Response to Public Comment

Listed below are summaries of comments by David Pound for the White Pine County Commission followed by a response from USGS. The summary of each comment is linked to the original document submitted by David Pound.

Comments from David Pound for the White Pine County Commission

Complete letter from David Pound (pdf)

WPC1.  STORAGE ISSUES—Arbitrary selection of the 100-ft for analysis.

RESPONSE

The text has been revised and the following is an excerpt describing the reason for 100-ft selection. “The volume of water stored in unconfined and confined aquifers was computed using the extent of basin-fill deposits, a water-level decline of 100 ft, and a storage term (the specific yield of the basin-fill aquifer is 0.15; the storage coefficient of the carbonate-rock aquifer is 0.001). A water-level decline of 100 ft was arbitrarily selected, but likely is a reasonable limit for widespread lowering of the ground-water surface for a valley”.  

WPC2. Because the relationship of the water resources in each of our hydrographic basins is important in understanding the potential long term impacts of substantial water exportation from Spring and Snake Valleys, the Commission believes this finding supports the need for further study including the pump tests to provide data required to test the conclusions that are based solely on existing evidence and theory.

RESPONSE

We agree that further research, including detailed studies, would improve our understanding of the ground-water flow systems in the Great Basin. Conducting a long-term aquifer test was beyond the scope of the current BARCAS study; proposed research to evaluate the hydraulic connection between Spring and Snake Valleys may be funded in the near future.

WPC3. The Water Advisory Committee and the County Commission have reviewed the report submitted to the Great Basin Water Network by Tom Myers, PhD.

The Commission concurs with his findings and asks that you include the sixteen specific recommendations identified on pages 21 and 22 of the report (attached) as a portion of White Pine County's comments.

RESPONSE

Please see the numbered responses to Dr. Myers’ comments.