2006 Utah Code - 17A-2-1401 — Declaration of benefits and policy.

     17A-2-1401.   Declaration of benefits and policy.
     It is declared that to provide for the conservation and development of the water and land resources of the state of Utah and for the greatest beneficial use of water within this state, the organization of water conservancy districts and the construction or works as herein defined by such districts are a public use and will:
     (1) be essentially for the public benefit and advantage of the people of the state of Utah;
     (2) indirectly benefit all industries of the state;
     (3) indirectly benefit the state of Utah in the increase of its taxable property valuation;
     (4) directly benefit municipalities by providing adequate supplies of water for domestic use;
     (5) directly benefit lands to be irrigated or drained from works to be constructed;
     (6) directly benefit lands now under irrigation by stabilizing the flow of water in streams and by increasing flow and return flow of water to such streams;
     (7) promote the comfort, safety and welfare of the people of the state of Utah, and it is therefore declared to be the policy of the state of Utah:
     (a) to control, make use of and apply to beneficial use all unappropriated waters in this state to a direct and supplemental use of such waters for domestic, manufacturing, irrigation, power, and other beneficial uses;
     (b) to obtain from water in Utah the highest duty for domestic uses and irrigation of lands in Utah within the terms of interstate compacts or otherwise;
     (c) to cooperate with the United States and agencies thereof under the federal reclamation laws or other federal laws now or hereafter enacted and to construct and finance works in the state of Utah as herein defined and to operate and maintain the same;
     (d) to promote the greater prosperity and general welfare of the people of the state of Utah by encouraging the organization of water conservancy districts as provided in this part.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 186, 1990 General Session