Water Rights Proposal Could Protect Rights Holders

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) A proposal to further protect public water suppliers from forfeiture of water rights while they plan and finance their operation will go before the Utah Legislature in 2008.

The proposal gives public water suppliers a 30-year window to do their planning. Republican Representative Patrick Painter of District 67, sponsor of the bill, says the bill will also protect those suppliers from losing rights to an area of water, like a creek, for non-use if they have found a better way to provide water, such as through a well.

The proposed legislation would also extend the non-use period of private water rights holders from five to seven years; it protects agricultural water rights holders from non-use forfeiture if they have conservation contracts with the federal government; and those leasing water rights to a third party would no longer be subject to forfeiture of their water rights.

To listen to a longer conversation about water rights in Utah, download a podcast of today's Midday Metro here.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW