Virgin and Muddy Rivers Tributary Conservation Intentionally Created Surplus

The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has the following Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS) projects for the Virgin and Muddy rivers. For more details about the Virgin and Muddy Rivers Tributary Conservation ICS, see Chapter Two of the Water Resource Plan.

Virgin River photo courtesy of the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation.

Virgin River

The Virgin River originates in southwestern Utah, flows through the northwestern corner of Arizona and then into Nevada, where it eventually joins the Colorado River at Lake Mead.

In 1994, the Nevada State Engineer granted SNWA annual maximum diversion rights to Virgin River surface flows of 190,000 acre-feet per year. Under the Seven States' Agreement, SNWA has agreed to postpone development of these rights while it pursues long-term Colorado River augmentation.

Muddy River

Muddy River as it enters upper Lake Mead.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation.

The Muddy River is a perennial river fed by the Muddy Springs in Southern Nevada, ogirinating in Nevada and flowing into Lake Mead. The majority of the flow is currently used for agriculture and power generation. In 1996, SNWA and the Moapa Valley Water District signed an agreement limiting the amount of water that SNWA could transfer out of Moapa Valley.

The agreement limited SNWA to 100 acre-feet per year plus unused water until 2020, after which a maximum of 5,000 acre-feet per year can be transferred. SNWA and the Muddy Valley Irrigation Company signed a similar agreement in 1997.

SNWA is working with the Moapa Valley Water District in its acquisition of additional water rights to cooperatively increase the allowable transfers from Moapa Valley.

Seven Basin States Agreement

Due to an historic 2006 agreement among the seven states that share the Colorado River, the Water Authority has agreed to temporarily forego development of Virgin River water rights received after the Boulder Canyon Project Act (one of several documents that collectively govern the river) was enacted.

However, SNWA will continue with necessary environmental studies associated with receiving rights-of-way from the Bureau of Land Management. Nevada still would be able to take Virgin River water granted prior to the Boulder Canyon Project Act. Those water rights can be withdrawn directly from Lake Mead without building a pipeline.