Amendment No. 950

 

 

 

     Amend the resolution, pages 2 and 3, by deleting lines 36 through 44 on page 2 and lines 1 through 8 on page 3, and inserting:

     “Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate Concurring, That the Nevada Legislature hereby declares that the preservation of Walker Lake’s freshwater ecosystem is important to the residents of the State of Nevada and that all reasonable actions to resolve the Walker River Issues through the ongoing mediation should be taken; and be it further

     Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to Governor Kenny C. Guinn, to Governor Gray Davis and to the Director of the Nevada State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for dissemination to all of the participants in the ongoing mediation.”.

     Amend the preamble of the resolution, pages 1 and 2, by deleting lines 1 through 8 on page 1 and lines 1 through 35 on page 2, and inserting:

     “Whereas, The Walker River is an interstate stream, consisting of the East and West Walker, both of which rise high on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California; and

     Whereas, The West Walker flows into Antelope Valley, located mostly in California, and then into Smith and Mason Valleys in Nevada; and

     Whereas, The principal streams forming the East Walker combine in Bridgeport Meadows in California, and from there, the East Walker flows into Mason Valley, where it unites with the West Walker to form the main Walker River; and

     Whereas, The main Walker River leaves Mason Valley and flows into and through the Walker River Indian Reservation and into Walker Lake; and

     Whereas, The Walker River Irrigation District, a Nevada irrigation district, owns and operates Bridgeport Reservoir, located on the East Walker in California; and

     Whereas, The United States, for the benefit of the Walker River Paiute Tribe, owns and operates Weber Reservoir, located on the Main Walker River and within the Walker River Indian Reservation; and

     Whereas, Walker Lake is a freshwater lake located in west-central Nevada, fed by snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada in California and other mountain ranges in Nevada; and

     Whereas, Walker Lake draws a considerable number of tourists and functions as an economic mainstay for the Mineral County economy; and

     Whereas, Walker Lake has cultural, historical and spiritual importance to the Walker River Paiute Tribe; and

     Whereas, Functioning as the terminus of the Walker River System, Walker Lake is one of the few saline lakes that is capable of supporting a freshwater trout fishery; and

     Whereas, Walker Lake is a major migratory stopover for the largest single inland congregation of common loons west of the Mississippi River as well as other birds such as grebes, cormorants, pelicans and other waterfowl that rely on the Lake for survival; and

     Whereas, Walker Lake provides habitat for the Lahontan cutthroat trout; and

     Whereas, The Walker River System provides significant recreation, ecologic and economic benefits in California, in Bridgeport Meadows, in Antelope Valley and at Bridgeport and Topaz Reservoirs, and in Nevada, in Topaz Reservoir, in Smith and Mason Valleys, at Weber Reservoir, within the Walker River Indian Reservation and at Walker Lake; and

     Whereas, There are a number of interrelated issues on the Walker River System, including claims by the Walker River Paiute Tribe and the United States to surface and underground water for federal property within the Walker River Basin in Nevada and California, claims to adjudicate the water of the Walker River System to preserve minimum water levels in Walker Lake and the allocation of the water of the Walker River System between California and Nevada (collectively the “Walker River Issues”); and

     Whereas, The volume of Walker Lake has diminished by 75 percent since the late 1800s, and this continuing decrease is creating high concentrations of dissolved solids that are extremely detrimental and ultimately toxic to fish; and

     Whereas, Effective as of January 14, 2003, the United States, the State of Nevada, the State of California, the Walker River Paiute Tribe, the Walker River Irrigation District, Mono County, California, Lyon County, Nevada, Mineral County, Nevada, and the Walker Lake Working Group agreed to attempt to resolve the Walker River Issues through mediation with a third-party, neutral mediator; now, therefore, be it”.

     Amend the title of the resolution, second and third lines, by deleting:

“in the public interest.” and inserting:

“important to the residents of the State of Nevada.”.

     Amend the summary of the resolution to read as follows:

“SUMMARY—Declares that preservation of Walker Lake’s freshwater ecosystem is important to residents of Nevada. (BDR R‑1302)”.