WATER RIGHTS LAW INDEX

Revised November 19, 2014

Click here to download the complete text of the 2013 Water Rights Statutes in PDF format.

Click here to view Water Rights Law by Section or choose a link from topics below. Note: These links are to the Utah State Legislature Website, where state code is maintained.

• Altering natural streams 73-3-29
• Controlling works and measuring devices 73-5-4
• Costs and fees of civil actions 73-2-28
• Diligence claims 73-5-13
• Distribution
  • Proposed Determinations 73-4-11
  • Groundwater 73-5-15
  • State Engineer authority 73-5-3
• Ditches and diverting works
  • Easements for 57-13a
  • Headgates, installation of 73-5-4
  • Inspection of 73-5-7
  • Interfering with 73-1-14
  • Joint use of 73-1-7, 73-1-9
  • Management plans required (safety) 73-10-33
  • Measuring devices, installation of 73-5-4
  • Notice of distribution setting (Tags) 73-5-3
  • Obstructions 73-1-15
  • Owner duties 73-1-8
  • Rights of Way (Eminent domain) 73-1-6
  • Repairs to prevent waste or contamination 73-5-9
  • Repairs, Safety 73-5-7
• Entry of employees on property 73-2-20, 73-5-3
• Mutual Irrigation or water companies
  • Allocating loss from forfeiture (nonuse) 73-1-4.5
  • Shareholder Change applications 73-3-3.5
  • Shareholder Nonuse applications 73-1-4(2)(b)
  • Share ownership by other companies 73-1-13
  • Share ownership by political subdivisions 73-1-19
  • Share of Stock transfers 73-1-10(2)
• Penalties, administrative 73-2-26
• Penalties, criminal 73-2-27
• Private property access
  • Applicants for survey or information 73-3-19
  • State Engineer and employees 73-2-20, 73-5-3, 73-22-6(3)
• Regulation and control by state engineer 73-5-3 and 73-5-4
• Reports of water used by users 73-5-8
• Reservoirs, see dams
• Underground water, determination of supply 73-5-15
• Waste, pollution and contamination, prevention of 73-5-9
• Water commissioners
  • Appointment 73-5-1
  • Fund 73-5-1.5
  • Removal 73-5-1
  • Salary and expenses 73-5-1
• Watershed, determination to which source 73-5-14

