Excerpts from Southwest Hodrolgy September/October 2008, with some Commentary!
Early in U.S. history, public policy was fashioned to encourage settlement of the West. Laws such as the Homestead Act of 1862 and the Desert Lands Act of 1877 were framed to transfer government land to settlers. In 1902 the Reclamation Act provided funding for construction and maintenance of western irrigation projects. In its first annual report (1903), Reclamation had this to say” so that the remaining public lands will furnish the greatest possible number of homes, is an object worthy of the sustained effort of enlightened and patriotic citizens”. The public works that followed included such things as Hoover Dam, Shasta Dam, Newlands project, Yuma Project, Klamath project, Hetchy Aqueduct, and many more. With the 1902 Reclamation act the face of the West was changed forever. It must be pointed out and understood, these efforts and projects were directed at irrigation needs, based on a population that farmed for a living. Nothing like the urban shifts projected today!
How many of retiring Baby Boom generations are moving west to farm? Demographers say that the West is now, today, the most urbanized region of the nation (based on the percentage of the population living in cities), as well as the region experiencing the greatest population growth. Regional planners can not find growth models in history to compare to what they believe is coming to Lincoln County over the next few years..
Eight BIG projects are currently proposed in four states. The one most relevant to Lincoln County Nevada is the ground water transfer project to build a 327 mile long pipe from East Central Nevada to Las Vegas. They propose to transfer 164,000 acre feet year of groundwater from six basins, at an estimated cost of $3.5 Billion to build. The project actually entails 200,000 afy with 36,000 afy being left in Lincoln County. The EIS study is intended to insure and protect existing water users and environmental resources from unreasonable effects. Nevertheless, many rural Nevadans object to the project, believing it may impact their region despite these precautions.
Then came the drought—at a magnitude that had no probability of occurring, according to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation models based on a century of historical data. Sorry science guys, in the big picture, a century of data, barely counts as a data base. In the blink of an eye, half a decades work to manage the Colorado River and meet the supply requirement and commitments has faded, as have the water levels in the Colorado River’s two prime reservoirs. Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
Climate change and global warming predictions aside, demographic shift projections are clear, 8000 Americans turn 60 years old per day today and the migration West will continue for around twenty more years. The peak birth year was 1960; they are currently 48 years old! Many are looking to the State of Nevada as their future home, for many reasons, weather, taxes, etc. The shift has already begun and Las Vegas, Mesquite Coyote Springs, Toquop may be just the beginning. Water as everyone knows is vital to sustain life. Water Rights will be more valuable than gold one day soon!
Nevada Land and Water News
Farm and Ranch Land in Nevada with Water Rights is a Very Limited Resource. Development Potential Ranch Land with Water Rights is even scarcer. The opportunity to build from scratch your own family ranch is rare. Reason being, Nevada water laws require continual beneficial use. Eden Valley has these water rights and the water is running today, yet the property is virgin. No old out buildings, no run down farm houses.
Eden Valley is a large private valley with potential to build your own vision. It might incorporate wind, and solar power, independent cattle operations, that would include raising your feed.
The water rights, wells, good county road access, power all in place. Nature provides the rest, snow caped peaks, sunny days, healthy growing crops, and privacy.
Come see Eden Valley, build your dream lifestyle, and because you can start with clean slate, do it exactly your way.
Priced at $8,000,000
Nevada has had a thriving market for water transfers for a number of years.
