Livestock Water Use Certificates

In 2008, the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 208 (HB 208) entitled "Livestock Watering Rights." The bill enacted Utah Code section 73-3-31, which attempted to limit the right of the Bureau of Land Managment (BLM) and other public land agencies from acquiring livestock water rights. To read the 2008 bill, click here.

In 2009, the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 256 (HB 256) to amend Utah Code section 73-3-31. The bill provided that after May 12, 2009, a public land agency can only acquire a livestock watering right if it does so jointly with the beneficial user (i.e., the holder of the grazing permit). The bill also clarified that the State Engineer cannot approve a change application on a livestock water right unless the beneficial user consents to the change. The public land agency and/or the beneficial user can request a livestock water use certificate. To read the 2009 bill, click here.

To read the current version of Utah Code section 73-3-31, click here.

To access the Utah Division of Water Right's online livestock water certificate application form, click here.

For an interesting article about the history and legal analysis of the livestock watering law, click here.