Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/nevada-steps-back-from-water-curtailment-in-humboldt-river-basin-amid-record-drought/
State punts plan to curtail water in Nevada’s largest river basin amid severe drought – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Nevada water officials have placed plans to restrict use in the Humboldt River Basin on indefinite hold, reversing course from a proposal developed under the previous state engineer. The decision comes as the basin records its lowest snowpack in history and downstream irrigators face sharply reduced allotments this summer. The move leaves senior water rights holders in Pershing County with limited options while the state explores other strategies to address long-standing overuse.
State Reverses Course on Proposed Cuts
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources confirmed that no draft curtailment order will be released at this time. Jenny Jackson, the department spokesperson, stated that the order remains on hold with no new timeline set. The shift follows the departure of former state engineer Adam Sullivan, who had advanced the idea of cuts targeting junior groundwater rights in key zones of the basin. The proposal had called for phased reductions beginning five years after any final order, focused on areas where groundwater pumping affects river flows. Current leadership under Joe Cacioppo has not advanced the document. Officials described the pause as necessary to refine broader solutions rather than rush into a measure that has historically triggered lawsuits.
Drought Conditions Leave Little…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-05-13 09:46:00
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