August 3, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced $714,185 in funding for water resource management in Nevada. The Bureau of Reclamation selected four projects in the state as part of its WaterSMART Program, which assists with water resource management.  In 2009, Senator Reid’s efforts led to the passage of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act which authorized the Bureau of Reclamation to promote these types of water conservation and efficiency projects.

“I am pleased we are finally having a good water year, but we must continue to conserve and sustain our limited water supplies,” Reid said. “These crucial funds will help ensure that the proper tools and resources are available so Nevadans can use our precious water resources efficiently.”

The four selected projects are:

•    Desert Research Institute in Nevada will receive $199,761 for the evaluation of evapotranspiration and irrigation water requirements in a changing climate.
•    Southern Nevada Water Authority will receive $188,410 to enhance resource management of the Colorado River through understanding changes to water quality and sediment transport in Lake Mead.
•    Desert Research Institute in Nevada will receive $126,014 to develop and evaluate regional climate downscaling techniques that will benefit understanding future surface and groundwater supplies.
•    Southern Nevada Water Authority will receive $200,000 to evaluate impacts of a changing climate on water resources in the Eastern Great Basin and to develop plausible future climate scenarios.