H.B. 196 Enrolled

WATER COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS
2000 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Michael R. Styler
AN ACT RELATING TO WATER AND IRRIGATION; EXTENDING THE TERM FOR
WHICH WATER COMMISSIONERS ARE APPOINTED.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
73-5-1, as last amended by Chapter 9, Laws of Utah 1999
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 73-5-1 is amended to read:
73-5-1. Appointment of water commissioners -- Procedure -- Hearing to determine
adequacy of underground water supply.
(1) (a) If, in the judgment of the state engineer or the district court, it is necessary to
appoint a water commissioner for the distribution of water from any river system or water source,
the commissioner shall be appointed [annually] for a four-year term by the state engineer.
(b) The state engineer shall determine whether all or a part of a river system or other water
source shall be served by a commissioner, and if only a part is to be served, the state engineer shall
determine the boundaries of that part.
(c) The state engineer may appoint:
(i) more than one commissioner to distribute water from all or a part of a water source; or
(ii) a single commissioner to distribute water from several separate and distinct water
sources.
(2) (a) The state engineer shall consult with the water users before appointing a
commissioner. The form of consultation and notice to be given shall be determined by the state
engineer so as to best suit local conditions, while providing for full expression of majority opinion.
(b) If a majority of the water users agree upon a qualified person to be appointed as water
commissioner, the duties the person shall perform, and the compensation the person shall receive,
and they make recommendations to the state engineer on the appointment, duties, and

compensation, the state engineer shall act in accordance with their recommendations.
(c) If a majority of water users do not agree on the appointment, duties, or compensation,
the state engineer shall make a determination for them.
(3) (a) The salary and expenses of the commissioner and all other expenses of distribution,
including printing, postage, equipment, water users' expenses, and any other expenses considered
necessary by the state engineer, shall be borne pro rata by the users of water from the river system
or water source in accordance with a schedule to be fixed by the state engineer. The schedule shall
be based on the established rights of each water user, and the pro rata share shall be paid by each
water user to the state engineer on or before May 1 of each year.
(b) The payments shall be deposited in the Water Commissioner Fund created in Section
73-5-1.5 .
(c) If a water user fails to pay the assessment as provided by Subsection (3)(a), the state
engineer may do any or all of the following:
(i) create a lien upon the water right affected by filing a notice of lien in the office of the
county recorder in the county where the water is diverted and bring an action to enforce the lien;
(ii) forbid the use of water by the delinquent water user or the delinquent water user's
successors or assignees, while the default continues; or
(iii) bring an action in the district court for the unpaid expense and salary.
(d) In any action brought to collect any unpaid assessment or to enforce any lien under this
section, the delinquent water user shall be liable for the amount of the assessment, interest, any
penalty, and for all costs of collection, including all court costs and a reasonable attorney fee.
(4) (a) A commissioner may be removed by the state engineer for cause.
(b) The users of water from any river system or water source may petition the district court
for the removal of a commissioner and after notice and hearing, the court may order the removal of
the commissioner and direct the state engineer to appoint a successor.
(5) (a) In addition to the power granted to the state engineer to appoint water commissioners
for the distribution of water, the state engineer may, at any time, hold a hearing, or upon a petition
signed by not less than one-third of the users of underground waters in any area as defined by the

- 2 -

state engineer, shall hold a hearing, to determine whether the underground water supply within such
area is adequate for the existing claims.
(b) (i) Notice of the hearing shall be given in a form and manner which, in the judgment of
the state engineer, best suits local conditions.
(ii) The state engineer may make a full investigation and provide findings for the hearing.
(c) If the findings show that the water supply is inadequate for existing claims, the state
engineer shall divide, or request that the water commissioner divide, the water supply among the
claimants entitled to the water in accordance with their respective rights.

- 3 -