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===Introduction=== | ===Introduction=== | ||
Water usage in Utah began with the first diversion of the streams from the Wasatch Mountains in the Salt Lake Valley, soon after the first pioneers arrived in 1847. Regulation and registration of water rights began with the creation of the Territorial Government and the organization of the counties beginning in 1850. | Water usage in Utah began with the first diversion of the streams from the Wasatch Mountains in the Salt Lake Valley, soon after the first pioneers arrived in 1847. Regulation and registration of water rights began with the creation of the Territorial Government and the organization of the counties beginning in 1850. A "county courts" water allocation system was enacted in 1852 and was in effect until 1880 when it was replaced by a statute providing for county water commissioners. | ||
The Office of the State Engineer was created in 1897. The State Engineer is the chief water rights administrative officer. A complete "water code" was enacted in 1903 and was revised and reenacted in 1919. This law, with succeeding complete reenactments and amendments is presently in force mostly as [http://le.utah.gov/UtahCode/chapter.jsp?code=73 Utah Code, Title 73]. In 1967 the name of the Office of the State Engineer was changed to the Division of Water Rights with the State Engineer designated as the Director, but the public sometimes still refers to the Division as the State Engineer's Office. | |||
===History=== | ===History=== | ||