Senate Bill 270, approved by the 2017 legislature session, requires by December 31, 2027, any claimant of pre-statutory water right to submit proof of claim to the State Engineer on or before December 31, 2027. The bill eliminates the procedure of the State Engineer to take proofs of appropriation on and after January 1, 2028, except for proofs of federal agencies claiming reserved rights. The State Engineer’s request for proofs is for all unadjudicated water systems and hydrographic basins within our state. The water users under the Newlands Project do not need to take any action as these water rights have been fully adjudicated through the Federal District courts. 

 Any user of surface water outside the Newlands Project should contact the State Engineer or legal counsel about the need to file a proof of claim.  

Any user of underground water, where such use began before 1913 for artesian wells, or before 1939 for percolating groundwater use, should also file a proof of claim.  

Additional information may be found at https://water.nv.gov/programs/adjudications and https://water-law.com/in-case-you-missed-it-schroeder-law-offices-presentation-regarding-water-right-adjudications/.

Disclaimer: The content of this announcement is not legal advice. Any concerned water user is encouraged to seek legal counsel to determine whether he or she needs to file a proof of water claim and how to do so.