reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-740 - Appointment and Qualifications; Number; Term; Election of Successors; Vacancies; Bond.

41-3-740. Appointment and qualifications; number; term; election of successors; vacancies; bond.
(a) Within thirty (30) days after entering the decree incorporating said district, the court shall appoint a board of directors of the district consisting of not less than five (5) or more than nine (9) persons who are residents of the county or counties in which the water conservancy district is situated, all of whom shall be owners of real property in said district. The terms of office of said directors shall be staggered over a five (5) year period, but not more than two (2) of such directors may be appointed for a full five (5) year term.
(b) At the expiration of their respective terms of office as fixed by the court, their successors in office shall be elected in the manner provided for the election of irrigation district commissioners in W.S. 41-7-103, 41-7-104 and 41-7-316 through 41-7-318, as amended, or as may be amended by the legislature of Wyoming hereafter, except that they shall be elected for a term of five (5) years. The court shall fill all vacancies which may occur at any time on said board, but such court appointees shall only serve until the next succeeding regular election for board members. Each director shall hold office during the term for which he is appointed or elected, and until his successor is duly appointed or elected, and has qualified; and shall furnish a corporate surety bond at the expense of the district; in amount and form fixed and approved by the court, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties as such director.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-741 - Oath; Election of Officers; Seal; Records; Compensation and Expenses.

41-3-741. Oath; election of officers; seal; records; compensation and expenses.
(a) Each director, before entering upon his official duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath before an officer authorized to administer oaths, that he will support the constitution of the United States and the state of Wyoming and will honestly, faithfully and impartially perform the duties of his office and that he will not be interested directly or indirectly in any contract let by said district, which said oath shall be filed in the office of the clerk of said court in the original case.
(b) Upon taking the oath, the board shall choose one (1) of their number chairman of the board and president of the district, and shall elect some suitable person secretary of the board and of the district, who may or may not be a member of the board. Such board shall adopt a seal and shall keep in a well-bound book a record of all of its proceedings, minutes of all meetings, certificates, contracts, bonds given by employees and all corporate acts which shall be open to inspection of all owners of property within the district, as well as to all other interested parties.
(c) Each member of the board shall receive as compensation for his service such sum as shall be ordered by the court, not in excess of the sum of six hundred dollars ($600.00) per annum, payable monthly, and necessary traveling expenses actually expended while engaged in the performance of his duties.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-743 - Duties of Secretary and Chief Engineer; Other Employees.

41-3-743. Duties of secretary and chief engineer; other employees.
The secretary shall be custodian of the records of the district and of its corporate seal, and shall assist the board in such particulars as it may direct in the performance of its duties. The secretary shall attest, under the corporate seal of the district, all certified copies of the official records and files of the district that may be required of him by this act, or by any person ordering the same and paying the reasonable cost of transcription, and any portion of the record, so certified and attested shall prima facie import verity. The secretary shall serve also as treasurer of the district, unless a treasurer is otherwise provided for by the board. The board may also employ a chief engineer, who may be an individual, copartnership or corporation; an attorney, and such other engineers, attorneys and other agents and assistants as may needful; and may provide for their compensation which, with all other necessary expenditures, shall be taken as a part of the cost of maintenance of the improvement. The chief engineer shall be superintendent of all the works and improvements, and shall make a full report to the board each year, or oftener if required by the board, and may make such suggestions and recommendations to the board as he may deem proper. The secretary and treasurer and such other agents or employees of the district as the court may direct, shall furnish corporate surety bonds, at the expense of the district, in amount and form fixed and approved by the court, conditioned upon the faithful performance of their respective duties.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-744 - Quorum.

41-3-744. Quorum.
A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum and a concurrence of a majority of those in attendance, in any matter, within their duties, shall be sufficient for its determination, except as otherwise herein provided.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-745 - Acquisition of Rights-of-Way.

