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D. PROJECT HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
This project will provide an overview of the political and historical context in which the acquisition of land and associated water rights for ecosystem restoration in the Walker River system occurs. Key components include arid land agriculture, multi-state involvement and urban/rural interface issues.
Researchers:
From UNR: Leah Wilds (PI), Department of Political Science
Updates:
2007: May | June | July | August | September | October | November| December
Current Year: 2008
May 2007:
Began to research passage of H.R. 2419, P.L. 109-103, Section 208.
Scheduled trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with Sen. Harry Reid’s staff regarding passage of P.L. 109-103, especially Section 208.
Continued to research the history of the Walker River Basin.
June 2007:
Continue to research legislative history of H.R. 2419, P.L. 109-103, Section 208.
Traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Senator Reid’s staff (former and present) regarding passage of P.L. 109-103, especially Section 208; met with three staff, made contact with two others. I also met with the University’s Washington, D.C., contract representative.
Scheduling trips to Mason and Smith Valleys with Jean Dixon (communications photographer) and Matthew Fockler (research assistant) to conduct document and photograph research, to be carried out during the months of July and August 2007.
Beginning to research legal issues surrounding allocation and use of Walker River Basin water resources.
July 2007:
Continuing to research legislative history of H.R. 2419, P.L. 109-103, Section 208. Continuing to research legal issues surrounding allocation and use of Walker River Basin water resources. Completed historical settlement overview; first draft completed. Drove the course of the Walker River from headwaters to terminus, to gain a better visual understanding of the river and the basin; accompanied by Matt Walker and Jean Dixon, who photographed various aspects of the river and Mason and Smith Valleys.
August 2007:
The PI is continuing to research legislative history of H.R. 2419, P.L. 109-103, Section 208, and is continuing to research legal issues surrounding allocation and use of Walker River Basin water resources. Also, PI completed a rural tour with Jay Davison, associate professor of soils and alternative crops specialist, with University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE), and Jerry Buk, central and northeast Nevada area director for UNCE, Cooperative Extension. Rural tour included alternative crop plot demonstrations. Separate tour included visit Peri Farms and Churchill Vineyards. PI met with Randy Emm, Extension, educational coordinator for Nevada Tribes, and was given a tour of the reservation. Met with Stacy Emm, assistant professor and extension educator for UNCE, Mineral County. Met with Loretta Singletary, professor and extension educator for UNCE Lyon County.
September 2007:
No substantive progress to report due to preparation for and start of Fall 2008 semester.
October 2007:
Legal and Political Background: Continuing work on legislative history, now focusing on testimony (Congressional); monitoring Energy and Water and Interior (Indian Affairs) legislation that may be forthcoming; examining negotiated settlement (Truckee/Carson) and Walker nexus.
Historical settlement review: Examining tribal settlement overtures (tamarisk control, Weber Dam renovation, allocation of tribal water rights within the reservation).
Beginning to collect information on the history of the Walker Lake Tribe.
November 2007:
Continuing to collect and digest information on the history of the Walker Lake Tribe.
December 2007:
- Completed documentation and write-up of legislative history of H.R. 2419, P.L. 109-103, Section 208.
- Continuing to collect and digest information on the history of the Walker Lake Tribe. Scheduling interviews with Stakeholders and others in Mason and Smith Valleys; difficult to schedule in December during the holidays.
- Assessing recent Congressional appropriations of the Desert Terminal Lakes Fund. Tracking reauthorization of the Farm Bill and Desert Terminal Lakes Fund.
- Assessing Lyon County’s lands bill.
- Assessing the Lyon County discussion of the transfer of development rights to maintain an agricultural community.
- Assessing the relationship between Truckee-Carson issues, Newlands Project issues (canal break), and Walker River issues.