Nevada experienced record low snowpacks across northern Nevada this winter, while summer heat and low precipitation continues to exacerbate drought in eastern Nevada. Those factors make protecting Nevada’s limited water resources more pressing than ever, as legislators prepare to consider a broad reaching “Omnibus Water Bill” next year. On Wednesday, a workgroup tasked with evaluating policy updates to Nevada Water Law presented the Joint Interim Committee on Natural Resources a bill proposal that would cover a wide range of water related issues for the 2027 legislative session. … Several details from the proposed bill were provided to lawmakers on Wednesday and largely centered on the state’s groundwater, including a proposal to establish county groundwater boards and increase funding for the state’s groundwater retirement program.

Other water planning news around the West:

• Public Policy Institute of California: Blog: AI predicts natural river flows in California. Could it do more?
• California Department of Water Resources: News release: Regional watershed resilience pilot projects guide statewide water planning
• The Raincross Gazette (Riverside, Calif.): City adopts water management plans; no new restrictions for residents
• Eastern Arizona Courier (Safford, Ariz.): UA study says eastern Arizona watersheds could play key role in state’s water future