CNPSR Requests Senator Harry Reid Request NPS Briefing on Great Basin Water Issues

NOTE: CNPSR has received word that Senator Reid has agreed to this recommendation and will have a briefing by the NPS in late January or February.

December 9, 2007

Honorable Harry Reid
United States Senate
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Via email to

Dear Senator Reid,

Three months ago I had the pleasure and honor to see you again and participate in your meeting in Ely August 22nd. I’m attaching the nice photo taken of you, Neil Kornze, and me after the meeting. Thank you so much for inviting me to attend as a member of the Great Basin National Park Foundation. I’m happy to tell you I am now Vice Chair of the Foundation, working with Chair Mike Niggli.

I am writing on behalf of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, on whose Executive Council I now serve. As I said in the Ely meeting, the Coalition continues to recommend specific hydrogeologic investigations necessary to determine whether and how Great Basin National Park resources will be affected by the groundwater pumping project of the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA).

We highly recommend the research proposal entitled “Evaluation of Basin-Fill Aquifers in Southern Spring and Snake Valleys and their Connection with Surface-Water Resources and with the Regional Carbonate-Rock Aquifer” nominated for Round Eight of the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act funding. The involved Federal Agencies and the Nevada State Water Engineer support it, and recent revisions have completely satisfied SNWA’s concerns.

We also support the completion of the Basin and Range Carbonate Aquifer System Study (BARCASS), in order to make predictions using the information gained in BARCASS I. This study would develop a model with which to predict effects of SNWA’s pumping project. The scientists we consulted believe it is crucial to develop at least two models in order to obtain a high degree of certainty in making predictions.

However, rather than attempt to define these research needs ourselves, we respectfully recommend that your office request a briefing from the National Park Service’s Water Rights Branch. The Branch Chief, Chuck Pettee, can be reached by telephone at 970-225-3505 or by email at Chuck_Pettee at nps.gov.

We are writing also to Senator Ensign to recommend that his office request a similar briefing.

Thank you, Senator Reid, for all you have done and continue to do for Great Basin National Park and for our nation. I avidly follow and applaud your work as Majority Leader in the Senate.

Sincerely,

Becky Mills

Attachment: photograph

Copies (without attachment) to:
Chuck Pettee, Chief, Branch of Water Rights, National Park Service (Chuck_Pettee@nps.gov)
Jon Jarvis, Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service (Jon_Jarvis@nps.gov)
Superintendent, Great Basin National Park (GRBA_Superintendent@nps.gov)
Bill Wade, Chair, Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (jwbillwade@earthlink.net)