Landowner granted part of Sandy Valley water

Thursday, June 13, 2002 | 9:17 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A ruling by state Engineer Hugh Ricci may put a crimp in the plans of Vidler Water Co. to pipe water from Sandy Valley to serve the fast-growing Primm area.

Ricci Wednesday allowed Vidler to pump 415 acre-feet a year from Sandy Valley, not the 1,400 acre-feet sought by the company, the biggest private landowner in Nevada.

Bryon Mills, an attorney for residents, called the decision a "big positive," because Vidler got only a fraction of what it sought. Sandy Valley, also known as the Mesquite Valley, is about 30 miles southwest of Las Vegas.

Mills said residents may be a little disappointed because they felt there was no extra underground water available and the application should have been totally denied.

But he added that the small amount may slow Vidler's plan to ship Sandy Valley water to Primm.

"I don't think Vidler will build a pipeline to Primm because it would not be cost effective for just 415 acre-feet," Mills said.

However, Vidler President Dorothy Timian-Palmer made it clear the plans won't be stopped.

"Any new water we can provide (to Primm) is positive," she said.

In his ruling, Ricci concluded "that the pumping of 400 acre-feet will not adversely impact existing water rights within Mesquite Valley."

An acre-foot is enough to serve a family of four for one year.

Ricci ordered Vidler to draft a monitoring plan on the impact of the drilling the 415 acre-feet. And if there is any damage to existing domestic wells and water rights on the Nevada side of Mesquite Valley, Vidler must provide mitigation.

Vidler originally filed an application in August 1999 to pump 2,000 acre-feet annually from Sandy Valley. In March 2000 it amended its application to draw 1,400 acre-feet.

The plan calls for building a pipeline to supply Primm for such things as employee housing, the Reliant Power Generating facility, expansion of the existing mall, an industrial park, theme park and other amenities.

Water in the Primm area has already exceeded its perennial yield. Ricci found Primm presented evidence to justify the need to import water.

But Ricci also found that Sandy Valley is expected to grow to an estimated 5,000 by 2020.

Sandy Valley residents protested the application. At the hearing before the state engineer, LeRoy Wilder said his 800-acre alfalfa farm could be destroyed by the loss of water.