Sandralpond (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| (12 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{AZ-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb | ||
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]] | |||
[[United States]] | | link2=[[United States Water Records|U.S. Water Records]] | ||
| link3=[[Arizona, United States Genealogy|Arizona]] | |||
| link4= | |||
| link5=[[Arizona Water Records|Water Records]] | |||
}} | |||
== Introduction == | |||
From ancient times to the present, the history of Arizona has always been closely tied to the availability of water. Most of the population of the state lives along or is entirely dependent upon historic riverbeds, many of which are now dry because all of the water has been impounded for irrigation and domestic uses. | From ancient times to the present, the history of Arizona has always been closely tied to the availability of water. Most of the population of the state lives along or is entirely dependent upon historic riverbeds, many of which are now dry because all of the water has been impounded for irrigation and domestic uses. | ||
| Line 13: | Line 16: | ||
The court litigation and the ownership records of water rights are a valuable source of information about the residents of the state and have great value to genealogists. | The court litigation and the ownership records of water rights are a valuable source of information about the residents of the state and have great value to genealogists. | ||
== History == | |||
Water records date back to the time when the entire Southwest region of the continent was part of the Spanish Empire. It is to the Spanish or civil law system that Arizona inherited the doctrine of "prior appropriation" or "first in time, first in right." Here are several websites that review the history of water rights in Arizona: | Water records date back to the time when the entire Southwest region of the continent was part of the Spanish Empire. It is to the Spanish or civil law system that Arizona inherited the doctrine of "prior appropriation" or "first in time, first in right." Here are several websites that review the history of water rights in Arizona: | ||
*[ | *[https://new.azwater.gov/adwr/history Arizona Department of Water Resources, History of Water Management in Arizona] | ||
*[ | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Arizona_Project History of the Central Arizona Project] | ||
*[https://www.arizonawine.org/Docs/Layperson'sGuidetoArizonaWater.pdf Water Education Foundation and the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center, Arizona Water] | *[https://www.arizonawine.org/Docs/Layperson'sGuidetoArizonaWater.pdf Water Education Foundation and the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center, Arizona Water] | ||
*[http://www.srpnet.com/education/azwaterstory.aspx Salt River Project, Arizona Water Story]. | *[http://www.srpnet.com/education/azwaterstory.aspx Salt River Project, Arizona Water Story]. | ||
| Line 25: | Line 28: | ||
Arizona has a bifurcated system of water law. The doctrine of prior appropriation applies to surface water and water flowing in definite underground channels, but applies the doctrine of prior appropriation to groundwater. | Arizona has a bifurcated system of water law. The doctrine of prior appropriation applies to surface water and water flowing in definite underground channels, but applies the doctrine of prior appropriation to groundwater. | ||
See [http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1297&context=jcwre Integrated Water Management When Surface and Groundwater are legally Separate, by Charlotte Benson, Assistant Attorney General, State of the Arizona]. | See [http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1297&context=jcwre Integrated Water Management When Surface and Groundwater are legally Separate, by Charlotte Benson, Assistant Attorney General, State of the Arizona]. | ||
== Importance of Water Records == | |||
Since water records are kept in addition to records of land transactions, they are a valuable supplement to the existing land records. By statute in Arizona, Arizona Revised Statutes Section 37-708, water rights attach and become appurtenant to the land when the title passes from the United States to the state. | Since water records are kept in addition to records of land transactions, they are a valuable supplement to the existing land records. By statute in Arizona, Arizona Revised Statutes Section 37-708, water rights attach and become appurtenant to the land when the title passes from the United States to the state. | ||
== Finding Water Records == | |||
Water records are generally held by the individual water districts or irrigation companies. | Water records are generally held by the individual water districts or irrigation companies. | ||
| Line 37: | Line 40: | ||
Here are some additional records: | Here are some additional records: | ||
*[https:// | *[https://azlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/arm-water_collections_az_state_archives.pdf Water Holdings at the State Archives] at Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records | ||
*[ | *[https://new.azwater.gov/ Arizona Department of Water Resources, Online Files]. | ||
*[ | *[https://azlibrary.gov/arm/accessing-arizona-public-records Requesting Records] at Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records | ||
=== References === | === References === | ||
| Line 45: | Line 48: | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
{{Arizona | {{Arizona}} | ||
[[Category:Arizona | [[Category:Arizona, United States]] | ||
edits