41-3-745. Acquisition of rights-of-way.
Whenever, pursuant to this act, the electors of a water conservancy district shall have authorized a contract with the United States for construction and acquisition of works and water rights, which contract shall have obligated the district to acquire rights-of-way therefor to be conveyed by the district to the United States upon reimbursement by the United States, then the district, without further election and through its board of directors, shall have power to do all acts for acquiring such rights-of-way, including borrowing of and paying interest upon, such sums of money as shall be required to make deposits fixed by the court for the possession and to pay awards on condemnation of said rights-of-way as well as amounts up to the appraised values of the particular rights-of-way as shall have been fixed by the appraisers for the United States in each instance of negotiated purchases, notwithstanding the sum borrowed shall be greater than the ordinary annual incomes and revenues of the district.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-746 - Contracts for Use of Water; Power of Board to Sell or Lease Water; Securing of Payments Generally.

41-3-746. Contracts for use of water; power of board to sell or lease water; securing of payments generally.
The board may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the use of water by term contracts or by contracts for the perpetual use of such water to persons, public corporations, mutual ditch companies, water users' associations and other private corporations for irrigation or commercial use as shall be provided by contracts, in writing, authorized and entered into by the board; and the board shall require that security be given to secure the payments to be made under such contract or contracts.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-747 - Contracts for Use of Water; Means of Owners Meeting Annual Installment Payments.

41-3-747. Contracts for use of water; means of owners meeting annual installment payments.
(a) To meet the annual installments as provided in contracts for the use of water:
(i) A water users' association may bind itself to levy an annual assessment on the use of water and to secure same by liens on land and water rights or in such manner as may be provided by law;
(ii) Mutual ditch or irrigation company may bind itself by mortgage upon its irrigation works and system and/or to levy annual assessments upon its stockholders; and
(iii) Any person or corporation landowner may create a mortgage lien upon lands and/or give other security satisfactory to the board; and all such contracts shall provide for forfeiture of the use of water for nonpayment of assessments and/or installments in the same manner and procedure as provided by statute for forfeiture of stock in a mutual ditch company.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-748 - Surplus Funds.

41-3-748. Surplus funds.
Whenever a contract of indebtedness has been created by the district, it shall be lawful for the board to make the annual levy of taxes and special assessments in such amount as will create a surplus of funds to meet the annual installments of indebtedness and/or the payment of bonds and interest, and the necessary maintenance and operating charges, and the board shall cause such surplus funds to be placed in a sinking fund which may be used for the payments of contingencies, defaults and delinquencies, and to pay the future annual installments of indebtedness on contract and/or bonds and interest.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-749 - Use and Distribution of Water Generally.

41-3-749. Use and distribution of water generally.
(a) The board shall have the following powers concerning the management, control, delivery, use and distribution of water by the district, to wit:
(i) To make and enforce all reasonable rules and regulations for the management, control, delivery, use and distribution of water;
(ii) To withhold the delivery of water upon which there are any defaults or delinquencies of payment;
(iii) To provide for and declare forfeitures of rights to the use of water upon default or failure to comply with any order, contract or agreement for the purchase, lease or use of water and to resell, lease or otherwise dispose of water upon which forfeiture has been declared;
(iv) To allocate and reallocate the use of water to lands within the district;
(v) To provide for and grant the right, upon terms, to transfer water from lands to which water has been allocated to other lands within the district and to discharged liens from lands to which the same was theretofore attached and to create liens, as provided in this act, upon lands to which the use of such water is transferred.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-750 - Allotment of Water to Landowner Under Disability.

41-3-750. Allotment of water to landowner under disability.
Where the landowner in a water conservancy district, organized under this act is under disability by reason of infancy, insanity or otherwise, or lands are held under administration, executorship, guardianship, conservatorship, trusteeship, receivership or other similar proceeding, the administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, trustee, receiver or other like officer shall be considered the "landowner" for all purposes within the terms of this act, and when authorized by the court having jurisdiction of the estate or lands, such administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, trustee, receiver or other like officer may petition for an allotment of water, in such quantity as determined by such court, as will, together with the present supply of water for irrigation purposes make an adequate supply for the irrigation of such lands; or in the event such administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, trustee, receiver or other like officer has heretofore petitioned for a supply of water for irrigation of lands so held as aforesaid, the court having jurisdiction of the estate or lands, may ratify or confirm the petition for such quantity of water as it may determine will make an adequate supply for the irrigation of such lands, and such petition so made and authorized or ratified and confirmed as aforesaid shall have the same effect and be binding upon all parties interested in such lands to the same extent as though made by a "landowner" while not under disability.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-751 - District Boundary Changes.

