DST MODEL SUPPORT SPATIAL DATA AND WATER RIGHTS INFORMATION. Tim Minor, Desert Research Institute

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1 DST MODEL SUPPORT SPATIAL DATA AND WATER RIGHTS INFORMATION Tim Minor, Desert Research Institute

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES... iii INTRODUCTION... 1 PHASE III TASKS... 1 Spatial Data Updates for Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River Corridor... 1 Hydrologic Response Units (HRUs)... 1 Water Conveyance Systems (Points of Diversion, Ditches, and Drains)... 2 Groundwater Places of Use and Points of Diversion... 3 C-125 Decree Claims... 5 Parcels... 6 Elevation Models... 7 Base Layers... 7 Surface Water Diversion Data... 8 Groundwater Well Data... 8 Water Rights... 9 Spatial Analyses Results for Support of DST Surface and Groundwater Modeling... 9 Surface Water Analyses... 9 Groundwater Analyses Meetings and Presentations LIST OF FIGURES 1. Hydrologic response units (HRUs) in Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River corridor Points of diversion and the primary ditches and drains in Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River corridor Groundwater points of diversion (PODs) and places of use (POUs) in Mason Valley and Smith Valley C-125 Decree surface water rights in Mason Valley Lyon County parcel data from May 2015 for Mason Valley and Smith Valley Digital elevation model of Mason Valley derived from 1 m LiDAR data iii

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5 INTRODUCTION In Phase III of the Walker Basin Research Project, DRI continued to provide spatial data development and analysis and water rights information support to the decision support tool (DST) modelers at DRI and UNR as part of an evaluation of the effectiveness of potential water right acquisitions in Walker Basin. Desert Research Institute personnel used geographic information systems (GIS) as a framework for acquiring and developing the spatial and tabular data that are required inputs for the DST. This final report summarizes the results of these Phase III efforts from 2013 through PHASE III TASKS SPATIAL DATA UPDATES FOR MASON VALLEY, SMITH VALLEY, AND THE EAST WALKER RIVER CORRIDOR Spatial data updates were performed as new and/or revised information was received by DRI from various entities, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF); the Walker Basin Conservancy (WBC); the Nevada Division of Water Resources (NDWR); the Federal Water Master; the Walker River Irrigation District (WRID); Lyon County; ditch companies; private landowners and potential willing water-right sellers; the Walker River Paiute Tribe; UNR; and other federal, state, and local sources. Derivative data sets were also developed by DRI based on the integration of different data sets and field observations. These data were used for analyses in support of DST development and as direct inputs to the DST modeling process. Hydrologic Response Units (HRUs) Using information collected from NFWF, WBC, the Federal Water Master, WRID, the Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW), ditch companies, and field observations, the HRU data set that represents agricultural fields serviced by common delivery systems (ditches, river pumps, and primary groundwater pumps) was updated for Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River corridor throughout Phase III. An additional HRU data set was developed for Antelope Valley. A total of 23 revisions of the HRU data set were developed by DRI. In 2014, a significant number of pastures were added to the HRU data set based on an analysis of water rights (decree and storage) and flood irrigation patterns for fields that were not growing crops. New crop-type designations were added to the latest HRU data set based on field data collected from 2013 through 2015 and discussions with NFWF and WBC personnel. In 2015, DRI updated the HRU data layer but preserved the same ditch and river pump names used in the 2012 data set that the UNR modelers applied to earlier versions of the DST model (version 2.0). Line work (polygon boundaries) and attributes for the agricultural fields were modified to match the Batch 4 scenario parameters used by the modelers. The NFWF names and ownership attribute fields were generated to the attribute table for the new data set. This version of the HRU data set is now being used by the UNR modelers for the latest version of the DST model (version 3.0). Figure 1 shows the version of the HRU data set from October

6 Water Conveyance Systems (Points of Diversion, Ditches, and Drains) Desert Research Institute continued to update point of diversion (POD), ditch, and drain spatial data layers based on input from WRID, NFWF, WBC, private landowners, and field observations. During Phase III, an additional attribute field called Comments was added to the attribute table for the primary ditch data layer. This field described the nature of the primary ditch (i.e., whether it was an earthen ditch, cement-lined ditch, or underground pipe). Desert Research Institute added another additional attribute field that indicated the original DST MODSIM name for several ditch PODs. This was done to provide the DST modelers with the latest line work of primary ditches but preserve the original ditch names used in the MODSIM and MODFLOW development work. Desert Research Institute personnel also performed a major update of the lateral ditches data layer for Walker Basin and added an additional attribute field called Comments that described the type of ditch (e.g., earthen, cement, or pipe). The drains spatial data layer was updated numerous times Figure 1. Hydrologic response units (HRUs) in Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River corridor. 2

