WSP12096

• File Number: 8021
• Description: Section D General Correspondence-Western States Water Council
• Date: 2/19/1966
• Title: Western States Water Council Meeting Attachment No 8-Statement to be Submitted
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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3

First was a new comprehensive ground water act applicable
to the entire state. The act provided for a system of registra-
tion, permits, and adjudication of wells; and provided macbinery
to aprropri~te ground water. In the standards governing the
State Fngineer in admin1stering the act, you w~]l find the follow-
i ng language:
"Beneficial use without waste with~n the capacity of avail-
able sources be the basis, measure and extent of the right
to appropriate ground water."
It provided further that reasonably stable ground water levels
be determined and maintained. In addition, depletion of ground
water supplies below economic levels, impairment of natural quality
of ground water by r,ollution and wasteful practices in connection
with ground water be prevented or controlled within practical
limits. And if this is not clear enough, the Legislature went on
to say:
"Whenever wasteful use of ground water, impairment of or
intsrference with existing rights to appropriate surface
water, declining ground water levels, interference among wells,
overdrawing of ground water supplie3 or pollution of ground
water exists or impends, controlled use of the ground water
concerned be authorized and imposed under voluntary joint
action by the State Engineer and the ground water users
concerned whenever possible; but by the State Engineer under
the police power of the state when such voluntcry action is
not taken or is ineffective."