Bills
| 3.23.22

Settling a Nevada Water Rights Dispute (H.R. 3716)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 3716?

(Updated July 18, 2017)

This bill was enacted on September 26, 2014

This bill settles a water rights dispute between the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and Fish Springs Ranch, LLC, allowing the tribe to get about $3.6 million and several hundred acres of land from Fish Springs Ranch in exchange for allowing the outfit to move ahead with a water project to facilitate development in the valleys north of Reno. The dispute began back in 2005, with negotiations beginning in 2007. According to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, this legislation would also allow the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe:


"to waive their claims, prohibit the U.S. from taking action on behalf of the Tribe after the agreement is enacted and release the U.S. from liability for the Tribe’s waived claims."
Reid has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. 

Argument in favor

Settles a nearly decade-long water dispute, with members of Congress brokering the deal.

Argument opposed

Lingering ecological concerns regarding a pair of endangered species.

Impact

The bill concerns a water rights dispute between the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and Reno, Nevada water project developers.

Cost of H.R. 3716

The CBO estimates no significant impact on the federal budget.

Additional Info

Media: 



(Photo Credit: NCRS)