PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (PSA) (NEVADA)

An agreement reached between the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Indians and Sierra Pacific Power Company (SPPCo) on May 23, 1989. The PSA provides SPPCo the ability to store its water rights in federally operated reservoirs along the Truckee River in California at times when it is not needed for municipal and industrial (M&I) water supply in the Reno-Sparks Metropolitan Area. In exchange, excess water in storage is used for fishery purposes when drought conditions are not in effect. Also, SPPCo forgoes its right to single-use hydroelectric flows in the Truckee River under the Orr Ditch Decree (Nevada and California), thereby enabling the United States and the Tribe to store water for fishery benefit at certain times of the year. The PSA is incorporated into Public Law 101-618 (the Negotiated Settlement) by reference.