2006 utah water user’s workshop water rights issues jerry olds state engineer
TRANSCRIPT
2006 Utah Water User’s Workshop
Water Rights Issues
Jerry OldsState Engineer
Objectives
• Water Marketing
• Municipal Water Rights
• Water Issues Task Force
• Update of the Division
Population Growth & Water
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2005 2020 2040
Pop
• Current Population2.5 Million
• Estimated Population2020, 3.5 Million2050, 5.4 Million
Estimated Water Conversion 2020 – 125,000 AF 2050 – 324,000 AF
Population Projections
• 96% IncreaseBox Elder, Cache, Davis, Iron, Morgan, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Washington & Weber
• Fastest Growing - % Washington, Morgan & Summit
State Engineer’s
WaterAppropriation
Policy
WaterMarketing
InUtah
73-1-1. Waters declared property of public.
All waters in this state, whetherabove or under the ground are
hereby declared to be the property of the public, subject to all existing
rights to the use thereof.
“The state regulates the use of water as trustee for the benefit of the people.
Public ownership is founded on the principle that water, a scarce and
essential resource in this area of thecountry, is indispensable to the welfare
of all the people; and the state musttherefore assume the responsibility of
allocating the use of water for thebenefit and welfare of all the people of
the state as a whole.”J. J. P. N. Co. v. State 655 P.2d 1133 (Utah 1982)
73-3-8: It shall be the duty of the state engineer to approve an application if: (a) there is unappropriated water in the proposed source;
…. and (e) the application was filed in good faith and not for purposes of speculation or monopoly.
Speculation – An investment involvingrisk with hope of large profit. To buyor sell in expectation of profiting frommarket fluctuations.
What is the standard or criteriato determine speculation?
Conversion of Ag Land to Residential Want the water transferred Market system
The Future of Water Marketing
• Population will double by 2050
• Conversion of Irrigation Water to M&I324,000 Acre-Feet
• Water Bank (Public or Private?)
• Water Brokers
Basic Definition
• Beneficial use shall be the basis, the measure, and the limit of all rights to the use of water in the state (73-1-3).
What water uses are covered by amunicipal water rights?
Domestic, commercial, industrial, irrigation, stockwatering, etc
Could water uses practicesCould water uses practiceschange over time?change over time?
Identify each house or business supplied water?Are municipal water rights
subject to forfeiture?
Who Can Hold Municipal Water Rights?
• State of Utah (Agency)
• Political Subdivision of the State (Cities, Towns & Special Districts)
• US Bureau of Reclamation
Challenges Faced bythe Public Water Systems
• New subdivisions / Building permits
• Financing new water develop
• Permitting requirements
• Acquiring additional water rights
• Protecting the City’s existing water rights
• System failure - Flexibility
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Annual Water Use Data
Annual Diversion
Case Study - Water Use & Water Rights
Monthly Municipal Demand
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Golf Course Well
Firehouse Well
City Hall Well
Canyon Spring
Water Rights Summary• Year-round, CFS only, Certificated for Mun Use• 50-123 Canyon Spring 4.0 CFS• 50-456 City Hall Well 4.2 CFS• 50-789 Fire House Well 5.0 CFS• 50-1002 Golf Course Well 4.8 CFS• 50-1750 Aspen Lane Well 3.5 CFS
Total21.5 CFS
15,565 AF
Monthly Municipal Demand
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Month
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Golf Course Well
Fire House Well
City Hall Well
Canyon Spring
Monthly VolumeBy Flow
Proof of Beneficial Use
• Need to develop the water source and place to water to full beneficial use
• Proof of Beneficial Use is not a showing of the pump or pipeline capacity
• Verify both the flow and volume
• Take into account all water rights
• Segregate & file extension
• Objective – Define demand &allow proper mgt.
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BERYL/ ENTERPRISE GROUNDWATER LEVELSWell (C-34-16)22bad- 1)
Water Level Decline (1976 - 2003) : 25.28 ft or 0.90 ft per year WL% change from 2002 : down 3.13% or 1.57 ft
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1941 1950 1959 1968 1977 1986 1995 2004
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BERYL/ ENTERPRISE GROUNDWATER LEVELSWell (C-36-16)31acc- 1)
MANAGEMENT OF UTAH’SGROUND-WATER RESOURCES
Legislative WaterIssues Task Force
• Created during 2004 Session• Made up of 5 Senators & 8 Representatives• 2004 – Water Rights Enforcement• 2005 – Water Reuse, Water Financing, Ground-
Water Management • Leadership –
Rep Dave Ure (Kamas)Rep Mike Styler (Delta)
Senator Peter Knudson (Brigham City)• WATER COMMUNITY!
HB 228 Ground-Water Management Plan
(a) "Critical management area" means a groundwater basin in which the groundwater withdrawals consistently exceed the safe yield.
(b) "Safe yield" means the amount of groundwater that can be withdrawn from a groundwater basin over a period of time without exceeding the long-term recharge of the basin or unreasonably affecting the basin's physical and chemical integrity.
Definitions(1) As used in this section:
HB 228 Ground-Water Management Plan
• Regulate Ground Water – Adopt Plan
• Plan based on the principles of prior appropriation
• Limit withdrawals - SAFE YIELD• In Critical Mgt Area
Economic & other impactsGradual implement safe yield limits
• Public notice & involvement
• MAJOR STEP FORWARD
HB 38 – Water Reuse
• Reuse ProjectMunicipal water rightsConsistent - underlying water right
• Reuse authorization contractParties to the contractThe contract provisionsSubmitted w/ application
• State engineer application process
Water Issues Task Force - 2006• HB 357 - Proposes to review
Instream Flow Water ConservationWater financing andAny other issue that affects the
state's development or management of water.
• Get Involved
Update Division of Water Rights
• Staff ChangesRetirements Kerry Carpenter – EnforcementMarc Stilson – SE Regional Engineer
• Applications and Records SectionChange Appl. vs Appl. to Appropriate John Solum & Jared Manning
WATER RIGHT APPLICATIONSProofs & Certificates
Update Division of Water Rights (cont’d)
• Adjudication TeamPD Book 4, Area 29 (Lower Bear River)
• Plans for 2006-07Bear RiverAshley ValleyCastle Valley
Tooele Valley• Real-Time Water Distribution• Ground-Water Management
And Water Is The ResourceThat Will Shape Our Future!
“Water is the brush that has shaped the unique and varied landscape of Utah
and influenced the settlement and lifestyle of the people who have inhabited its boundaries”
Thank You
QUESTIONS?