South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District

Minutes of the Washoe County Well Mitigation Hearing Board, March 16,2006 Page 8 of 12
has nothing to do with the decision of the WMIIB. Mr. Smitherman stated he checked with the engineer,
who stated they were waiting for the weather to clear and the connection fee in order to proceed.
Mr. Morros asked Mr. Widmer if there was a resolution. Mr. Widmer stated the issue as he sees it is,
"Has there been any municipal impact from STMGID 6 on the Shannon well?" He added that based on
the information on the water levels and the Shannon well, it needs to be determined what drawdown is
due to STMGID pumping, what is a reasonable lowering due to municipal pumping, and whether drought
has played alarge part in affecting the private wells.
Chairman Jacobson refered to the data provided by the Shannons tonight and asked if Mr. Widmer feels
the information is consistent with that of other wells in the area. Mr. Widmer stated he would like to see
the actual water level measurements that were taken. He added that having very little experience with the
Shannon well, that a pump contractor has the means to measure water levels; however, they would need
to physically pull the pump out of the casing a few feet in order to get a probe down. He added that a few
years ago, he'd sent someone out to measure the Shannon well that was unable to get a measurement but
he was unsure why. He stated it is his opinion that there are four representative water levels that have
been taken on the Shannon well. He stated he would refer the Board to the measurements taken by
McKay Drilling. He added that the four measurements would include the first one from 1980, the April
2001 level of 252 feet, the March 2A02 level of 263, and the July 2005 level of 285 feet. Ms. Shannon
stated the last level was296 feet when the pump was lowered to the bottom of the well (later in 2005).
Chairman Jacobson referred to the pump test that showed the well pumping 9.5 gallons per minute with a
drawdown of three feet. He stated that it is a pretty good well to do that, especially if it is located in
bedrock.
Mr. Widmer stated he finds it difficult to believe the well would have dropped another 11 feet in a couple
of months because in the Schuerman well, which was measured recently, the water level had acfually
increased.
Mr. Carlson asked how much impact should be seen from STMGID 6 and if a cone of depression had
been studied for impact. Mr. Widmer stated that DWR does not normally run that particular calculation.
Mr. Carlson asked if we could go back and run those numbers in an effort to clear up some of the
questions. Mr. Widmer stated he hesitated to do that because STMGID 6 is in the alluvial layer and the
Shannon well is in the hard rock aquifer.
A ten minute recess was heldfrom 7:49 p.m. to 7:59 p.m.
Chairman Jacobson referred to the well log, which indicates that the material at the bottom of the well is
brown clay and granitic boulders. Mr. Carlson explained that you could argue the case either way as to
whether the well is located in fractured bedrock/volcanic or alluvial material.
Mr. Morros referred to the Nevada Revised Statutes, NRS 534.185 regarding more than one home being
connected to a domestic well and stated there is a waiver. He read, "The State Engineer shall upon
written request and receipt of a written agreement between the affected properfy owners waive the
requirements of this chapter regarding permits for the use and development of trnderground water from a
well if the well existed on July 1, 1983 or prior to that," He added it is to be used solely for domestic
purposes by not more than three single-family dwellings and each does not draw more than 1,800 gallons
of water per day. He stated he assumes that under the Statute, the agreement was between the Shannons;
therefore, if they decided to sub-divide the property he recommended they make sure to enter such an
agreement with the new owner. Ms. Shannon explained that she was told she did not need to get a waiver
and summarizedthatthey had followed all the legal processes.
Item 3
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