The long awaited AB380 Water Rights Purchase Program (Program) is now available to any interested water right owners in the Carson or Truckee Divisions of the Newlands Project. Water rights will be purchased, through the Program, by CWSD and then abandoned and retired. After 6,500 acres of water rights have been irrevocably retired, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (Tribe) has agreed to drop remaining water right challenges that were filed prior to April 1, 1999. The goal of the program is to purchase water rights that are challenged, but unchallenged water rights will also be purchased.

This program is truly a win-win for all involved. The water rights that are retired will protect the water in Pyramid Lake and the environmental concerns of the Tribe; water right owners who are not using their water are able to profit from the sale; and, at the end of the program the remaining water right holders will be able to irrigate with water that had been previously unavailable due to pending litigation.

There are several ways water right owners can participate in the AB380 program:

1. Owners of challenged or unchallenged water rights may sell all or a part of their water rights to the Program. Carson Division water rights are purchased for $1,600 per acre and Truckee Division water rights are purchased for $3,200 per acre. (The CWSD Board established these values after an independent appraisal was completed.) This sale is handled much like a real estate sales transaction. There are procedures and legal documents that must be completed prior to the completion of the sale. Information on this process is included in the Instructional Letter to Water Right Owners , Newlands Water Purchase Procedures and the Forms and Information Menu.

2. Water right owners may donate their water rights to the program instead of selling them. Owners of small areas of water rights may find it more financially beneficial to simply donate their water right because all fees associated with the transaction are paid by CWSD. Donating water rights avoids a Lot Book Report fee, TCID’s $100 per acre Lien Waiver Fee, and permanently releases any obligation to pay future O & M charges. Additionally, you may be able to get an income tax write-off for the donation. Please see Donation Instruction Letter for more information about this process.

3. Owners of challenged water rights who are interested in keeping their water and using it may participate in the AB380 Matching Program. When an owner of unchallenged water rights sells them into the program they can be matched with water rights that have been challenged. The Tribe has agreed that they will withdraw their challenge on if an equivalent amount of unchallenged water rights are retired into the Program. There is a $100 per acre fee for matching unless the owner of the challenged water right finds his own match, i.e. the owner of an equal amount of unchallenged water rights who sells them to the program. This is explained further in the Fee for Matching Letter. Carson Division water must be matched with Carson Division, and Truckee Division must be matched with Truckee Division. CWSD must receive a written request to participate in the matching program along with a check for the matching fee. Matching will be done on a first come-first served basis, so if you are interested send us a letter right away.

The above information is provided for your convenience. If you have any questions or need more information about the program, please call the Jamie Mills, the Newlands Project Coordinator in Fallon at (775) 423-7774, or Peggy Pollyea in Carson City at (775) 887-7450.

Carson City Office
  777 E. William St., #110A
 Carson City, NV  89701

 Fallon Office
 560 W. William
 Fallon, NV  89406

(775) 423-7774
(775) 423-5637

email: cwsd@earthlink.net

The following list includes the forms you will need to get your water right sale under way. You may click on the form titles below and print them out to use for your sales transaction, or you may provide your own forms that are substantially the same.

The forms marked with an asterisk (*) require the notarized signature(s) of the water right owner(s). CWSD will provide you with Notary service at no charge. When all of the documents have been completed and you have the map and original deed (see Instructional Letter to Water Right Owners), you may contact Jamie Mills in our Fallon office at (775) 423-7774 and make an appointment to bring in the documents to get your sale started. You will also need a State of Nevada Declaration of Value, which is not available on this website, but it can be filled out when you meet with Ms. Mills, or you can request that she mail it to you.

Newlands Water Purchase Procedures information only

Instructional Letter to Water Right Owners information only

Donation Instruction Letter information only

Fee for Matching Letter information only

Carson Division Water Right Purchase Agreement*

Truckee Division Water Right Purchase Agreement*

Water Right Deed*

Affidavit re Liens & Encumbrances* – for use when submitting with a Lot Book Report

Affidavit re Liens & Encumbrances-Trust* – for use if property is in trust or for donations

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