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<br /> <br />with an existing irrigation system in use prior to the effective <br />date of the law must be issued a permit to continue unless <br />some other riparian user is thereby damaged. Nothing in the <br />law shall impair the vested rights of any person. Permits <br />may not be granted which (1) will be detrimental to the public <br />interests or to the interests of property owners with prior or <br />superior rights who might be affected, (2) will impair the <br />effect of pollution control laws, (3) will impair the navigability <br />of any navigable watercourse, (4) will adversely affect the <br />control, development, protection, allocation, or utilization of <br />the water resources of the state, or (5) will adversely affect <br />or interfere with the state comprehensive plan for water <br />resources or an approved local water resources plan. Permits <br />may be granted for a maximum period of ten years. <br /> <br />Beneficial use is defined as "the application of water <br />to a useful purpose which inures to the benefit of the water user <br />and subject to his dominion and control, but does not include <br />the waste or pollution of water. " <br /> <br />Waste is defined as "(a) permitting ground water or <br />surface water to flow, taking it or using it in any manner so <br />that it is not put to its full beneficial use, (b) transporting <br />ground water from its source to its place of use in such a <br />manner that there is an excessive loss in transit, (c) per- <br />mitting or causing the pollution of a water bearing strata through <br />any act which will cause salt water, highly mineralized water, <br />or otherwise contaminated water to enter it". <br /> <br />Under policy adopted by the Resources Council to <br />supplement the statute, most permits now are granted for the <br />maximum legal period of ten years. Withdrawals from surface <br />sources for irrigation are limited to a maximum period of <br />seven years. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Permits for supplemental irrigation of general farm <br />crops generally authorize withdrawals in quantities sufficient <br />to apply a maximum of 15-acre inches per acre except in the <br />dryer western part of the state where a maximum of 18-acre <br />inches per acre may be authorized. Greater quantities may be <br />authorized for irrigation purposes where special need is <br />demonstrated as for truck gardens, nurseries, sod farms, etc. <br />Although no specific criteria have been adopted for other uses, <br /> <br />10 <br />