2006 Utah Water Law

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2006 Utah Water Law Pipelines, Politics and
Permitting Current Water Rights Issues
Jerry Olds State Engineer
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Population Growth Water

• Current Population 2.5 Million
• Estimated Population 2020 - 3.5 Million
• 2050 - 5.4 Million
• Estimated Water Conversion 2020 125,000
  AF 2050 324,000 AF

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Population Projections

• 96 Increase
• Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Iron, Morgan, Salt
  Lake, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Washington
  Weber
• Fastest Growing - Washington, Morgan Summit

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State Engineers Water Appropriation Policy
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Throughout Utah we are going from growing
alfalfa to growing houses
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Who Can Hold Municipal Water Rights?

• State of Utah (Agency)
• Political Subdivision of the State (Cities,
  Towns Special Districts)
• US Bureau of Reclamation (SB 177)

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Typical Growth in Municipal Water Use
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Water Rights Summary

• Year-round, CFS only, Certificated for Mun Use
• 70-10 Canyon Spring .45 CFS
• 70-20 Left Fork Spring .07 CFS
• 70-30 City Spring .155 CFS
• 70-100 City Hall Well 1.00 CFS
• Total 1.675 CFS 1220
  AF

Current use 450 AF/Yr Spring flow decreases
during late summer.
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Water Availability Study

• Water demand 5 yrs, 450 to 650 AF
• July 120 AF and August 100 AF
• Combined spring flow Drops from .675 cfs to
  .30 cfs
• Springs 20 AF, Well 60 AF 80 AF/Month
• Global change application
• Enlargement

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Municipal Water Rights

• Increase in municipal water use
• Water rights - public water suppliers
• Future water needs
• Certainty
• Flexibility
• Define municipal water rights
• Proper management

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Report of Water Rights Conveyance

• Statutory modification - 2000
• Water user required to file ROC
• 25 filing fee
• In FY 06 over 3400 ROCs
• Increased workload

Report of Water Rights Conveyance
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(No Transcript)
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Water Right Title Issues

• DWRights is NOT office of record for ownership
• Recording of deeds and timely filing ROC Water
  rights sold more than once
• Diligence UGW claims Prima faca
  evidence Claim filed for 80 acres Field
  exam show 20 acres Ten ROCs on file for 60
  acres Owner still holds 20 acres
• How should ROCs for claims be handled?

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Utahs Upper Colorado River Entitlement
Current Depletions
Utahs Apportionment (23) 1,369,000
AF Current Depletion 1,007,500 AF Remaining
Depletion 361,500 AF
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Potential Depletion Approved Applications
(Undeveloped)
Applicant Quantity (Ac Ft) San Juan County
WCD 30,000 Central Utah WCD
29,500 Board of W R (et al)
158,000 Wayne County WCD 50,000 Kane County
WCD 30,000 Sanpete WCD
5,600 Uintah County WCD 5,000 Others (lt
5000 AF) 80,000 Ute Tribe ?
105,000   TOTAL 493,100
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There is no argument that the Navajo Nation have
water rights,
Navajo Nation Water Rights
the question is how much?
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DRAFT Subject to revision
Potential Depletion Approved Applications
(Undeveloped)
Applicant Quantity (Ac Ft) Priority SJ
County WCD 30,000 1966 CUWCD
29,500 1965 Bd of W R (et al)
158,000 1958 Wayne CWCD 50,000 1960 Kane
CWCD 30,000 1964 Sanpete WCD
5,600 1941 Uintah CWCD 5,000 1965 Others
(lt 5000 AF) 80,000 (40,000 lt 1965) na Ute Tribe
? 105,000 1861 Navajo Nation? 50
-150,000 1884   TOTAL 488,000 AF with
priority dates before 1965. 2 Billion
Bonneville Unit CUP has 1965 priority date.
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Other Current Issues

• Snake Valley
• Formal administrative hearings
• Rules on proof of beneficial use
• Change Application Surface to Ground
  Water Non-use of water for extended periods

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Thank You
Questions?