Appropriation

• Acquiring water rights 73-3-1
• Adverse possession, no right may be acquired by 73-3-1
• Amendments to application 73-3-6
• Applications to appropriate
  • Contents 73-3-2
  • Filing of 73-3-4
  • Fixed time 73-3-8
  • Geothermal fluids 73-22-8
  • Livestock on public land 73-3-31
  • Processing 73-3-5, 73-3-8, 73-3-10
  • Temporary 73-3-5.5
  • Withdrawal of unappropriated waters 73-6-1
• Approval of applications 73-3-8 and 73-3-10
• Assignment of applications 73-3-18
• Certificate of appropriation
  • Contents 73-3-17
  • Prima facie evidence 73-3-17
  • Proof 73-3-16
  • Proof affidavit 73-3-5.6
• Change applications
  • Based on shares of stock 73-3-3.5
  • Contents 73-3-3
  • Failure to obtain, penalty 73-3-3
  • Instream flow for fish 73-3-30
  • Livestock on public land 73-3-31
  • Protects from forfeiture 73-1-4
  • Small amount of water 73-3-5.6
  • Temporary 73-3-3
• Commencement of work under an application 73-3-10
• Consolidation request, water right 73-3-27
• Decisions of state engineer on applications
  • Adjudicative proceedings (UAPA) 73-2-1.5
  • Criteria 73-3-8
  • Dismissal of court review 73-3-15
  • Review by court 73-3-14
• Due Diligence in placing water to beneficial use
  • Holding water by a public water supplier considered 73-3-12
  • Applicant Responsibility 73-3-12
  • Other users may question 73-3-13
• Diligence Claim, filing 73-5-13
• Election (statement in lieu of proof) 73-3-16
• Exchange applications 73-3-20
• Export of water from Utah
  • application form 73-3a-106
  • approval of applications 73-3a-108
  • certificate of change or appropriate 73-3a-109
  • exports governed by this chapter 73-3a-103
  • policy statement 73-3a-101
  • procedures to adjudicate 73-3a-105
  • publication of notice 73-3a-107
  • rulemaking power of state engineer 73-3a-104
  • substances in water 73-3a-102
• Extensions of time
  • Approval of a change application does not 73-3-3
  • 40 year plans required 73-3-12
  • Electrical cooperatives special treatment 73-3-12
  • Notice required after 14 years 73-3-12
  • Only uses from same source may protest 73-3-12
  • Public water suppliers special treatment 73-3-12
  • Priority may be reduced 73-3-12
• Filed, definition 73-3-4
• Financial ability of applicant, statement of 73-3-11
• Forfeiture declared by state engineer 73-3-13
• Hearings 73-3-13
• Investigations by state engineer 73-3-8
• judicial review
  • Dismissal of review (2 year limit) 73-3-15
  • State engineer’s decisions 73-3-14 and 73-2-1.5
  • trial de novo 73-3-15
• Lapsing of an application
  • Change Application based on shares of stock 73-3-3.5
  • Exchange Application 73-3-21
  • Failure to file proof 73-3-17
  • Failure to apply water to beneficial use within 50 years 73-3-12
  • Process 73-3-18
  • Reinstatement 73-3-18 and 73-3-5.6
• Livestock watering on public lands 73-3-31
• Ownership Conveyance (water rights)
  • Appurtenant transfers 73-1-11
  • Application assignment 73-3-18
  • Deed filing and recording 73-1-10 and 73-1-12
  • Deed rider (water right addendum to deed) 73-1-10
  • Report of Conveyance (ROC) 73-1-10
  • Stock in a water company 73-1-10
• Nonuse Application 73-1-4
• Notice
  • Approval or rejection of application 73-3-10
  • Applicant notice method 73-3-5
  • Application, by publication 73-3-6
  • Application diligence challenge 73-3-13
  • Change in point of diversion less than 660 feet 73-3-3
  • Diligence Claim 73-5-13
  • Extension of time requests 73-3-12
  • Judicial Review 73-3-14
  • Lapsing 73-3-18
  • Nonuse Application 73-1-4
  • Petition for right of entry to private property 73-3-19
  • Proof due 73-3-16
  • Small amount of water 73-3-5.6
  • Temporary application to appropriate 73-3-5.5
  • Temporary change application 73-3-3
• Power of attorney for application 73-3-5
• Priority
  • Between appropriators 73-3-1 and 73-3-21.1
  • During water shortage emergency 73-3-21.1
  • Of reinstated applications 73-3-18 and 73-3-5.6
  • Reduction of 73-3-12
• Private property, entry by applicants on 73-3-19
• Proof of appropriation or change
  • Effect of failure to make 73-3-12
  • Procedure for making 73-3-16
  • Statements in lieu of proof (election to file water users claim) 73-3-16
• protests
  • Adjudicative procedures 73-2-1.5
  • Application 73-3-7
  • Extensions of time 73-3-12
  • Diligence 73-3-13
• Public water supplier
  • Definition 73-1-4(1)
  • Forfeiture exemption 73-1-4(2)(e)(vii)
  • Diligence defined 73-3-12(2)(h)
  • Extensions after 50 years 73-3-12(4)(b)
  • Preference during water shortage emergency 73-3-21.1(2)(b)
• Rainwater harvesting 73-3-1.5
• Received, definition 73-3-4
• Reinstatement of lapsed applications 73-3-18
• Rejection of applications 73-3-8 and 73-3-10
• Replacement wells 73-3-3 and 73-3-28
• Salts and other minerals, applications involving 73-3-8
• Segregation requests (water right) 73-3-27
• Temporary applications to appropriate water 73-3-5.5
• Time limit for completion of work 73-3-10 and 73-3-12
• Underground water
  • Groundwater management plan 73-5-15
  • Permission to drill prior to approval of application (rush letter) 73-3-5
  • Replacement of water by junior appropriator allowed 73-3-23
  • Replacement wells 73-3-3 and 73-3-28
  • Report of well driller 73-3-25
  • Rules and regulations for well drilling 73-3-25
  • Safe yield definition 73-5-15
  • Well definition 73-3-25
• Well drillers
  • Licensing 73-3-25
  • Pump installers 73-3-25
  • Reporting required (well logs) 73-3-25
  • Violations 73-3-26

