of water within the subdivision.
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Ownership
Change of ownership of water-righted parcels require
that the new owner provide a "Record of Conveyance" and
"Abstract of Title" to the District of the change. Upon payment
of the appropriate administrative fee, the District will make the
necessary changes to allow the new owner to order water delivery. (08/09/99)
Construction/Repair on Project Easements:
The District owns, or has possessory rights to, the
system of irrigation and drainage ditches which serves the Newlands
Project, together with the rights-of-way appurtenant thereto. No building
or construction thereon, including piping, filling, fencing, or other
alteration thereof may be performed unless WRITTEN permission
therefore has first been obtained from the District.
The following are excerpts taken from Nevada Revised
Statutes for your information:
N.R.S. 539.783 LIABILITY OF WATER USER NEGLIGENTLY,
WRONGFULLY IMPAIRING DISTRICT WORKS; NOTICE TO REPAIR. Any water user,
or his agent or lessees, of an irrigation district who shall negligently
or wrongfully impair the usefulness of any reservoir, canal, ditch,
lateral, drain, headgate, structure, or any part of the irrigation
district system of works and fails to repair the same within 10 days
after notice from the District so to do, or who fails within such time
to file with the Board of Directors good and sufficient reasons for so
failing to do, shall become liable for the payment thereof as provided
in this chapter, or the irrigation district may make such repairs and
add and collect the same as an operation and maintenance charge against
the lands of the water user for the next succeeding irrigation season.
N.R.S. 536.040 CONTRIBUTION OF OWNERS FOR
PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF WORK. In all cases where ditches are owned by two
or more persons, and one or more of such persons shall fail or neglect
to do a proportionate share of the work necessary for the proper
maintenance and operation of such ditch or ditches, or to construct
suitable headgates or other devices at the point where water is diverted
from the main ditch, such owner or owners desiring the performance of
such work may, after giving 10 days written notice to such other owner
or owners who failed to perform such proportionate share of the work
necessary for the operation and maintenance of such ditch or ditches,
perform such share of the work, and recover therefore from such person
or persons in default the reasonable expense of such work.
N.R.S. 536.050 STATEMENT OF EXPENSES CONSTITUTES
VALID LIEN AGAINST PROPERTY OF DEFAULTING CO-OWNER. Upon the failure of
any co-owner to pay his proportionate share of such expense, as
mentioned in N.R.S. or persons so performing such labor may secure
payment of such claim by filing an itemized and sworn statement thereof,
setting forth the date of the performance and the nature of the labor so
performed, with the County Clerk of the county wherein the ditch is
situated and when so filed it shall constitute a valid lien against the
interest of such person or persons in default which lien may be
established and enforced in the same manner as provided by law for the
enforcement of mechanics’ liens.
Click here for a list of
helpful phone numbers at TCID.
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Transfers
of Water Rights
Temporary or Permanent Transfers
Any temporary transfer or permanent water right transfer
must be filed and approved by the Nevada State Engineer 60 days prior to
the end of a normal irrigation season (75% or above) for addition to the
water right owner’s allocation during the current irrigation season.
During a short irrigation season (75% or below), the deadline for approval
by the Nevada State Engineer would be July 1st. The District
cannot guarantee that water will be available nor can the District
guarantee delivery of water if the time limits as stated above are not
adhered to. (12/7/99)
Protest of Applications to Appropriate or Transfer
Water
The District will protest all applications to appropriate
or transfer the waters of the State of Nevada which might negatively
impact the Newlands Project.
Purchase/Transfer of Newlands Project Water Rights to
Lahontan Valley Wetlands
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The District has reviewed the Newlands Project map
upon which the NRCS identified those areas having less productive
lands by virtue of soil classification. The review concluded that the
purchase and/or transfer of water rights presently located on those
lands would not negatively impact the District’s distribution system
efficiencies if the following guidelines are adhered to. It is
recommended that the purchase of water right:
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Concentrate on lands serviced by the same lateral or
sub-lateral.
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Should begin at, and move upstream from, the
terminus of the lateral/sub-lateral.
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Should be acquired in "blocks" or
"groups" rather than helter skelter which would create a
"checkerboard" effect.
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The water rights acquired should not cause negative
impacts on the agricultural community and economy or the
environment.
