Laserfiche WebLink
<br />preference given domestic use of surface water <br />in current preferences statutes may be of little <br />value. Domestic use of water ought to be pro- <br />tected, whether the individual land owner is <br />relying upon an appropriative right, a riparian <br />right, or neither. The quantity used for these <br />purposes is very small in comparison to the value <br />received. I nterference with other water uses <br />because of implementation of this alternative <br />would not be so great as to offset the benefits <br />received. <br />Alternative #4 should, however, be applied <br />differently to existing non-domestic appropri- <br />ations than to those appropriations to be granted <br />in the future. For future uses, our recommend- <br />ation is essentially the same as that made in the <br />Preferences Report, which is that the Depart- <br /> <br />ment of Water Resources administer those <br />future non-domestic appropriations for the <br />benefit of domestic surface' water users even if <br />there is another reliable source of domestic <br />water available (sub-alternative 4b). Future non- <br />domestic appropriations could, at the time of <br />their issuance, be made subject to adequate <br />water being available for present and future <br />domestic uses. However, because of possible <br />constitutional difficulties and the additional dis- <br />ruptive effect Alternative 4b could have on <br />present non-domestic appropriations, we <br />recommend that those appropriations be admin- <br />istered for the benefit of domestic surface water <br />users only if there is no other reliable source of <br />water available (sub-alternative 4a). This con- <br />dition will greatly reduce any disruptive effect <br />which may otherwise occur. <br /> <br />II <br />