41-3-751. District boundary changes.
The boundaries of any district organized under the provision of this act may be changed in the manner herein prescribed, but the change of boundaries of the district shall not impair or affect its organization or its rights in or to property, or any of its rights or privileges whatsoever; nor shall it affect or impair or discharge any contract, obligation, lien or charge for or upon which it might be liable or chargeable had such change of boundaries not been made. The owners of lands may file with the board a petition, in writing, praying that such lands be included in the district. The petition shall describe the tracts or body of land owned by the petitioners, and such petition shall be deemed to give assent of the petitioners to the inclusion in said district of the lands described in the petition, and such petition must be acknowledged in the same manner that conveyances of land are required to be acknowledged. The secretary of the board shall cause notice of filing of such petition to be given and published in the county in which the lands are situated, which notice shall state the filing of such petition, names of petitioners, descriptions of lands mentioned and the prayer of said petitioners; giving notice to all persons interested to appear at the office of the board at the time named in said notice and show cause in writing, if any they have, why the petition should not be granted. The board shall at the time and place mentioned or at such time or times at which the hearing may be adjourned, proceed to hear the petition and all objections thereto, presented, in writing, by any person showing cause why said petition should not be granted. The failure of any person interested to show cause, in writing, shall be deemed and held and taken as an assent on his part to the inclusion of such lands in the district as prayed for in the petition. If the petition be granted, the board shall make an order to that effect and file same with the clerk of the court and upon order of the court said lands shall be included in the district.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-752 - Petition for Exclusion of Lands.

41-3-752. Petition for exclusion of lands.
The owner or owners in fee of any lands constituting a portion of the district may file with the board a petition praying that such lands be excluded and taken from said district. Petitions shall describe the lands which the petitioners desire to have excluded. Such petition must be acknowledged in the same manner and form as required in case of a conveyance of land and be accompanied by a deposit of money sufficient to pay all costs of the exclusion proceedings. The secretary of the board shall cause a notice of filing of such petition to be published in the county in which said lands, or the major portion thereof, are located. The notice shall state the filing of such petition, the names of petitioners, descriptions of lands mentioned in said petition, and the prayer of said petitioners; and it shall notify all persons interested to appear at the office of said board at the time named in said notice, showing cause in writing, if any they have, why said petition should not be granted. The board at the time named in said notice, or at the time or times at which the hearing of said petition may be adjourned, shall proceed to hear the petition and all objections thereto, presented, in writing, by any person showing cause as aforesaid, why the prayer of the petition should not be granted. The filing of such petition shall be deemed and taken as an assent by each and all such petitioners to the exclusion from the district of the lands mentioned in the petition, or any part thereof. The board, if they deem it not for the best interests of the district that the lands mentioned in the petition, or portion thereof, shall be excluded from the district, shall order that said petition be denied, but if they deem it for the best interest of the district that the lands mentioned in the petition, or some portion thereof, be excluded from the district, and if there are no outstanding bonds of the district, then the board may order the lands mentioned in the petition or some portion thereof, to be excluded from the district. Provided, further, that in case a contract has been made between the district and the United States or any agency thereof, no change shall be made in the boundaries of the district unless the secretary of the interior shall assent thereto in writing and such assent be filed with the board. Upon such assent, any lands excluded from the district shall upon order of the court be discharged from all liens in favor of the United States under the contract with the United States or under bonds deposited with its agents. Upon allowance of such petition, the board shall file a certified copy of the order of the board making such change with the clerk of the court and upon order of the court said lands shall be excluded from the district.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-753 - Bonds; Authority of Board to Issue; Purpose; Terms; Execution; Tax Exemptions.