7 during Phase III based on field observations and information provided by WRID and NFWF personnel. The PODs were adjusted in several locations based on observed changes and/or conversions from river pumps to gates. Several new automated gates were installed by WRID during Phase III of the project. The water conveyance point and line data were integrated into the DST by UNR and DRI modelers. Figure 2 shows the latest versions of the POD, ditch, and drain features in Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River corridor. Groundwater Places of Use and Points of Diversion Desert Research Institute worked with NDWR to customize a derivative data set that represents the underground, irrigation-only groundwater places of use (POUs) and PODs for Mason and Smith Valleys. The NDWR provided the reselected data in an ArcGIS geodatabase format. Multiple versions of the data set were provided during Phase III, with the last version dated December Based on conversations with UNR modelers and NDWR staff, a decision was made to convert the reformatted POU/POD geodatabase back to the Figure 2. Points of diversion and the primary ditches and drains in Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River corridor. 3

format originally received from NDWR in 2012.

8 format originally received from NDWR in The NDWR updated the data set (up to date as of December 2015) in the original geodatabase format (a POD feature class, a POU feature class, and a related table that uses the POD site names and the POU polygon IDs as the items that tie the two spatial data sets together) and sent the results to DRI. Desert Research Institute performed a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) analysis of the data to ensure completeness and accuracy. The NDWR also provided DRI with the hydrologic abstracts for Mason and Smith Valleys, which contained additional information about each groundwater application (permit), which included the certificate number (if certificated), diversion rate, priority date, filing date, type of use, whether the groundwater was a supplemental or standalone (primary) right, and the owner of record for the permit. The POU and POD spatial data layers were integrated into the DST by DRI and UNR modelers. Having this data set made it easier for the modelers to integrate the groundwater rights, PODs, and POUs into DST model version 3.0. Figure 3 shows the spatial distribution of the POUs and PODs in Mason and Smith Valleys. Figure 3. Groundwater points of diversion (PODs) and places of use (POUs) in Mason and Smith Valleys. 4

$The adjustments included correcting claim boundaries that were in the wrong location and adjusting fractional claims based on input from NFWF and its subcontractor Ecosystem Economics.$

9 C-125 Decree Claims Multiple revisions of the spatial data layer representing the C-125 Decree claims were produced by DRI. These revisions were made to the original C-125 Decree layer by History Mapping Services (HMS) in Phase I. The adjustments included correcting claim boundaries that were in the wrong location and adjusting fractional claims based on input from NFWF and its subcontractor Ecosystem Economics. Figure 4 shows the latest version of the C-125 Decree claims for Mason Valley. The C-125 claim data was used by the DST team to distinguish between supplemental and primary groundwater rights in Walker Basin with the assumption being that if an agricultural field or pasture has a C-125 surface right, then the associated groundwater rights are supplemental to that surface right. If a field or pasture does not have a C-125 surface water right, then it has a stand-alone or primary groundwater right. Figure 4. C-125 Decree surface water rights in Mason Valley. 5

Unfortunately, Lyon County has informed DRI that they will no longer be able to provide the institute with the parcel data going forward.

10 Parcels Desert Research Institute received a total of six versions of the Lyon County parcel database during Phase III. Most of these data layers were received in ArcGIS shapefile format, but several were also constructed as geodatabases. The latest version was received in May Unfortunately, Lyon County has informed DRI that they will no longer be able to provide the institute with the parcel data going forward. All parcel data for Walker Basin now has to be obtained from the Nevada State Demographer through a formal request, and the data will only be distributed once a year based on a release date from the county to the State Demographer of June 30 of each year. The parcel data was used to identify specific properties involved in future batch scenario development using the DST. Figure 5 shows the May 2015 parcel data layer for Mason and Smith Valleys. Figure 5. Lyon County parcel data from May 2015 for Mason and Smith Valleys. 6

Elevation Models Desert Research Institute continued to use the high-resolution (1 m), LiDAR-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) for Walker Basin that Fugro Horizon, Inc.

