Protect Water Historical Consumptive Use Analysis

When a water right owner wishes to change a water right, the amount of water that can be changed is limited to the historical consumptive use of the water right. Current law provides that the reduced water usage that results from participation in a government-sponsored water conservation program will not be considered in analyzing the historical consumptive use of the water right, but only in water divisions 4, 5, or 6. The bill applies this rule statewide, includes water conservation pilot programs, and limits state agencies that can approve a water conservation program to only those that have explicit statutory jurisdiction over water conservation or water rights. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)