TONOPAH -- A Nye County Water District could cost $250,000 to start up the first couple years, commissioners were told Tuesday.

A study to identify Pahrump groundwater conditions to use as a baseline is likely to cost another $575,000.

County commissioners will ask the U.S. Department of Energy for permission to divert part of a $1.5 million federal grant for Pahrump groundwater studies to set up the district..

Nye County hydro-geologist Tom Buqo suggested hiring Van Robinson, former director of the Moapa Valley Water District, to assist in providing support to establish the county water district.

Buqo said one of the concerns in creating the water district back in 2006 was to not make it a burden on the county financially by securing federal grants through congressional earmarks. But he added, "Since that time, earmarks have become kind of a political hot potato."

The state legislation that created the Nye County Water District said it was formed because "the protection of the environment of Nye County could best be served by the creation of a single governmental entity, the purpose of which is to secure and develop sustainable sources of water."

The Nye County Water District will have the authority to incur debt, acquire land and water rights, import or distribute water, levy and collect taxes.

Jan Cameron, chairwoman of the Amargosa Valley Town Board, told commissioners she objected to the criteria used for appointing members.

"There may be some feeling that the members of this board should have prior water law knowledge. I'd like to point out that people with prior water law knowledge are probably very few," Cameron said. "If you limit people on this board to having that qualification, you may end up with only people who have special interests regarding management of water."

The bill specifically requires the seven-member board to be composed of a resident of Beatty or Amargosa Valley; a member from Tonopah; three members from Pahrump Valley; a resident of either Smoky Valley or Currant Creek; and an at-large member who isn't a resident of Pahrump.

They will be appointed by Nye County Commissioners.

Commissioner Butch Borasky thought the groundwater flow model for Pahrump valley was already on its way to completion.

Nye County Manager Ron Williams couldn't give commissioners an estimate Tuesday how much of the $1.5 million grant for that study has already been obligated in contracts. That study had been recommended by the state.

It would be the first model of Pahrump groundwater developed since a study published by Jim Harrell in 1986, of the groundwater depletion in Pahrump from 1962 to 1975.

That study estimated Pahrump had a sustainable yield of 40,000 acre feet of water per year. An acre foot is 326,000 gallons, or enough water annually for two families of five.

Buqo said the groundwater study would be a good project for the newly-formed water district.

In passing, Buqo said he agreed with Commissioner Peter Liakopoulos' published remarks about having too many consultants working for the county already. Buqo said the water district will be a mechanism by which Nye County develops the expertise to manage the water program itself.