Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Dear Commissioners:

The Montello Southline Pipeline was discussed at the July 26, 2021 NRMAC meeting. Some information learned:
Southern Pacific Railroad made Montello a service base in 1904, population peaked around 800 in the 1910-1920’s. 1904-1920-ish, Southline pipeline was built for steam locomotives and railroad employees, including a water tank.
Montello declined when there was a shift from steam to diesel locomotives. Servicing facilities were removed in the 1950s. The water tank was dismantled, the pipeline was capped “about 100 yards” (resident testimony) from the old water tank. Several homesteads/ plots outside town boundaries connected to the pipeline, paying monthly water fees.
Division of Water Resources apparently has no problem with water rights to the springs when water is delivered to Montello, but the pipeline cap is “100 yards” outside town, so NDWR says it’s “non-beneficial use”, questions the water rights, etc.
Southline Pipeline users want to form a GID to take over the Southline Pipeline.
What if together all interested parties found a used certifiable water tank, put it on the site of the old tank, and reconnected that last “100 yards” into town boundaries? “Beneficial Use” restored? Water rights and spring questions resolved? Allowing Southline pipeline users time to become a GID?

Thanks, Stephanie Licht, Spring Creek, NV