• approval to construct, alter, or abandon 73-5a-201
• approvals void after one year construction delayed 73-5a-205
• application for approval 73-5a-S204
• application to certain federal dams and reservoirs 73-5a-102
• civil penalties, costs, liability 73-5a-702
• classification according to hazard and use 73-5a-106
• emergency power of state engineer 73-5a-603
• emergency action plans 73-5a-601 and 73-5a-602
• failure to conform 73-5a-302
• final inspection 73-5a-304
• liability of owner 73-5a-103
• legislative findings--immunity from suit 73-5a-502
• independent consultants 73-5a-105
• inspections to insure compliance 73-5a-301
• modified or revoked 73-5a-303
• review of 73-5a-203
• submission of 73-5a-202
• standard operating plans required 73-5a-402
• state engineer power to specify 73-5a-602
• maintenance 73-5a-503
• notice of violation 73-5a-701
• power of state engineer to regulate 73-5a-101
• records and reports 73-5a-401
  
  

• amendatory act, effective date 73-4-23
• appeals to supreme court 73-4-16
• commencement of
  • court may order 73-4-1 and 73-4-18
  • petition of water users 73-4-1
• costs 73-4-20
• court appointments to assist 73-4-14
• court proceedings, duty to comply 73-4-21
• disputes involving less than all claimants
  • determination of 73-4-24
  • interlocutory order 73-4-24
• failure to file water users claim 73-4-9
• forfeiture of rights 73-4-9
• hearings
  • disputes involving less than all users 73-4-23
  • judgment after 73-4-15
  • objections to proposed determination 73-4-13
• interstate streams 73-4-2
• judgment
  • after hearing 73-4-15
  • certified copy, filing of 73-4-17
  • contents of 73-4-12
  • if contested 73-4-13
  • if no contest 73-4-12
• notice
  • additional notices 73-4-21
  • disputes involving less than all users 73-4-24
  • extending time to file water users claim 73-4-9
  • completion of survey 73-4-3
  • objections to proposed determination 73-4-13
  • proceedings 73-4-3 and 73-4-4
  • proposed determination 73-4-11
• petition of water users to commence 73-4-1
• pleadings
  • amendment of 73-4-10
  • extension of time to file 73-4-9 and 73-4-10
  • water users claims in lieu of 73-4-14
• proposed determination
  • distribution in accordance with 73-4-11
  • objections to 73-4-11
  • preparation by state engineer 73-4-11
  • public meetings 73-4-3, 73-4-11
• redetermination, bond 73-4-19
• report and recommendations of state engineer 73-4-11
• revolving fund 73-4-20
• state engineer
  • assistance to court 73-4-14
  • certificate under amendatory act 73-4-23
  • duties generally 73-4-1 , 73-4-3 and 73-4-4
  • interstate streams 73-4-2
  • prepare proposed determination 73-4-11
  • search records 73-4-22
• statements of claimants, see water user claims
• state to be a party 73-4-18
• summons
  • form 73-4-4
  • publication of 73-4-4 and 73-4-22
  • service 73-4-4
• unknown claimants, binding 73-4-22
• water users claims
  • amendments to 73-4-10
  • contents generally 73-4-5
  • court may extend time for filing 73-4-9 and 73-4-10
  • failure to file 73-4-9
  • irrigation, claim for 73-4-6
  • mining or milling, claim for 73-4-8
  • power purposes, claim for 73-4-7
  
  
  

• bond (surety) 73-22-6(1)(e)
• bond release 73-22-6(2)
• cooperative or unit operation 73-22-7
• definitions 73-22-3
• fluids as water resource 73-22-8
• information required 73-22-6
• jurisdiction of division 73-22-5
• judicial review 73-22-10
• legislative findings 73-22-2
• ownership of 73-22-4
• rights to 73-22-9
• title 73-22-1