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The entity, "owner", must be willing to be
financially and contractually responsible to make payment of the
annual O&M charges for the Newlands Project.
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Once the purchase water rights are transferred to the
Lahontan Valley wetlands, no transfer of the water right should be
allowed outside the Newlands Project. The water should be kept in the
Lahontan Valley for use of the wetlands which are an integral part of
the Pacific Flyway.
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The water should be stored in Lahontan Reservoir where
it would be utilized prior to delivery to the wetlands for multiple
beneficial uses.
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Recreational benefits will protect the State of
Nevada’s investment in Lahontan Reservoir and insure water-related
recreation for future generations including but not limited to
boating, water skiing, swimming, picnicking and fishing.
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Hydrogeneration benefits which provide an
environmentally clean (non-polluting) renewable energy resource.
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Fish and wildlife enhancement. (02/07/00)
Water Right Transfer Corrections
District engineering staff will provide in-house services
(i.e. documents, maps, etc.) regarding water right transfer corrections
without cost or charge to the water right owner. (08/07/00)
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Delivery
of Water to Non-Water-Righted Land
The District will not deliver water to fields that contain
non-water-righted land that is being watered. Until the situation is
corrected, the affected serial number will have its allocation reduced by
the allocation on the field(s) in question.
Water users who are affected may correct this problem in
the manner shown below:
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If a field contains non-water-righted land that is
being watered, the owner must come to the District office and obtain
a picture of the questions field(s). The owner must decide what part
or parts of the irrigated water rights in the field he wishes
dewatered to make the irrigated acres and the water-righted acres
balance. The owner will draw a picture of his intent and submit it
to the District for approval.
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Once the District approves the plan, the owner
physically creates barriers, and the field(s) are inspected and
approved by District employees, orders may be placed and water
delivered that irrigation season.
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The owner must then apply to the State Water
Engineer for a permanent or temporary transfer of these rights,
since this is allowed by state and federal law. The District will
ask the Department of Interior to approve these transfers. Unless
written objections are sent to the owner within 30 days, these
transfers will be sent as a pre-approved batch of transfers with the
support of the District and the Department of Interior. The State
Engineer will be asked to rush these transfers.
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Fernley
Stockwater Pipeline
In the Fernley area, the District will provide stock water
to specific water righted land through the Fernley stockwater pipeline
system (see the Fernley Stockwater Pipeline map). The charge for service
from the Fernley stockwater pipeline will be established annually by the
Board. The Fernley stockwater pipeline water is not to be used other than
for stock watering purposes.
When land that is serviced by the Fernley stockwater
pipeline is divided or parceled, service from the stockwater pipeline
shall be discontinued and the pipeline removed. However, service from the
stockwater pipeline shall be continued to that portion of the divided land
which is considered to be the original homestead if water rights are
retained thereon and there continues to be a need for stockwater. (12/9/96)
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Irrigation
Allocations
Consolidation of irrigation allocations may only be made
on lands within exactly the same ownership (i.e. John and Mary Doe to John
and Mary Doe) and shall be assigned to a control number.
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Assignments
of Water Rights to the District
When an assignment of water right to the District is
signed and delivered before or by March 1st of any given year,
the annual O&M assessments will be forgiven beginning with the next
following assessment year at July 1st and continuing from
year-to-year thereafter until further action by the Board of Directors.
The District will pay for the assigned water right at the
rate system approved by the Board of Directors in Section H when the water
right has been approved by the State Engineer for transfer to the location
of use as designated by the District. (5/7/97)
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Original
Construction Charges
Upon signing of a water right agreement, a parcel split,
or a transfer of water rights, all remaining original construction charges
shall be paid. (1/8/96)
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Re-Watering
Of Lands
If water rights are to be transferred to lands that have
had their water rights previously removed, such re-watering shall be
approved only when there is no adverse impact to operational efficiencies.
The District staff shall not permit a transfer of water
rights which increase the costs or decreases the assessments or lessens
the efficiency of the operations of the District.
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Take-Outs
Where Water Rights Have Been Removed
When all active water rights are removed from land by a
water right transfer permit issued by the Nevada State Engineer, the owner
of the property will be notified by written notice that the takeout for
the property will be made inoperable or removed so it can no longer be
used. If the property owner does not formerly request an alternative, the
takeout will be removed or made inoperable 60 days after the date of the
letter. (12/9/96)
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