Water Conveyance Advisory Committee - Regular Meeting

Monday, September 14, 2026Official site

About this meeting

Government Body: Water Conveyance Advisory Committee
Meeting Type: Water Conveyance Advisory Committee
Location: Douglas County, NV
Meeting Date: September 14, 2026

Video will appear here as soon as Douglas County Water Conveyance Advisory Committee posts it — usually within a day of the meeting

Monday, September 14, 2026

2 items on the agenda.

NDOT PROJECT 74375 PAVEMENT REHABILITATION US 395 MINDEN TO CARSON CITY SR 759 (AIRPORT RD.) US 395 TO HEYBOURNE RD. DRAINAGE DESIGN

Paving Project Limits Old Clear Creek Rd. Sheets D12-D15 Sheets D9-D11 Sheets D4-D8 Sheet D3 Sheet D2 Sheet D1 Project Limits Ironwood Dr. Google Maps

INFORMATION REGARDING THE LAMPE RANCH IRRIGATION DITCH

As a resident of 1343 Northampton Circle, since 1988, I am providing the following information regarding the Lampe Ranch irrigation ditch. It is my understanding that the primary purpose of this ditch is/was used to provide irrigation water to the Lampe Ranch and downstream users. I recall when we moved into our home this irrigation ditch was approximately 4-foot square and having more than one conversation with Ron (a descendant of the Lampe Family) that this ditch use to be smaller so water would flow more consistently through their property. Our property extends down the easterly side of this ditch. In my opinion, due to the lack of proper care/restoration, misuse and within the last year a contractor cleaned this ditch, making it even deeper and wider. In some areas this ditch is now on average over 8' wide. After this latest cleaning we now have less usable property after the removal of this dirt. Around 2013/2014 Jack and Diana Jacobs approached us if we would be interested in participating in securing a maintenance easement for this ditch. As a result, a 39-foot easement was established. During the following years Jack Jacobs would use his farm equipment to grade this maintenance easement. I would clean the weeds and trash from the back of 1343 Northampton Circle to Waterloo Lane. I considered the Jacobs Family excellent stewards of the Lampe Ranch. The Jacobs Family moved out of the area in approximately 2020/2021, but I continued to clean the weeds and pick up trash. At one point I contacted the new owners of the ranch in hopes that the grading of the maintenance easement would continue but they did not express any interest. It is now my understanding that even more dirt be removed from the irrigation ditch to add more volume for increased storm water runoff. I agree this would add more volume. However, as this irrigation ditch water enters the Lampe property it was designed to flow into an approximately 18" diameter buried corrugated pipe. This pipe also turned 90 degrees to the main irrigation ditch, thereby slowing/backing up of the water even more. It has also been mentioned the historical irrigation gates which are approximately 30'x 30" or 900 square inches be removed. The 18" pipe measures approximately 254 square inches. Therefore, the removal of the historical irrigation gates will increase the potential for increased water flow, and the water will still try to enter this 18" pipe. Given the limited size of the 18" pipe as compared to the size of the main irrigation ditch this excess water will not have any place to go other than to create flooding. In its current configuration the 30" x 30" (900 square inches) historical gates are over 3.5 times larger than the current 18' (254 square inches) pipe. 900/254=3.543. As the proposal is to remove the 900 square-inch gates this will result in a greater differential. I also feel the removal of these historical irrigation gates will lead to further erosion. I do not believe this irrigation ditch was ever intended to accommodate an excessive amount of stormwater runoff. If the downstream users keep their ditches/trash racks clean the irrigation ditch has accommodated normal stormwater runoff. I recently spoke with Jack Jacobs, and he asked where the hydraulic report was however I was told as this proposed work is considered ‘maintenance’ therefore a report was not needed. It is my opinion this proposed work is well outside the scope of ‘maintenance’ as dirt is being removed, and elevations and flow rates will be altered. Jack also asked why the county was performing this work on private property. I was later informed that some county water does enter the irrigation ditch. Does the amount of county water entering this ditch warrant the removal of the historical irrigation gates and increase the volume of water adjacent to our property? This is the approximately 18-inch pipe where irrigation water enters from the right side of this picture and must turn and enter this pipe at 90-degree angle to the main ditch. This a wider view of the area where the 18” pipe is buried. To the right of this pipe is the neighbor’s fence which shows the amount of erosion of the dirt around the concrete fence post footings that have already occurred. A close up of the erosion of the concrete fence post footing on the Northampton Circle neighbors fence. The 30”x 30” historical irrigation ditch gate. Note how much of the much deeper the bottom of the ditch is due to the previous cleaning. Based on the above we oppose all work proposed. Scott and Nancy Bergan s.bergan@aol.com 775 721 9520