Heller Applauds Fish Springs Ranch Water Settlement Legislation

Press Release

United States Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) issued the following statement after legislation passed the United States Senate last night bringing a resolution to the Fish Springs Ranch water settlement in Northern Nevada. Since 2005, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and the Fish Springs Ranch, LLC, have been involved in litigation over a proposed Fish Springs Ranch water project which could impact Pyramid Lake.

The Tribe and Vidler have negotiated and finalized a settlement agreement which would allow the water project to move forward in return for $3.6 million and the transfer of several hundred acres of land to the Tribe. The Tribe will waive its claims to any existing and claimed water rights. This legislation would approve the settlement agreement and would have no cost to taxpayers.

"With water being such a precious resource in Nevada, I'm proud this bipartisan proposal moved to the final phase of a resolution: the President's desk. This dispute has been settled in a mutually beneficial manner for all parties involved. Best of all, this agreement is a key piece of future resource planning in the Truckee Meadows and will allow for long-term planning to progress in the region. This has been a long-standing issue, and I'm pleased to see this was resolved before the end of the year." stated Senator Heller.

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