The Current Climate for
a Great Basin Tribe
Olin Anderson, Water Quality Standards Specialist
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe – Environmental Department
{
The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
Similar to many tribes in Nevada and
the Great Basin
Is also unlike any other tribe
{ Rural
Natural
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Traditional culture
Subsistence
Ecotourism (fishing)
{ Urban
Commute to cities for work
Offices on-reservation
Resource – Based
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Agriculture
Ranching
Range grazing
Tribal members often have a mix of influences
Populations & Influences
Many Tribes are
recognized as Sovereign
Nations
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Tribe have “Trust”
status with the U.S.
government
EPA is the
environmental
regulatory body
Indian Health Service is
a division of the U.S.
Army
State laws do not apply to
Tribes, directly
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For instance, Tribes
enter into agreements
and MOUs with
NDOT, NHP
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Counties may similarly
provide services
State laws do not apply on tribal reservations
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For instance, Tribes enter into agreements and MOUs
with the Department of Transportation
Counties may provide services – schools
Fuzzy overlap, that sometimes needs clarification
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
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Earned status from EPA for
“Treatment in a Similar
Manner as a State” for the
tribal water quality
program
Established water quality
Standards
Issued a water quality
ordinance
Prepared water quality
plans
“401 Certification”
authority granted
Reviews SWPPPs as part of
EPA construction permits
(NPDES), 404
Tribes may assume responsibility
of Federal Programs
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{
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Air Quality Monitoring
Range Management
Wetlands Program
Woodlands Management
Noxious Weed
Eradication
Natural Resources
Protection
Non-Point Source
Monitoring
Solid Waste Disposal
Water & Sewer Utilities
Other Environmental Programs
{
Crucial for tribes in the arid Great Basin
Fish an indicator species for the ecoystem
Water is a Central Concern
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1874 Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe established by Executive Order
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1905 Derby Dam and the Newlands Irrigation Project operating
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1936 Tribal Government Established
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1938 Winnemucca Lake becomes a dry playa
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1944 Orr Ditch Decree – established PLPT water rights by adjudication
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1967 Diversions occurring over 62 years drop lake level by 85 feet
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1975 Corps of Engineers complete Marble Bluff Dam and Fishway
Pyramid Lake Timeline
The Pyramid
Winnemucca Lake (old)
Winnemucca Lake - today
Marble Bluff Dam
Marble Bluff Fishway
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1996 Truckee River Water Quality Settlement
2008 Truckee River Operating Agreement
Water rights acquisitions
Other great basin tribes are generally not as far
along in regards to water rights
Cooperating for fair water
allocations through
agreements and settlements
{
It’s Been Dry
Very Dry!
Precipitation at Wadsworth, NV
Normal Rainfall 6.1 inches (USDA-NRCS TAPS)
7
6
3
2
1
No Data
4
No Data
Inches
5
0
2005*
2006*
2007*
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012**
Calendar Year
*Data not verifified **Year to Date
Data provided by PLPT Air Quality Program
Seven years of drought?
Weather patterns for other tribes are similar
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Very Dry
Very Hot Summers
Unusual Patterns are being reported
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Seasons are shifted later by two months
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Snow into June, short summers
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(Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute)
(Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute)
Unusually wet summer
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(Ely Shoshone)
Drought and Weirdness
Physically
 Economically
 Spiritually
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Climate affects people on
reservations several ways

Blkay hahdasd .
Physical Effects: Rangeland
Other Federal
Permits Subject to
401 Certification
{
Some things to think about
Work Subject to a MSGP
Work Subject to a
MS4 Permit (still needed)
System Subject to a MS4?
(Tiny Stormwater System)
Work Subject to a Corps
404 or Nationwide Permit*
{
With Water Quality Considerations
Any other federal action
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A Corps program to expedite permitting
PLPT 401 Certification process required for the
following NWPs:
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 25, 27, 29,
32, 33, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, and 51
*Army Corps of Engineers
Nationwide Permits
{
CITY OF RENO / SPARKS
Street Runoff
Residential Landscaping
Permitted Projects
TRUCKEE CANYON
Industrial – USA Parkway
Agriculture
Highway
Railroad
Need to Reduce
Upstream Sources
Olin Anderson
{
Water Quality
Standards Specialist,
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
oanderson@plpt.nsn.us
(775) 574 – 0101 Ext. 19
Thanks!