The Transfer of Agricultural Water to Municipal and Industrial Usages

The water that is available for beneficial use in Utah is quickly approaching full appropriation; water that has been claimed is nearing the amount that is available for use. The Division of Water Resources of the State of Utah has organized a three-part plan to Plan, Conserve, Develop and Protect Utah\u27s Water Resources. One of these three elements has a focus to provide comprehensive water planning. Such planning is best achieved when current and accurate data on the uses of the state\u27s water are available. The primary purpose of this thesis was to provide an evaluation, from data collected on various case studies across the state, on the accuracy of water rights information. The studies were selected based on land that had recently been developed from agricultural usage to residential, commercial, or other municipal uses. After identifying the accuracy of the water rights information, observations to the methods of recording water right transfers were made. A template to summarize a municipality\u27s water rights will also be made available