ELKO, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Division of Water Resources is working to better allocate and manage the amount of water that's allowed to be withdrawn from northeast Nevada's Humboldt River Basin, where demand currently exceeds supply.

The Elko Daily Free Press reports U.S. Geological Survey and Desert Research Institute scientists are completing the study, and representatives from the organizations updated shareholders on their progress during workshops last week in Lovelock, Winnemucca and Elko.

The state initiated the four-year, $2.8 million study to better understand the water resource then use the data to create a management system by 2020. Nevada Division of Water Resources Deputy Administrator Rick Felling visited Elko in July 2017 to gather input on how the possible regulations could affect small-business owners and describe the history of the state's water rights.