Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Natural Resources
Title R655 - Natural Resources, Water Rights
Rule R655-15 - Administrative Procedures for Distribution Systems and Water Commissioners
Section R655-15-4 - Definitions
Universal Citation: UT Admin Code R 655-15-4
Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024
(1) Terms used in this rule are defined as follows:
(a)
"Assessment " means monies paid by water users to the State Engineer
specifically to defray the costs of a Distribution System as described in
Subsection
73-5-1(3).
Assessments are deposited into and appropriate payments made from the "Water
Commissioner Fund" established by Section
73-5-1.5.
(b) "Control Structure" means any structure
or device including but not limited to diversion dams, head gates, check dams,
valves, or other installation that the State Engineer determines to be
necessary for the proper regulation and distribution of water.
(c) "Deputy Water Commissioner" (Deputy
Commissioner) means a person appointed by the State Engineer in accordance with
Subsection
73-5-1(1).
A Deputy Water Commissioner is an official and, in the performance of official
duties, is a duly authorized assistant of the Water Commissioner.
(d) "Distribution Account" means the
accounting unit established by the Division of Water Rights ("Division") for
calculation of assessments and for tracking the assessments made to and
payments collected from each water user.
(e) "Distribution Order" means an Order of
the State Engineer interpreting the water rights included within a Distribution
System, confirming priorities of water rights, giving instruction or direction
regarding the regulation, distribution, and/or measurement of water based on
those water rights, and may order the installation or repair of measuring
devices, head gates, and control structures as authorized by Chapter 73-5.
Distribution Orders are enforceable under the provisions of Sections
73-2-25
and
73-2-26.
(f) "Distribution Season" means that period
of the year during which the regulation of water distribution and/or the
measurement of water by a Water Commissioner is necessary as determined by the
State Engineer.
(g) "Distribution
System" means an organization of the owners of water rights within a river
system or hydrologic unit, or a portion of a river system or hydrologic unit,
that have been designated by the State Engineer for regulation by one or more
Water Commissioners in accordance with Subsections
73-5-1(1)(b),
73-5-1(1)(c),
and
73-5-1(2).
(h) "Distribution System Committee"
(Committee) means the subgroup of water users properly designated to represent
all water users within a Distribution System.
(i) "Division" means the Division of Water
Rights of the State of Utah. The terms "Division" and "State Engineer" may be
used interchangeably unless indicated otherwise by the context of the
usage.
(j) "Enforcement Tag" means
any orange tag attached by a water commissioner to or near a control structure
or water measuring device in situations where the water user is ordered to
comply with the water commissioner's regulation and distribution of water. An
enforcement tag constitutes a distribution order and is enforceable in the same
manner.
(k) "Measuring Device"
means any structure or device approved by the State Engineer but not limited to
flumes, weirs, meters, or similar devices that can be used to adequately
determine the instantaneous flow of water or the volume of water measured over
a period of time with an accuracy commensurate with industry
standards.
(l) "Regulation Tag"
means a white tag used by a water commissioner to inform and instruct the water
users regarding the regulation and distribution of water at the location where
the tag is placed.
(m) "State
Engineer" means the Director of the Division of Water Rights appointed in
accordance with Section
73-2-1
or other person acting in a legally delegated capacity as an agent, assistant,
employee or representative of the Director. The terms "State Engineer" and
"Division" may be used interchangeably unless indicated otherwise by the
context of the usage.
(n)
"Voluntary Agreement" means an agreement entered into by a group of water right
owners whereby the owners stipulate to have the Water Commissioner regulate and
distribute the water rights described in the agreement to the group of owners
as if the group were a single entity such as a water company.
(o) "Voting Block" means a group of water
users, designated as such by the State Engineer, who share a common interest
within a Distribution System because of the nature of their water rights, the
geographic location of their water use, or any other element of their water
rights or water usage.
(p) "Water
Commissioner" (Commissioner) means a person appointed by the State Engineer in
accordance with Subsection
73-5-1(1)(a).
A Water Commissioner is an official and, in the performance of official duties,
is a duly authorized assistant of the State Engineer as contemplated at Section
73-5-3.
(q) "Water Company" means a water user
organization that owns water rights, to which water is distributed by a
Commissioner and which, in turn, delivers and distributes water to its members
on the basis of proportional ownership of shares or other interest. A water
company must be formally incorporated under applicable State of Utah statutes
and may be either a for-profit entity or a mutual, non-profit entity.
(r) "Water User" means an individual person,
a group acting cooperatively under a voluntary agreement, a water company, a
municipality, a special district, a state or federal agency, or any other legal
entity that meets the following criteria:
(i)
Owns a water right included within a Distribution System;
(ii) Is subject to payment of an
assessment;
(iii) Has an
identifiably separate and distinct interest in the use of water in the
distribution system.
The members of a group acting under a voluntary agreement; a water company's members, shareholders or officers; and those persons served by a municipality, special district, or other governmental entity are not considered water users under this definition, but are represented at Annual Meetings or other meetings of the Distribution System by one duly appointed representative of the group or entity. A group of co-owners, including a husband and wife, who jointly own a water right with an undivided interest are not considered separate water users under this definition, but are also represented at Annual Meetings or other meetings of the Distribution System by one duly appointed representative of the group. This definition applies only to Rule R655-15.
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