Status of Irrigation Rights
Many water rights become active for Period of Diversion on April 15th, so I have activated the listing for Current Status of Irrigation Rights – Upper Nevada creek drainage. Because of more questions that I’ve been receiving concerning Period of Use & Period of Diversion as applied to individual rights, I have added a column to the listing which shows the P.O.D. for each water right, and the P.O.D.’s are applied to the current status for each right. Please refer to this listing to determine if your particular right(s) are “good” at any given time throughout the irrigation season.
The current cut-off priority date for irrigation rights is 1937-09-07.
It is very helpful to me, and other irrigators, if you voluntarily contact me when you plan to start taking water. This allows me to make adjustments to the status listing and properly appropriate everyone’s water and rights. It’s also beneficial for all of us to accurately track and record the water distributions for the drainage. Please call at 793-5644, or my email is linked to my name at the bottom of this post.
Reservoir Status & Streamflows
The precipitation over the last few days has somewhat improved our water outlook. Total reservoir inflows have increased and we are currently averaging 64 cfs over the last 5-day period. The Nevada Ridge snotel indicates a gain of 16″ of snow at the top with a 2″ increase in water content. Total snowpack there now reports 92% of normal for this date with a 44″ snow depth and 12.5″ of water content.
It is still doubtful that we will reach full capacity for Nevada creek reservoir, and still questionable whether we will be able to deliver 100% of contract water. Current projections indicate that on May 1st there will be available storage to deliver approximately 80% of total contract, but inflows could still increase and raise this percentage. I am increasing the frequency for updating the Current Reservoir Measurements to allow everyone more timely info.
Irrigators (especially contract holders) are encouraged to delay as long as possible in calling for their appropriated irrigation rights. This would allow for greater reservoir storage and thus more contact water availability for later in the season.
Thank you…