§ 41-3-935 — Adjudication procedure

Wyoming § 41-3-935

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 41: Water
• Ch. 3: WATER RIGHTS; ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL
• Art. 9: UNDERGROUND WATER

Text

(a) Any person constructing any well under a permit shall,
within thirty (30) days after the completion or abandonment of
such work, report to the state engineer the data required
relating to such well, on forms furnished by the state engineer.
A well shall be considered complete when it is possible to
install a pump and pump water. In the case of an artesian well,
completion is the time when the drill rig is moved off of the
drilling site.
(b) Adjudication of all ground water rights except stock
watering and domestic uses of ground water referenced in W.S.
41-3-907 shall proceed upon completion of the work according to
the terms of the permit and the recording on forms furnished by
the state engineer of such information as is deemed necessary
concerning the works, and the filing of a map signed by a
Wyoming licensed professional engineer or land surveyor, showing
the location of the well and the point or points of use. The
state engineer or his authorized representative shall inspect
the works, the lands irrigated or other uses being made of the
water upon receipt of the map. The adjudication of stock
watering and domestic uses of ground water referenced in W.S.
41-3-907 may be initiated by the state engineer or the
appropriator of record and will not require the filing of a map
signed by a Wyoming licensed professional engineer or land
surveyor, showing the location of the well and the points and
areas of use or require the inspection by the state engineer or
his authorized representative of the works, the lands irrigated
or other uses being made of the water unless, in the discretion
of the state engineer, such procedures are deemed necessary and
appropriate. At this time the board may consider for
adjudication the ground water rights upon proof of beneficial
use being submitted by the appropriator.
(c) Adjudication shall proceed in the same manner
prescribed for the adjudication of surface water appropriations
once the state engineer or his authorized representative has
reported his findings to the board. A ground water appropriation
attaches to the land for irrigation, or for such other purposes
or object for which it was acquired.
(d) In the interest of an orderly adjudication procedure
for ground water, the state engineer, with the concurrence of
the board, may order adjudication of any ground water
appropriations in the state. Upon one (1) year notice, any
appropriator whose appropriation is to be adjudicated shall
furnish the state engineer all of the documents mentioned in
subsection (b) of this section. If any appropriator refuses to
supply any of this information, the superintendent may tag and
lock the well. Any appropriator that interferes with the tag or
lock is subject to the same penalty as provided in W.S.