Water Right Holders Do Not Pay Water Master

  Staff report -- Water right holders in the Lahontan Valley do not have an obligation to pay for the Federal Water Master. Several water right holders in the Newlands Project recently received documents filed with the “Orr Ditch Court” which has caused some confusion and questions among water users in the community. According to Rusty Jardine, General Manager of the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District, the United States District Court for the State of Nevada, entered its annual order approving the budget for the Federal Water Master – Chad Blanchard. Because many of the water right holders in the Newlands Project are registered with the court for the purpose of receiving documents filed with the court, they have received a copy of the order approving the budget. “The question that is most frequently asked upon receipt of the order,” said Jardine, “is whether or not a duty of payment exists for individual water right holders to make payment to the Water Master.” He stated emphatically, “the answer is no!” Jardine explained that by virtue of a long-standing practice the District (TCID) has assumed all responsibility for such payment on behalf of Project water users. “In a conversation I had with Chad Blanchard this morning, he states that nothing has changed,” said Jardine. The duty of payment to the Water Master includes other entities as well; The United States, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Washoe County Water Conservation District. But again, the water right holder bears no responsibility for the payment. Any questions can be directed to TCID at 775-423-2141.   Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon. Sign up to receive updates and the Friday File email notices.