Speakers
Education Session
Located in Eureka County, Diamond Valley is an agricultural area known for producing high-quality alfalfa and hay. Due to over-appropriation and over-pumping, the Diamond Valley Hydrographic Basin became the first Critical Management Area (CMA) in Nevada in August 2015, which started a 10-year timeline for water users in the basin to either develop and adopt a groundwater management plan (GMP) or, at the end of the 10-years, regulate groundwater withdrawals by priority (where only senior in time water rights could be used). A GMP was developed by the local water rights holders and approved by the State Engineer and upheld by the NV Supreme Court. This session will provide an overview of the GMP and provide perspectives on the development and implementation processes of the GMP.
Jake Tibbitts was born and raised in Blackfoot, Idaho on a family farm and ranch. He has a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Geographic Information Science with a focus in geo-spatial rangeland science, both from Idaho State University. He is the Eureka County Natural Resource Manager (since July 2008) where he manages the County’s natural resources and keeps the County leaders involved and engaged in natural resource issues of importance to the County. Jake is active on various state boards and organizations related to natural resources management. He has a deep interest in sustainable natural resource use and management and preservation and enhancement of rural communities and working landscapes.