The Nevada Legislative Joint Interim Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Subcommittee on Public Lands will hold their final meetings in Las Vegas on August 22nd beginning at 9 am. The meetings will be videoconferenced to the Legislative Building in Carson City and live streamed over the Internet. The Subcommittee will consider the following water related actions during their work session:

• Request the drafting of a bill to address water conservation and the enhancement of return flow in southern Nevada, including, without limitation, the use of Colorado River water in septic systems and modifications to the nonfunctional turf program.
• Draft a position statement in the final report of the Subcommittee expressing opposition to proposed water development projects in southern Utah that would negatively impact groundwater and surface water flows in Nevada and supporting aggressive conservation alternatives.
• Request the drafting of a resolution addressing the management of the Colorado River wherein this state: (1) sets forth the principals on water conservation relating to the Colorado River; and (2) shares various conservation efforts it has taken to conserve water in the Colorado River.
• Request the drafting of a bill to clarify the processes and authority for the conjunctive management of surface and groundwater basins, including, without limitation, the public notification processes, appeals processes, and the role of science in modifying management practices within such basins.

Also, the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Natural Resources will consider the following water related actions during their work session:

• Draft a position statement in the Committee’s final report expressing support for
  adequate funding for the Division of Water Resources, DCNR, to update its data
  collection efforts, studies of water basins, and adjudication of water rights.
• Draft a position statement in the Committee’s final report expressing support for
  funding for the Desert Research Institute, within the Nevada System of Higher
  Education, and its programs, including cloud seeding operations.

Click here for more information on the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Natural Resources and here for the Subcommittee on Public Lands.