Application Submitted to BLM

The Lincoln County Water District (LCWD) was established as a political subdivision of the state through the Lincoln County Water District Act signed by Governor Kenny Guinn in 2003.  On February 9, 2005, LCWD submitted the Kane Springs Valley Groundwater Development Project (Project) Right-of-Way Application to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).  The purpose of the Project is to develop and convey groundwater in the Kane Springs Valley Hydrographic Basin.   The right-of-way grant would allow LCWD to construct the conveyance facilities across BLM-managed lands.  The entire project alignment would be within a Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act corridor.  The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act (LCCRDA), signed by President George Bush in 2004, designated discrete multi-purpose utility corridors in Lincoln County for future utility infrastructure on federal lands. The legislation allows the corridors to be used for rights-of-way for the roads, wells, pipelines, and other infrastructure needed for the construction and operation of a water conveyance system in Lincoln County. 

BLM has the responsibility to process applications through the preparation of an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  For the Kane Springs Groundwater Development Project right-of-way application, an EIS will be prepared.

The right-of-way application was submitted to the BLM Ely District Office, which is the office responsible for managing the BLM lands where the proposed project would be developed.  In late 2005, the BLM Nevada State Director established the Nevada Groundwater Projects Office to facilitate the preparation of the EIS.  Although the Nevada State Office is responsible for preparing the EIS, Nevada Groundwater Projects Office staff coordinate all efforts with the Ely District Office staff and the Ely District Manager will be the decision-maker.