Any person claiming to be the owner of a right to appropriate water from any source for beneficial use other than domestic uses as defined in subdivision § 46-1-6(7), on property in the State of South Dakota which was located in the state of Nebraska prior to ratification and approval of state boundary changes pursuant to § 1-2-8 shall file with the chief engineer prior to July 1, l993, any water use claim in a form and manner prescribed by the Board of Water Management. The claim shall set forth the water source, the amount of water used, when the water was used, purpose of use, the location of the diversion works and, if the water has been used for irrigation purposes, the legal description of the land upon which the water has been used and the name of the land owner. Any water right or other document issued by the state of Nebraska concerning the claimed water use shall accompany the claim. The claim shall be signed under oath, and shall be either from the claimant’s own personal knowledge or on information and belief. The hearing on the claim shall be conducted pursuant to the procedures contained in this chapter. If the claim is approved by the Board of Water Management, the priority date assigned to the claim shall be either the date assigned to a water right granted in the state of Nebraska or the date water was originally put to beneficial use in the state of Nebraska, if no water right was granted. Failure to file a claim prior to July 1, 1993, waives any claim for appropriation of water.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Source: SL 1991, ch 370.