41-3-753. Bonds; authority of board to issue; purpose; terms; execution; tax exemptions.
To pay for construction, operation and maintenance of the works and expenses preliminary and incidental thereto, the board is hereby authorized to enter into contract with the United States or an agency thereof, providing for payment in installments or to issue negotiable bonds of the district. If bonds are authorized, the same shall bear interest payable semiannually and shall be due and payable not less than ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) years from their dates. The form, terms and provisions of bonds, provisions for their payment and conditions for their retirement and calling, not inconsistent with law, shall be vested and determined by the board and they shall be issued as hereinafter provided in payment of the works, equipment, expenses and interest during the period of construction. Bonds shall be executed in the name of and on behalf of the district and signed by the president of the board with the seal of the district affixed thereto and attested by the secretary of the board. Bonds shall be in denominations as the board determines and shall be payable to the bearer and may be registered in the office of the county treasurer of the county wherein the organization of the district has been effected, with the interest coupons payable to bearer, which shall bear the facsimile signature of the president of the board. The bonds are exempt from all state, county, municipal, school and other taxes imposed by any taxing authority of the state of Wyoming and shall not be sold at less than par and accrued interest.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-755 - Bonds; Election Prior to Issuance; Publication of Resolution.

41-3-755. Bonds; election prior to issuance; publication of resolution.
The resolution provided in W.S. 41-3-754 shall be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks, the last publication of which shall be at least ten (10) days prior to the date set for said election, in a newspaper of general circulation printed and published within the district, and no other or further notice of such election or publication of the names of election officers or of the precincts or polling places need be given or made.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-756 - Bonds; Election Prior to Issuance; Conduct of Election; Canvassing of Returns; Declaration of Results.

41-3-756. Bonds; election prior to issuance; conduct of election; canvassing of returns; declaration of results.
The respective election boards shall conduct the election in their respective precincts in the manner prescribed by law for the holding of general elections, and shall make their returns to the secretary of the district. At any regular or special meeting of the board held not earlier than five (5) days following the date of such election, the returns thereof, shall be canvassed and the results thereof declared. In the event that any election held hereunder shall be consolidated with any primary or general election, the returns thereof shall be made and canvassed at the time and in the manner provided by law for the canvass of the returns of such primary or general election. It shall be the duty of such canvassing body or bodies to promptly certify and transmit to the board a statement of the results of the vote upon the proposition submitted thereunder. Upon receipt of such certificate, it shall be the duty of the board to tabulate and declare the results of the election held thereunder.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-757 - Bonds; Election Prior to Issuance; Approval.

41-3-757. Bonds; election prior to issuance; approval.
In the event that it shall appear from said returns that a majority of said qualified electors of the district who shall have voted on any proposition submitted hereunder at such election voted in favor of such proposition, the district shall thereupon be authorized to incur such indebtedness or obligations, enter into such contract, and/or issue and sell such bonds of the district, all for the purpose or purposes and object or objects provided for in the proposition submitted hereunder, and the resolution therefor, and in the amount so provided and at a rate of interest not exceeding the rate of interest recited in such resolution. Submission of the proposition of incurring such obligation or bonded or other indebtedness at such an election shall not prevent or prohibit submission of the same or other propositions at subsequent election or elections called for such purpose.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-758 - Judicial Examination and Determination of Board's Powers.

