June 2017 DRAFT Water Plan Framework Humboldt County, Nevada Legend for Tracking Document Changes: GREEN Additions to Draft Water Plan Framework YELLOW Revisions to Draft Water Plan Framework RED Proposed Deletions Prepared by: Prepared for: Resource Concepts, Inc. Humboldt County Board 340 N. Minnesota Street of Commissioners th Carson City, NV 89703 50 West 5 Street 775 / 883-1600 Winnemucca, NV 89445 [This page intentionally left blank.] DRAFT Water Plan for Humboldt County June 2017 Table of Contents Page 1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Preliminary Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Statutory Authority and Existing Plans ............................................................................................ 2 1.4 Organization ..................................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Water Plan Process .......................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 Water Resource Background and Assessment ............................................................................4 2.1 Setting .............................................................................................................................................. 4 2.1.1 Topography and Geology .......................................................................................................... 4 2.1.2 Climate and Precipitation .......................................................................................................... 4 2.1.3 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1.4 Land Management .................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.5 Infrastructure and Public Services ........................................................................................... 10 2.2 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.2.1 Surface Water .......................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Groundwater ........................................................................................................................... 20 2.2.3 Reuse/Recycling/ Conservation ............................................................................................... 30 3.0 Water Uses and Forecasts ....................................................................................................... 32 3.1 Economy ........................................................................................................................................ 32 3.2 Population Trends .......................................................................................................................... 32 3.3 Agriculture ..................................................................................................................................... 34 3.4 Mining and Milling ......................................................................................................................... 37 3.5 Municipal and Domestic ................................................................................................................ 38 3.6 Industry .......................................................................................................................................... 39 3.7 Recreation/Tourism ....................................................................................................................... 40 3.8 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................... 41 4.0 Water Resource Planning and Management ............................................................................ 43 4.1 Stakeholders and Agencies ............................................................................................................ 43 4.2 Existing Management Plans ........................................................................................................... 43 4.3 Issues and Opportunities ............................................................................................................... 43 4.3.1 Water Supply and Allocation ................................................................................................... 44 4.3.2 Economic Development ........................................................................................................... 44 4.3.4 Hazard Reduction .................................................................................................................... 44 4.3.5 Water Quality .......................................................................................................................... 44 4.3.6 Education and Communication ............................................................................................... 44 4.3.7 Financial Resources ................................................................................................................. 45 4.3.8 Legal Considerations ............................................................................................................... 45 5.0 County Water Planning Alternatives Approach, Policies, and Implementation .......................... 52 5.1 Alternative Planning Approaches, and Preferred Approach.......................................................... 52 5.2 Water Plan Policies ........................................................................................................................ 53 5.3 Water Plan Implementation .......................................................................................................... 56 5.2 Water Planning Considerations and Opportunities ....................................................................... 56 Page i DRAFT Water Plan for Humboldt County June 2017 6.0 References.............................................................................................................................. 58 List of Tables Table 2-1. Average Annual Precipitation and Temperature Across Humboldt County ............................... 7 Table 2-2. Land Management in Humboldt County ................................................................................... 10 Table 2-3. Humboldt County Hydrographic Regions.................................................................................. 12 Table 2-4. Surface Water Bodies with Water Quality Not Supporting Beneficial Use Standards .............. 15 Table 2-5. Summary of Surface Water Rights (AFA) in Humboldt County Basins ...................................... 16 Table 2-6. Summary of Groundwater Rights (AFA) in Humboldt County, Supplementally Adjusted ........ 27 Table 2-7. Groundwater Manner of Use for Hydrographic Basins in Humboldt County ........................... 28 Table 3-1. Population in Humboldt County and Communities .................................................................. 32 Table 3-2. Comparison of Population Projections in Humboldt County. ................................................... 34 Table 3-3. Summary of Agriculture in Humboldt County in 2012 .............................................................. 34 Table 3-4. Water demand associated with expansion in irrigated crop area in Humboldt County, based on the total amount identified as being suitable for disposal by the BLM. ............................. 36 Table 3-5. Public Water Supply Systems and Population Served. ............................................................. 38 Table 3-6. Population and Domestic and Municipal Water Use Projections ............................................. 39 Table 4-1. Summary of Potential Water Stakeholders in Humboldt County ............................................. 46 Table 4-2. Existing Land and Resource Management Plans in Humboldt County ..................................... 47 Table 4-3. Issues and Opportunities to Consider in Water Planning ......................................................... 49 List of Figures Figure 1. Major Topographic and Geologic Features in Humboldt County ................................................. 5 Figure 2. Hydrogeology Map ........................................................................................................................ 6 Figure 3. Land Status Map ............................................................................................................................ 9 Figure 4. Surface Water Map ..................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 5. 100-Year Flood Zone Map ........................................................................................................... 19 Figure 6. Groundwater Basin Status Map .................................................................................................. 26 Appendices Appendix A USDA 2012 Census