• abandonment of right 73-1-4
• adjudicative proceedings 73-2-1.5
• appurtenant waters 73-1-11
• beneficial use
  • a public use 73-1-5
  • basis and limit of a water right 73-1-3
• conveyance of water rights
  • appurtenant waters 73-1-11
  • by deed, filing and recording 73-1-10 and 73-3-18
  • effect of failure to record deed 73-1-12
  • stock in water company 73-1-10
• corporations, mutual ownership of water stock 73-1-13
• dams and reservoirs
  • contribution between joint owners 73-1-9
  • eminent domain for 73-1-6
• ditches
  • contributions between joint owners 73-1-9
  • duties of owners to maintain 73-1-8
  • eminent domain for 73-1-6
  • enlargement for joint use 73-1-7
  • obstruction of, penalty 73-1-15
• eminent domain for rights of way 73-1-6
• existing rights 73-1-1
• forfeiture of rights
  • applications for extension of time with resume use 73-1-4
  • for nonuse 73-1-4
• interference with waterworks or administering official, penalty 73-1-14
• measurement, standard units of 73-1-2
• power and authority, division of water rights 73-2-1.1
• public property, water declared to be 73-1-1
• public use, beneficial use 73-1-5
• report to executive director of natural resources 73-2-1.3
• reservoirs, see dams
• rights of way 73-1-6 and 73-1-15
• state or agencies thereof may purchase stock in water companies 73-1-19
• water companies
  • bonds, issuance to cover loans from federal 73-1-18
  • determination of validity 73-1-16
  • loans from federal agencies 73-1-17
• watercourses, obstructing 73-1-15

• administrative procedure 73-3b-105
• application for recharge 73-3b-201
• application for recovery 73-3b-204
• change of use 73-3b-106
• compliance to proposed new well 73-3b-208
• definitions 73-3b-102
• fees 73-3b-302
• permits
  • issuance of recharge 73-3b-202
  • issuance of recovery 73-3b-205
  • lapse of recharge 73-3b-203
  • lapse of recovery 73-3b-206
  • modification of 73-3b-303
  • revocation or suspension 73-3b-401
• prohibitions 73-3b-103
• penalty 73-3b-402
• rulemaking power of state engineer 73-3b-104
• storage account 73-3b-301
• recoverable water 73-3b-107
• title 73-3b-101
• water right for recharged water 73-3b-106

• application 73-3-8
• change applications 73-3-3(2b)
• change app, not sole reason to reject 73-3-3(7a)
• definitions 73-28-103 and 73-26-103
• of shareholders 73-3-3.5
• state engineer power 73-3-5

• costs 73-5a-105
• conveyance of water rights 73-1-10 and 73-3-18
• ditches 73-1-8
  • joint owner 73-1-9
• fees 73-2-14
• geothermal resource 73-22-4
  • approval 73-22-7
• liability of owner 73-5a-103
• maintenance 73-5a-503
• POTW owner 73-3c-102

• appointment 73-2-1
• arbitration of disputes 73-2-16
• artesian wells, authority to control 73-2-21
• bond, filing of 73-2-2
• co-operative investigations
  • of groundwater resources 73-2-17
  • with state and federal agencies 73-2-15 and 73-2-17
• courts
  • aid to district court 73-2-5
  • aid to federal court 73-2-7
  • confirmation of arbitration agreements 73-2-16
• deputy and assistants 73-2-4
• director of division 73-2-1.2
• emergency power of state engineer
  • dam safety 73-5a-603
  • flood 73-2-22
  • flood, assistance to 73-2-22.1
  • general 73-2-23
• enforcement power 73-2-25
• equipment, purchase of 73-2-4
• fees 73-2-14
• investigations of states water resources 73-2-15 and 73-2-17
• knowledge of waterways 73-2-10
• legal counsel 73-2-13
• monuments, penalty for injuring 73-2-20
• oath of office 73-2-2
• office of public record 73-2-11
• powers and duties 73-2-1
• qualifications 73-2-1
• records
  • certified copies 73-2-11
  • office of public record 73-2-11
• reports to executive director 73-2-1.3
• biennial report to governor 73-2-1.3
• rules and regulations 73-2-1
• seal 73-2-12
• suggestions to amend law 73-2-10
• term of office 73-2-1
• wasting water, authority to control 73-2-21
• water districts, establishment of 73-2-1
• wells, control of 73-2-21

• acquiring water rights 73-3-1
• conveyance of water rights 73-1-10 and 73-1-11
• determination of Water Rights 73-4-3

• application to appropriate 73-3c-303
• application to state engineer 73-3c-302
• application to water quality board 73-3c-301
• change in point of discharge 73-3c-304
• definitions 73-3c-S102
• inflow of unappropriated water 73-3c-303
• priority of reuse 73-3c-401
• reuse by public agency owning the right 73-3c-201
• reuse by public agency under contract 73-3c-202
• title 73-3c-101

• priority of applications, determination 73-6-2
• purpose of withdrawal 73-6-1
• restoration of right of appropriation by proclamation 73-6-2
• suspension of right of appropriation by proclamation 73-6-1