Agriculture to Municipal Change Applications

1. Agriculture to Municipal Change Applications S. Ross Hansen P.E., L.S. Weber River/Western Regional Engineer

2. Introduction • Development requires individuals and/or entities to move their water rights to cities. • Our office is fielding numerous phone calls concerning these conversions. • Purpose: • Help public understand the considerations given to these types of applications by the State Engineer’s Office.

3. Commonly used Terms • Duty: quantity of water, determined by the state engineer, required to satisfy the irrigation water requirements in a given area; Based on the irrigation requirements of alfalfa. • Diversion: removal of water from its natural source. • Depletion: portion of water withdrawn from a surface or groundwater source that is consumed by particular use(s) and does not return to the local hydrologic system. Used synonymously with the term consumptive use. • Beneficial use: use of water for one or more statutorily recognized purposes; examples are: domestic, municipal, irrigation, and stockwatering; It is the basis, measure and limit of a water right. • Reuse: water that is discharged by one use and placed to another use before leaving the physical control of the water right holder.

4. State Engineer Considerations • What are the heretofore and the hereafter beneficial uses? • Compare historic diversion of the right with proposed diversion. • Compare historic depletion of the right with proposed depletion. • Will the change enlarge the right? • Will the the change impair other vested rights?

5. Change From Ag. To MunicipalDiversion • A duty of 4 acre-feet per acre has been assigned to the Tooele area for the purpose of evaluating historic diversion quantities. • Example: (10 acres of irrigation). • 10 acres x 4 acre-feet/acre = 40 acre-feet. • If change is approved the city would be limited to a diversion of 40 acre-feet.

6. Change From Ag. To MunicipalDepletion • To evaluate historic depletion quantities the state engineer uses research report 145 (consumptive use of irrigated crops in utah). • Example: (using same 10 acres irrigation). • 10 acres x 2.20 acre-feet/acre = 22 acre-feet. • 2.20 acre-feet - Tooele station alfalfa. • If change is approved the city would be limited to a depletion of 22 acre-feet.

7. Municipality Considerations • How will the water be used? • How much will be used for irrigation (outside)? • How much will be used for indoor use? • Does the city have a reuse plan for its water? • Water used indoors will be reused and could be fully depleted. • Water used for lawns (outdoor) will be depleted similar to the heretofore irrigation. (ie 2.20 ac.-ft/acre) • The city will not be allowed to exceed the historic DIVERSION or DEPLETION of the right.

8. Example of a Municipal Change(city approved for reuse) • Historic use = same 10 acres • 40 acre-feet diversion/ 22 acre-feet depletion • Hereafter use - water needed for a subdivision with 20 lots • 20 houses x 0.45 acre-feet/house = 9 acre-feet – assumed 100% depleted. • Each lot will irrigate approx. 1/3 acre (actual 0.295) use 0.3 acre • 0.3 acre x 2.20 acre-feet/acre x 20 ≈ 13 acre-feet 9 acre-feet + 13 acre-feet =22 acre feet. Future depletion does not exceed historic depletion

9. Example of a Municipal Change(city approved for reuse)(continued) • 20 lots x 0.3 acre/lot ≈ 5.9 acres irrigation. • 5.9 acres x 4 acre-feet/acre = 23.6 acre-feet. • 20 house @0.45 diversion = 9.0 acre-feet. • Total diversion = 32.6 acre –feet. • 32.6 ac.-ft. < 40 ac.-ft. Future diversion does not exceed historic diversion.

10. Where to Get More Information • Division website www.waterrights.utah.gov/ • Past decisions or orders of the State Engineer • Research Report 145 • Robert W. Hill – USU

11. Questions????? Thank you