State engineer fires development vs. water rights warning

Monday, April 21, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

"This is only a recommendation," Turnipseed said of his April 16 letter to the county. "This is a warning shot because of the potential to overdraft the basin."

Turnipseed's letter to Elko County Planning Director Randy Brown was released during a county planning commission meeting Thursday, where several engineers forecast an end to all development around the city.

Planning Commission Chairman Debbie Smith and County Planner Ed Wynnes said they would be reluctant to approve or recommend approval of any additional parceling in light of Turnipseed's letter.

It said that growth around the city creates the potential for more water to be taken out of the Elko Segment Ground Water Basin than can be naturally replenished, the Elko Daily Free Press reported.

Before further parceling is allowed, Turnipseed said the lot owner should acquire unused water rights and relinquish 2.02 acre-feet per year per lot to the state.

"There are a lot of water rights not being used all up and down that segment with the City of Elko holding the largest block," Turnipseed said.

Elko has "banked" some water rights to cope with growth, City Engineer Mark Owens said. "It's just planning ahead, it's prudent."

The rights are used when a well is drilled.

"Periodically, we go out there and reserve a water right so if we need it, it's there for us," he said.

Elko County Commissioner Tony Lesperance, a Nevada water expert, said he was not surprised by Turnipseed's letter.

"He is 100 percent correct. Sooner or later we are going to have to give up some irrigation rights for development rights."

Lesperance said a recent action by fellow commissioners allowing the federal government to acquire irrigation water rights in a land exchange is even more significant now with Turnipseed's recommendation.

"This county is going to have to get its hands on every drop of water it can," Lesperance said.