Kan. Admin. Regs. § 5-8-7

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 50, December 12, 2024

Section 5-8-7 - Extensions of time to perfect a water right

(a) For all beneficial uses of water, except municipal use, the total time to perfect the water right, including extensions of time, shall not exceed 10 years after the calendar year in which the diversion works were required to be completed unless one or more of the following "extenuating circumstances" exist.

(b) "Extenuating circumstances" shall include the following:

(1) Circumstances beyond the control of the owner of the approval of application that have unduly restricted the owner's ability to perfect the water right;

(2) actions or omissions by the chief engineer that make it necessary to extend the time to perfect; and

(3) for applications with a priority before May 1, 1978, the unavailability or lack of credibility of records of water use, crops grown, and the number and location of acres actually irrigated, and other relevant information during the perfection period, but other records or information is available for a period after the perfection period and would reasonably represent the application of water to beneficial use in accordance with the terms, conditions, and limitations of the permit.

(c) The burden shall be on the owner of the approval of application to document the extenuating circumstances described in subsection (b) and justify to the chief engineer the need for the extension of time to perfect the water right.

(d)

(1) Extensions of time to perfect for applications with a priority before May 1, 1978, may be granted in any reasonable increment of years. The total amount of time allowed to perfect the water right shall be reasonable.

(2) Extensions of time to perfect a water right for nonmunicipal use, with a priority on or after May 1, 1978, may be granted in any increment of time until the total time to perfect equals 10 years. After the total time allowed to perfect the water right equals 10 years, extensions of time shall be granted in one-year increments only.

(e) Extensions of the time to perfect a water right for municipal use of water that can be justified shall be extended in five-year increments or less after the original 20-year time period to perfect the water right has elapsed.

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 5-8-7

Authorized by K.S.A. 82a-706a; implementing K.S.A. 82a-712 and 82a-713; effective Sept. 22, 2000.