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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Under the Bct ttle State Engineer is authorized to order dis-
continuance or impose conditions upon any well which he finds by
nature of its construction, operation or otherwise is causing
wasteful use of ground water; is unduly interfering with other
wells; or is pol luting ground water or surface water supplies.
To prevent overdrafting of ground water resources, the State
Engineer is authorized to declare critical rround water areas and
has authority to Close the critical ground water area to further
appropriation of water; to apportion among a predetermined total
withdrawal in accordance with either the relative dates of
priority or among the uses as he deems advisable, forbidding the
use of wells in such an area, or institution of abatement or seal-
ing of a well responsible for admitting polluting materials to
the ground water supply. He can require and specify a system of
rotation of use in ground water in a critical area. If this is
not sufficient, he can utilize anyone or more provisions making
such additional requirements as are necessary to protect the
public welfare, health and safety.
The purpose of all this, of course, is to attempt to act in
advance of the development of critical overdrafting of ground
water resources with the full purnose of getting maximum utiliza-
tion of the waters without waste.
Another significant act resulted from the recommendations of
tha same interim committee; the creation of the State water
Resources Board w~lich is charged with inventorying the existing
water resources of the state, means and methods or conserving and
augmenting these resources, determination of existing and con-
templated needs and uses of water for all beneficial purposes.