WSP01794

• File Number: 8051
• Description: Area of Origin
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 1/1/1986
• Author: McDonnel and Howell
• Title: University of Colorado Law Review - Area-Of-Origin Protection in Transbasin Water Diversions: An Evaluation of Alternative Approaches
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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AREA.OF.ORIGI:>i PROTECTION

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Th~ 0\\!ner or owners of any irngiHion ditch or canal shall
c.:Irefully maintain the ~mbank.mems thereof so as [Q prevem waSte
therefrom. a.nd shall return the unused water from such ditch or
~.:lnal with as little waste thereof as possible to the stream from
whIch such water was taken or to the Missouri River. I \

In the case of Osterman v. Centrai Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation
Distric!." the Nebraska Supreme COUrI interpreted these statutes as
effectively barrIng all transbasin diverSIOns. A subsequent COUrI deci.
sion overruled Osterman. I' and in 1981 the Nebraska legislature
passed new legislation permitting interbasin transfers that pass a pub- ......
lie inreresI review. l-l.

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3. Arizona

Under Arizona law. out.of.walershed transfers are severely reo
stricted because irrigation districts, agricultural improvement districts,
or water users associations located within, and using water from, the
drainage :lre gIven a veto over all water transfers" The provision
states:

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No right to [h~ use of water on or from any watershed or
drJinage 3re.:t which supplies or contributes water far the irrigation
or lands within an irrigation districL agriculcural improvement dis~
rriet or water us~rs association shall be severed or transci:rred with~
out the cons~n( of the governing body of such irrigation district.
J.gncul[uraJ improvement districr or wa.ter uSers association.l(J

Although directed at transfers generally and not only out.of.water-
shed diversions. the restrictive effect is apparent. There are no reo
pOrIed Arizona cases involving [his law,

4. Montana

In the ! 985 legislative session. Montana enacted some major
changes in its water laws. Of relevance here is a provision which al.
lows onlv the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conser.....
vation to engage in out.or.basin transfers. " Presumably, those
desiring such our.of.basin transfers must first convince the state to

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