Because Bundy claims ownership over maybe 350-500 head of branded cattle, the other 500-700 estimated head of cattle would all be considered feral."
Boomer had supplied a memorandum to the board with background information and the District’s history on subsurface diversions for existing and future use of Virgin River water and the purchase of 5 acres associated with the Virgin River 140, LLC. Boomer stated that three monitoring wells, approximately 100 feet in depth and completed in the Virgin River alluvium have been drilled and are included in the Hydrologic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (HMMP). Two of the wells are located on private land owned by Cedar Development Company LLC through an easement and the other collector well is located near Bunkerville Well #2 within the public easement.
Boomer further explained how and where the secondary collector well to divert Virgin River surface water was installed and the funding that was made available for construction; the ownership of the properties and easements on these properties; and the water quality of the secondary system.
Michael further informed the board that under the current BLM, Las Vegas Field Office (LVFO) Resource Management Plan (RMP) the area downstream of Bunkerville to the Riverside Bridge 85 is part of the Virgin River ACEC, in which site type facilities are not allowed; and that there is virtually no location to divert the surface water to serve future development with the exception of the private land downstream of the Riverside Bridge. The NDOT Right-of-Way is one of the few areas that can cross the Virgin River and that several points of diversions and existing water rights held by VVWD are anticipated to cross the Virgin River in the NDOT Right-of Way. Boomer further informed the board of the costs expended thus far on this 5-acre parcel. Boomer continued to explain that the monitoring wells have been a critical part of the Virgin River Hydrologic Monitoring Mitigation Plan (VRHMMP); the process of VVWD and BOR drafting a new cooperative agreement and funds of 1.3 million available for the installation of a horizontal collector well that is an important diversion structure for VVWD supplying water resources to the western portion of the service area that could also be installed on this 5-acre parcel.