As defined in Nevada Water Law, all water belongs to the public and is subject to appropriation for beneficial use. Any person who wants to place water to use within Nevada, except water that is used for domestic purposes as defined in NRS 534.013, must first obtain a water right from the Nevada Division of Water Resources. To access information about pre-statutory water rights, visit the Adjudications page.
| Processes and Guidelines | |
|---|---|
| Obtain a Water Right |
This booklet provides information on the application process for appropriating water or changing existing rights, including details on claims of pre-statutory vested water rights. |
| Permitting Process and Timeline |
This one-page flowchart provides a succinct overview of the water right permitting process, detailing from application review to certificate of appropriation issuance, with approximate time frames. |
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Guidelines and Rules for the |
This booklet explains the requirements for supporting maps concerning water right applications, proofs of application of water to beneficial use, proofs of appropriation of water, and for any other maps as required by the State Engineer. |
| Digital Map Submittal Guidelines |
These guidelines are an addendum to the “Guidelines and Rules for the Preparation of Water Right Maps" to provide an explanation of how digital maps can be received by the Division. |
| Subdivision Map Submission Process |
This information provides insight into the role played by water rights in the subdivision review process, along with references to the pertinent statutes. |
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This webpage delineates the Division's role and owners' responsibilities in updating water rights title, along with links to relevant statutes. |
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| Query Tools and Reports | |
|---|---|
| Adjudications and Decrees | Search for decrees and adjudications of pre-statutory claims of vested rights by system stream, county, or adjudication status. |
| Advanced Water Right Search (AKA "Hydrographic Abstract") |
Generate a report (i.e. hydrographic abstract) of all water rights in the database matching criteria. |
| Basic Water Right Search (AKA "Permit Database") |
Search for a water right by application/permit number, certificate number, or owner. |
| Groundwater Basin Summaries (AKA "Underground Active") |
Generate reports of groundwater appropriations and other commitments for hydrographic basins, which include four types: general summary, manner of use, application status, and commitments and availability. |
| Licensed Water Rights Surveyors | Search for water right surveyors licensed in Nevada by the State Engineer by names, license number, or city. |
| Mapping Applications | Utilize online mapping tools and published maps to locate water rights, groundwater basin designations, basin specialist assignments, and other GIS data. |
| Monthly Report of Application Filings | Generate a report of application filing by month and year. |
| Net Irrigation Water Requirements | Report on the Evapotranspiration (ET) and Net Irrigation Water Requirements (NIWR), including supporting data and a query tool for finding the ET and NIWR values for a groundwater basin or at a weather station. |
| New Water Right Application Fillings | Report of most recent water right application filings. |
| Ownership Update Status | Search for Report of Conveyance submittals by various criteria with output including status of review. |
| State Engineer Orders | Search orders such as hydrographic basin designation, preferred use designation, metering and reporting requirements, study initiation, and other decisions and rules. |
| State Engineer Rulings | Search rulings and decisions on water right applications by the State Engineer using various criteria. |