Base Layers Desert Research Institute continued to use the 2012 one-foot aerial photography for Lyon County (obtained from Lyon County) as the primary base layer for analyses and map products, as

11 Elevation Models Desert Research Institute continued to use the high-resolution (1 m), LiDAR-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) for Walker Basin that Fugro Horizon, Inc., provided to the institute from 2010 to The DEMs were used for both the surface water and groundwater components of the DST modeling effort. Figure 6 shows the elevation model for Mason Valley. Base Layers Desert Research Institute continued to use the 2012 one-foot aerial photography for Lyon County (obtained from Lyon County) as the primary base layer for analyses and map products, as well as the six-inch resolution aerial photography for the Yerington area, which was also taken in Lyon County did not acquire additional aerial coverage during Phase Figure 6. Digital elevation model of Mason Valley derived from 1 m LiDAR data. 7

12 III of the Walker Basin Restoration Program. To supplement the aerial photography, DRI used ArcGIS Online through its site-wide Esri GIS license to display high-resolution aerial photography and satellite imagery from various acquisition dates. Desert Research Institute scientists also used Google Earth and Goggle Earth Pro. These data and data interfaces were used to digitize HRU boundaries and ditch and drain networks, and perform many of the data layer revisions described above. The image data were also used as the base layer for many of the maps constructed for the DST modelers. SURFACE WATER DIVERSION DATA The institute received monthly decree, storage, and permit (flood) diversion data for ditches and river pumps on the East and West Walker Rivers from WRID for the years 2012 to These data were provided in hardcopy format. Desert Research Institute staff converted all the hardcopy data into a digital format (Excel spreadsheets) specified by the DST modelers. The data were quality assured/quality controlled by members of the spatial team before they were integrated into the DST by DRI and UNR staff. GROUNDWATER WELL DATA Desert Research Institute acquired updated groundwater pumping data for Mason and Smith Valleys from NDWR. Pumpage data was updated to 2014 using multiple data sets provide by NDWR. First, NDWR provided a pumpage inventory from 1994 to 2011 for the two valleys. Then, an updated version was provided for the period 2007 to These data were provided in Excel spreadsheet format. The NDWR also provided DRI with an extensive set of water level data for wells in Mason and Smith Valleys. Desert Research Institute received two Excel spreadsheets of water level data for Mason Valley and Smith Valley, respectively. These data sets contained water levels collected for selected wells dating back to 1948 and up to For Mason Valley, the table contained 1,564 records of water levels for the time period. For Smith Valley, the total number of records was 802. Desert Research Institute also received ArcGIS geodatabases from NDWR that contained spatial representations for 108 monitored wells in Mason Valley and 43 wells in Smith Valley. These well locations were related to the tables containing all the water levels by date using the site names for the wells as the common link between the two tables. Both the pumpage and water level data were used extensively by the groundwater modelers involved in the DST development work. Desert Research Institute held discussions with WRID manager Bert Bryant to discuss the status of the WRID well, which is an exchange well near the weir that WRID uses to give credits to its water users. For modeling purposes, DRI and UNR needed to know if the well was considered a primary or supplemental groundwater well. Mr. Bryant provided information that the well is not considered a supplemental well, even though it technically supports surface water rights in the exchange program. It is not listed on NDWR s list of supplemental wells. 8

13 WATER RIGHTS In Phase III, the development of water rights data transitioned from DRI (and its subcontractor HMS) to Ecosystem Economics. Desert Research Institute worked directly with Ecosystem Economics to develop a revised decree/storage-water rights table for use in the DST. During this effort, attempts were made to resolve discrepancies between waterrighted acres and actual legal description acres for C-125 claims. Desert Research Institute also worked with Ecosystem Economics to reconcile the number of HRU acres with known water-righted acres for all the delivery systems in Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River corridor. This work was performed to ensure that HRU acreages were consistent and not greater than water-righted acres. A less than 10 percent difference was the target threshold for each ditch system. The current water rights database for Walker Basin now has all HRU acreage values below this threshold compared with the water-righted acres. Desert Research Institute worked with Ecosystem Economics to balance water rights across the various water pumps on the system, and also updated and related ditch and river pump names for consistency in the database. Desert Research Institute also reconciled the HRU names in the water rights database with the DST MODSIM names for consistency. This included changes to some of the river pump names and an aggregation of some ditches to be consistent with the original MODSIM names. A comparison table of the names was included with the updated water rights database that was delivered to the DST model developers. Desert Research Institute received decree right priority summaries for years 2012 through 2015 from the new Walker Water Master, Rob Martinez. Desert Research Institute converted the PDF version of the summaries to Excel format and provided this information to the UNR modelers. SPATIAL ANALYSES RESULTS FOR SUPPORT OF DST SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER MODELING Surface Water Analyses Throughout the duration of Phase III, DRI spatial analysis faculty performed a variety of surface water analyses for the DST modelers, including analyses of the relationship between decree and storage water rights as they related to the HRU agricultural fields in Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River corridor. Spatial analysis faculty helped the DRI/UNR modelers develop batch scenarios for the DST. Multiple batch scenarios were developed using property boundaries and water-right spatial extents for land and water acquired by NFWF from willing sellers. Fifteen properties and water rights of willing sellers were mapped for Mason Valley, Smith Valley, and the East Walker River corridor. Properties were identified as either combined land and water sales, or water-only sales. Resultant shapefiles for NFWF properties were processed and transferred to the DST modelers for use in the model. At the request of the modeling team, DRI worked with the WRID manager to gain an understanding of the reservoir parameters for both the Topaz and Bridgeport reservoirs. The information collected and processed included minimum storage in both the Bridgeport and 9

