A very interesting article appeared in the February first edition of the Nevada Appeal.
It was all about development (potential and actual) in the triangle area of Fernley, Fallon and Yerington. Historically, this area has been prime agriculture land, amply irrigated by the combined waters of the Truckee, Carson and Walker rivers. This article seems to suggest this might change. In fact it may be in that process right now.
Let’s take a look at what we know for sure has already happened. Congress has recently approved the expansion of the Naval Air Station in Fallon, and that act alone will create at least another 1,000 new jobs. Microsoft recently purchased 274 acres near the Silver Springs Airport on Highway 50.
The plans for that site call for a massive large-scale data center, with no mention of job potential, but there will undoubtedly be many, many job resulting from that action.
A $425 million federal grant was recently approved to improve Fernley’s logistic capabilities by helping connect Interstate I-80 to U.S. Highway 50, as well as expanding access to two rail lines. The list can go on and on.
I have long been impressed by Lance Gilman’s ability to get development jobs accomplished. His rapid completion of the Tahoe–Reno Industrial Center I, east of Reno, makes my point. Now Lance has proposed Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center II
to the southeast of Fernley. His moneyman, Roger Norman Sr. is proposing the construction of a ring road completely around the proposed industrial park. Gillman went on to say on Sam Shad’s Nevada Newsmakers radio program, “I believe that community, being Fernley, and the Lyon County group (of smaller communities), that’s the epicenter for growth in Northern Nevada,” Gilman said. “It just makes total sense. Reno is out of land and really doesn’t have a lot of expansion opportunity.”
Gilman’s prediction of growth east of Reno and Sparks on the I-80 corridor was recently backed up by Reno-based developer Par Tolles. Tolles said on Nevada Newsmakers, “Land is more and more difficult to come by in Northern and Southern Nevada, he said. “The Truckee Meadows, if you will, from the airport north of Stead is getting to the point where it is almost built out. So we have to go east and you can talk about all of those budding sub-markets, Silver Springs or Fernley, even Hazen,” Tolles continued. “Our industrial eco-system is going to be predominately moving to the east.”
Well, that’s a lot to digest, new freeways, new roads, railroad realignments, industrial growth, almost beyond comprehension.
One might ask where will all the people live, but I would guess, based on recent history, you build the industry, the necessary houses will somehow also appear
Having read and reread this article several times it suddenly dawned on me that all this promotional stuff is just fine, but it takes a few other things to ever allow it to happen to begin with. Probably the most important is abundant water. And water was never mentioned once in the above noted article. The above-described triangle (Fernley, Fallon and Yerington) is notoriously short on water, at least good underground sources. Although heavy with water supported agriculture, the vast majority of that water comes from three rivers, Truckee, Carson and Walker.
The Truckee is pretty well committed between present users and the Indian right to Pyramid. Carson is just about over committed as well as the Walker. True enough, the Walker can easily be rerouted to intercept the Carson at or near Weeks.
It’s happened before. Regardless of what actions are proposed. I find it hard to readily understand how the water needs (theoretical or otherwise) of all these proposed projects can be met with local sources. Perhaps the developers will propose that all housing be limited to just building apartment houses for all new employees.
There are, however, other water sources outside of this triangle area, some of which have been openly discussed as possible sources for proposed industrial growth. One is the vast amount of pumped water for Winnemucca Farms, water that is currently owned by a company that openly deals in buying agricultural water and reselling it at a much higher price for industrial utilization.
These difficult facts prompted the County Board of Commissioners to recently put together a very complete water plan, including language that makes removal of any water source from Humboldt County to anywhere outside of Humboldt County a most difficult and costly task.
It is important for the Commission to stay on track in the coming months and years and protect this resource of underground water that is currently all being used for productive agriculture, agriculture that is the lifeblood of this County. Rest assured the day will come when the developers will come knocking, and my guess is it isn’t too far down the road.
Tony Lesperance
Paradise Valley
