There’s plenty of actual wet groundwater rights for Carson Valley’s water purveyors for at least the next quarter century, Carson Water Subconservancy General Manager Ed James told county commissioners. … The largest holders of Carson Valley’s groundwater rights are the agricultural landowners, who have supplemental rights they can use when there isn’t sufficient water in the river to meet their irrigation allotment under the Alpine Decree. That’s one way where a dry water year on the river can affect the aquifer, but James said that Nevada law is starting to catch up with the notion that the river and the aquifer are connected. 

Other groundwater news around the West:

• Cal Coast News (San Luis Obispo, Calif.): Opinion: Abundant water or a shortage in San Miguel
• Chamber Business News (Phoenix): Opinion: Can brackish groundwater help power new molten salt reactors?