14 Topaz reservoirs, dead pool storage in Topaz, minimum low flows maintained out of Topaz, and storage-apportionment relationships in Mason Valley and Smith Valley. Desert Research Institute personnel used Utah State Climate Center data and supplemental NASA/ORNL/DAAC DAYMET climate data to develop meteorological parameters for the Yerington and Wabuska meteorological stations in Mason Valley. The parameters were then converted to a specific format to be used as input into Justin Huntington s Net Irrigation Water Requirement (NIWR) model for calculating temperature and precipitation data inputs for NIWR modeling. The NIWR model calculates reference evapotranspiration (ET) estimates for crop types. These crop-type reference ET values were used by UNR and DRI personnel in the DST model. The NASA daily surface weather and climatological summaries (DAYMET) data were used to fill in the missing data gaps found in the Utah State Climate Center data for the Yerington and Wabuska meteorological stations because there were many gaps in the daily recorded temperature and precipitation measurements in the Utah State Climate Center data. Groundwater Analyses Desert Research Institute personnel developed and processed spatial data sets, including DEM data, to support groundwater modeling efforts in the East Walker River corridor. Ten meter, 30 meter, 100 meter, and 300 meter DEM data were integrated with updated river centerline data, geologic data, crop types (derived from HRU data), riparian corridor vegetation information obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), pumping data for groundwater POUs, and surface diversion data for the groundwater model development effort. The DEM data were used to test and develop flow accumulation, flow direction, and elevation models for the study domain at variable resolutions. The final polygon grid representation of the elevation model consisted on nested polygons at 30, 60, 120, and 240 meter resolutions, with the finest resolution polygon cells (30 meters) representing the immediate river corridor. Desert Research Institute staff conducted an analysis of the change in primary groundwater acreage in Mason Valley from the 2012 HRU data set used for DST version 2.0 to the 2015 HRU data set used for DST version 3.0. The number of acres of primary groundwater decreased by 7 percent, mainly because fields originally assigned as primary groundwater were revised as ditch fields in the Campbell ditch system based on information from NFWF and potential willing sellers in the area. Desert Research Institute conducted an analysis of HRU primary groundwater fields located outside NDWR s groundwater POUs. Using the relatively new groundwater POU/POD geodatabase received from NDWR in December 2015, DRI observed that some primary groundwater-only HRUs in Mason Valley and Smith Valley fell outside the established POUs. Using overlay analysis techniques in ArcGIS, including intersection functions, DRI determined that the relative percentage of primary groundwater acres falling outside the POUs covering primary groundwater fields was small, approximately 5.8 percent. The percentage of primary groundwater fields located outside of POUs when compared with all HRUS in Mason Valley and Smith Valley was 0.77 percent. Desert Research Institute communicated with NDWR about the possible causes of these outlier primary groundwater 10

15 fields and in most cases, the outliers could be explained by abandoned groundwater rights where the water rights had been transferred to another location. In Smith Valley, several of the fields had temporary change permits that allowed the water to be moved annually to another set of fields. For several of the primary groundwater fields on the east side of Mason Valley, recent aerial photography suggested that these abandoned fields were still receiving some irrigation. Subsequent discussions with NDWR revealed that these fields receive some natural drainage flow from surrounding hills, which accounted for the apparent healthy vegetation response observed in the aerial photography. MEETINGS AND PRESENTATIONS During the course of Phase III, DRI spatial analysis and support personnel participated in monthly DST conference calls to discuss progress, data requirements, water rights information development, and upcoming schedules. Desert Research Institute personnel also completed quarterly progress reports and participated in and gave presentations of research results at periodic Walker Basin Research Project Phase III team meetings. 11

IMPERIAL COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

IMPERIAL COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT GEODATABASE USER MANUAL FOR COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GIS June 2010 Prepared for: Prepared by: County of Imperial Planning and Development 801 Main Street El