Water Rights Forfeiture Protection Passes Legislature

Feb 29, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) A bill protecting municipalities from forfeiting their water rights under certain circumstances finally made it out of the legislature today, and will now go to Governor Jon Huntsman's desk, after it was amended by the Senate and substituted five times.

Representative Patrick Painter's bill increases the allowable non-use period from five years to seven years, and allows local governments to hold water rights for future use.

The bill received bipartisan support, had 60 co-sponsors and was approved by a vote of 65 to five.

Representative Kay McIff amended the bill to include a statement added by the Senate. McIff's statement says the bill is not intended to allow cities to hoard water rights, among other things.

The bill received strong support from the Utah League of Cities and Towns, a group that represents Utah's 243 incorporated municipalities.  It was criticized by farmers who said it would give cities preferential treatment.

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