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Water Appropriation Policy in Escalante River Drainage

Learn about the water appropriation policy in the Escalante River Drainage, including key features, definitions, establishing water rights, approval criteria, Colorado River policy, hydrology studies, and area boundaries.

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Water Appropriation Policy in Escalante River Drainage

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  1. Appropriation Policy Escalante River Drainage Kurt Vest Regional Engineer Division of Water Rights

  2. Prior Appropriation DoctrineMain Features • Divert water to beneficial use. • Priority date. • First in time, first in right. • Loss of right.

  3. Basic Definitions • All water in the state is property of the public (73-1-1). • Beneficial use shall be the basis, the measure, and the limit of all rights to the use of water in the state (73-1-3).

  4. Establishing a Water Right • Diligence Claim. • Surface water uses prior to 1903. • Underground Water Claim. • Ground-water uses prior to 1935. • Court Decreed. • Applications to Appropriate filed with State Engineer.

  5. Approval Criteria (73-3-8) • Unappropriated water in source. • Will not impair existing rights. • Physically and economically feasible. • Not monopolistic / speculation. • In the public interest / welfare. • Will not unreasonablyeffect the natural stream environment or public recreation.

  6. Water Appropriation Policy

  7. Appropriation Policy • Colorado River Policy (March 7, 1990) • Domestic filings, • One Family • Irrigation of 1/4 acre, • 10 heads of livestock (1.73 acre-feet), • Equivalent amount for other uses • Closed area (surrounding Escalante Town)

  8. The only restriction in the 97-area has been to exclude that portion described as “the developed agricultural areas where applications are being held”.

  9. On January 25, 1996, a memorandum was issued specifying the boundary of that excluded area.

  10. Closed Area

  11. Recharge Precipitation Runoff Return flow from irrigation Hydrology • Discharge • Evapotranspiration • Underflow • Springs • Seepage to Rivers • Wells

  12. Studies • 1969 (Goode) Reconnaissance Appraisal of Water Resources near Escalante • 1976 (DWRe) Hydrologic Inventory of the Escalante River Basin • 1986 (Blanchard) Ground-Water Conditions in the Kaiparowits Plateau Area

  13. Area

  14. Geologic Cross Section Navajo Sandstone Carmel Formation Entrada Sandstone Alluvium (Goode 1969)

  15. Town River Escalante Local 1

  16. Town River Moratorium Boundary Escalante Local 2

  17. Town River Moratorium Boundary Escalante Local 3 Hydrographic Boundary

  18. Town River Moratorium Boundary Escalante Local 4 Hydrographic Boundary

  19. Town River Moratorium Boundary Escalante Local 5 Hydrographic Boundary Surface Points of Diversion Underground Points of Diversion

  20. Water Right Information

  21. Thank You Comments – July 31th Utah Division of Water Rights PO Box 146300 Salt Lake City UT 84114-6300 www.waterrights.utah.gov

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