Viewing an earlier, undated versionView current (1) As used in this section:
(a) "Acquire" means to gain the right to use water through obtaining:
- (i) an approved application to appropriate water; or
- (ii) a perfected water right.
- (b) "Allotment" means a designated area of public land available for livestock grazing.
(c)
- (i) "Beneficial user" means the person that has the right to use the grazing permit.
- (ii) "Beneficial user" does not mean the public land agency issuing the grazing permit.
- (d) "Grazing permit" means a document authorizing livestock to graze on an allotment.
- (e) "Livestock" means a domestic animal raised or kept for profit or personal use.
(f) "Livestock watering right" means a right for:
(i) livestock to consume water:
- (A) directly from the water source located on public land; or
- (B) from an impoundment located on public land into which the water is diverted; and
- (ii) associated uses of water related to the raising and care of livestock on public land.
(g)
- (i) "Public land" means land owned or managed by the United States or the state.
(ii) "Public land" does not mean land owned by:
- (A) the Division of Wildlife Resources;
- (B) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration; or
- (C) the Division of Parks and Recreation.
- (h) "Public land agency" means the agency that owns or manages the public land.
- (2) On or after May 12, 2009, a livestock watering right may only be acquired by a public land agency jointly with a beneficial user.
- (3) The state engineer may not approve a change application under Section 73-3-3 for a livestock watering right without the consent of the beneficial user.
- (4) A beneficial user may file a nonuse application under Section 73-1-4 on a livestock watering right or a portion of a livestock watering right that the beneficial user puts to beneficial use.
- (5) A livestock watering right is appurtenant to the allotment on which the livestock is watered.
(6)
(a)
- (i) A beneficial user or a public land agency may file a request with the state engineer for a livestock water use certificate.
(ii) The state engineer shall:
- (A) provide the livestock water use certificate application form on the Internet; and
- (B) allow electronic submission of the livestock water use certificate application.
(b) The state engineer shall grant a livestock water use certificate to:
(i) a beneficial user if the beneficial user:
- (A) demonstrates that the beneficial user has a right to use a grazing permit for the allotment to which the livestock watering right is appurtenant; and
- (B) pays the fee set in accordance with Section 73-2-14; and
(ii) the public land agency if the public land agency:
(A)
- (I) demonstrates that the public land agency owns a livestock watering right; or
- (II) issues a grazing permit for the allotment to which the livestock watering right is appurtenant; and
- (B) pays the fee set in accordance with Section 73-2-14.
(c) A livestock water use certificate is valid as long as the livestock watering right is:
- (i) put to beneficial use within a seven-year time period; or
- (ii) subject to a nonuse application approved under Section 73-1-4.
- (7) A beneficial user may access or improve an allotment as necessary for the beneficial user to beneficially use, develop, and maintain the beneficial user's water right appurtenant to the allotment.