Utah Admin. Code 655-3-2

Current through Bulletin No. 2024-21, November 1, 2024
Section R655-3-2 - Definitions

APPURTENANCE - A right or improvement to a property that passes with the property upon the transfer of the property. As applied to water rights, it is as described in Utah Code Section 73-1-11.

APPROPRIATION - an application seeking to appropriate water pursuant to Utah Code Section 73-3-2.

BENEFICIAL USE - the basis, the measure and the limit of a water right. It is the specific use(s) authorized under a water right expressed in terms of the purpose(s) to which the water may be applied and the quantity of that purpose. For example, in the case of irrigation, the beneficial use is expressed as the number of acres that may be irrigated (e.g. 11.22 acres).

CHAIN OF TITLE - A series of deeds or other properly filed and recorded documents which demonstrate the transfer of a water right, a portion of a water right, or land with appurtenant water rights. Deeds establishing a chain of title begin with the owner listed on records of the Division of Water Rights as grantor of the first deed through a chronological succession of transfer documents where the right is ultimately conveyed to the grantee listed as new owner on the Report of Water Right Conveyance.

CHANGE APPLICATION - an application authorized to be made under Utah Code Section 73-3-3 to change the point of diversion, place of use, nature of use, period of use or storage of a water right.

CONFLICTED HOLDER - a person or entity claiming ownership of all or a portion of a water right that conflicts with the ownership claim of another person or entity claiming ownership of the same right or portion in question. Conflicted holders may also include title holders whose title is not directly disputed, but is the part-owner of a right where a title question exists, and to resolve the question, the State Engineer deems the holder should be involved.

DIVERSION LIMIT - the total volume of water in acre-feet or the flow rate in cubic feet per second which may be diverted as allowed by the water right to supply the needs of the beneficial uses authorized by the water right.

DIVISION - the Utah Division of Water Rights within the Department of Natural Resources.

EXCHANGE APPLICATION - as authorized under Utah Code Section 73-3-20, an application to allow water from one source to be exchanged for water from another source. Exchanges are conditional rights that do not modify the underlying rights (right on which the exchange is based). The water may be exchanged to the extent it is available and not used under the underlying right. For the purpose of updating title, an approved Exchange Application is appurtenant to land and transfers as other water right interests.

PLACE OF USE - the specific acreage where water under a water right may be placed to beneficial use as described on the records of the State Engineer or a decree.

PROFESSIONAL - for the purposes of this rule, a person authorized to submit a Report of Conveyance as specified in Utah Code Section 73-1-10. A professional must be licensed in Utah as an attorney, a professional engineer, a title insurance producer, or a professional land surveyor.

REPORT OF CONVEYANCE (ROC) - a report of water right conveyance to the state engineer as required by Section 73-1-10.

SHARE STATEMENT - A water right file created on state engineer records for purposes of administration in instances where the owner of shares of stock in a water company is authorized under statute to file an application (nonuse or change application) based on stock ownership. Water rights based on share statements are a conditional right. A water right change application based on shares of stock is appurtenant to the land where it is used and transfers as other interests in water rights. Shares of Stock do not transfer under rules of other rights to use water but transfer as securities as set forth in Title 70A, Chapter 8, Uniform Commercial Code - Investment Securities.

SOLE SUPPLY - means the amount of Beneficial Use allowed under a particular water right when used alone and separate from all Supplemental Rights. If a water right is assigned to more than one Water Use Group, the Sole Supply of the water right is the sum of its Beneficial Use Amounts.

SUPPLEMENTAL GROUP - Also referred to as a Water Use Group, means one or more water rights listed together and assigned a unique number in the records of the State Engineer as being applied to a common Beneficial Use. The unique number referred to is shown on the Division's computer data base as Supplemental Group No.

WATER RIGHT NUMBER - a unique file number assigned by the Division beginning with a two digit prefix associated with a specific geographic area designated by the Division, followed by a dash followed by another number to establish a specific number for the administrative functions of the Division. (e.g. 43-3231)

WATER RIGHTS ADDENDUM - an addendum to a deed clarifying the water rights conveyed by the deed pursuant to Section 73-1-10(1)(d)(i) and 73-1-11(6). Addendums are recorded with the deed it accompanies at the County Recorder's Office and are forwarded by the County Recorder to the State Engineer pursuant to Utah Code Section 57-3-109.

Utah Admin. Code R655-3-2

Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2016-21, effective 10/12/2016