TCID Adjusts Allocation and Sets Last Days to Order Water

The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District board met Thursday in a Special Meeting to adjust the annual water right holders’ allocation. While the Carson Division remains at 85%, the Truckee Division has been allocated to a 100% year. The last day to order water for the Carson Division is October 7, with October 25 being the last ordering day for the Truckee Division. The board has authorized the staff to adjust those days based on water supply and the needs of the contract.

Reporting on the current water supply, District Watermaster Kelly Herwick said that it looks like there will be more than 110 cubic feet per second on average at the Truckee Canal head available until November 1. The district is still waiting for a schedule from the contractor who will be performing the maintenance on the Truckee Canal under the contract with the Bureau of Reclamation. The canal is set to be shut down for one year for that maintenance, however, the final approval of the contract has been stalled in the 10^th Judicial District court due to the City of Fernley’s opposition. “We need to remember the November 1 date is tentative,” said Ben Shawcroft, District Manager, “We are expecting an official schedule from the contractor, and we don’t know if it needs to be dry by then or we shut it off then. That date is not fixed, we need flexibility if we have to dewater.”

The Fallon Tribe has sent a letter to the district, requesting late water at the end of the season to serve their rights which allows them a 100% year under certain circumstances. Tribal Land and Water Manager Leanna Hale stated that “During this 85% year allocation, the tribe does have the ability according to Public Law 101.618 to use 100% of our water. Looking at the depletion reports and my follow-up with the individual water users that have a decent amount of water left on their card, we’re thinking by the first part of October there won’t be that much water left for those that have remaining water. If we plan, then I can monitor it and keep in contact with the water right holders on the reservation to make sure they are going to be able to utilize any water they have left when it comes to that last day to order.”