41-3-758. Judicial examination and determination of board's powers.
The board may, in its discretion, at any time file a petition in the court, praying a judicial examination and determination of any power conferred hereby or by any amendment hereto or of any tax or assessment levied or of any act, proceeding or contract of the district, whether or not said contract shall have been executed, including proposed contracts for the acquisition, construction, maintenance and/or operation of works for the district. Such petition shall set forth the facts whereon the validity of such power, assessment, act, proceeding or contract is founded and shall be verified by the president of the board. Notice of the filing of said petition shall be given by the clerk of the court, under the seal thereof, stating in brief outline the contents of the petition and showing where a full copy of any contract or contracts, therein mentioned, may be examined. Said notice shall be served by publication in at least five (5) consecutive issues of a weekly newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the principal office of the district is located, and by posting the same in the office of the district at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in said notice for the hearing on said petition. Any owner of property in the district or person interested in the contract or proposed contract may appear and demur to or answer said petition at any time prior to the date fixed for said hearing or within such further time as may be allowed by the court; and the petition shall be taken as confessed by all persons who fail so to appear. The said petition and notice shall be sufficient to give the court jurisdiction and upon hearing, the court shall examine into and determine all matters and things affecting the question submitted, shall make such findings, with reference thereto, and render such judgment and decree thereon as the case warrants. Costs may be divided or apportioned among the contesting parties in the discretion of the trial court. Review of the judgment of the court may be had as in other similar cases, except that such review must be applied for within thirty (30) days after the time of the rendition of such judgment, or within such additional time as may be allowed by the court within thirty (30) days. The Code of Civil Procedure shall govern in matters of pleading and practice where not otherwise specified herein. The court shall disregard any error, irregularity or omission which does not affect the substantial rights of the parties.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-770 - Methods of Levying and Collecting; Classifications Generally.

41-3-770. Methods of levying and collecting; classifications generally.
(a) In addition to the other means of providing revenue for such districts as herein provided, the board shall have power and authority to levy and collect taxes and special assessments for maintaining and operating such works and paying the obligations and indebtedness of the district by any one (1) or more of the methods or combinations thereof, classified as follows:
(i) Class A.-To levy and collect taxes upon all property within the district as hereinafter provided;
(ii) Class B.-To levy and collect assessments for special benefits accruing to property within municipalities for which use of water is allotted as hereinafter provided;
(iii) Class C.-To levy and collect assessments for special benefits accruing to lands within irrigation districts for which use of water is allotted as hereinafter provided;
(iv) Class D.-To levy and collect assessments for special benefits accruing to lands for which use of water is allotted as hereinafter provided.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-771 - Methods of Levying and Collecting; Class A.

41-3-771. Methods of levying and collecting; class A.
To levy and collect taxes under class A as provided in W.S. 41-3-770, the board shall, in each year, determine the amount of money necessary to be raised by taxation, taking into consideration other sources of revenue of the district, and shall fix a rate of levy which when levied upon every dollar of assessed valuation of property within the district, and with other revenues will raise the amount required by the district, to supply funds for paying expenses of organization, for surveys and plans, paying the costs of construction, operating and maintaining the works of the district; provided, however, that said rate shall not exceed one-half (1/2) mill on the dollar, prior to the delivery of water from the works, and thereafter not to exceed one (1) mill on the dollar, of assessed valuation of the property within the district, except in the event of accruing defaults and/or deficiencies where an additional levy may be made as provided in W.S. 41-3-775. The board shall on or before the third Monday of July of each year, certify to the board of county commissioners of each county within the district or having a portion of its territory in the district, the rate so fixed with direction that at the time and in the manner required by law for levying of taxes for county purposes, such board of county commissioners shall levy such tax upon the assessed valuation of all property within the district, in addition to such other taxes as may be levied by such board of county commissioners, at the rate so fixed and determined; provided, however, that said assessment and tax levied under the provisions of this act shall not be construed as being a part of the general county mill levy.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-775 - Considerations Affecting Annual Levies and Assessments; Deficiencies; Additional Assessments.

41-3-775. Considerations affecting annual levies and assessments; deficiencies; additional assessments.
The board in making the annual assessments and levies as herein provided, shall take into account the maturing indebtedness for the ensuing year as provided in its contracts and/or the maturing of bonds and interest on all bonds, and deficiencies and defaults of prior years, and shall make ample provision for the payment thereof. In case the proceeds of such levies and assessments made under the provisions of this act, together with other revenues of the district, are not sufficient to punctually pay the annual installments on its contracts and/or bonds, and interest thereon and to pay defaults and deficiencies, then the board shall make such additional levies of taxes and/or assessments as may be necessary for such purposes and notwithstanding any limitations by contract, order, tax lien, or otherwise, such taxes and assessments shall be made to continue until the indebtedness of the district shall be fully paid; provided, however, that the amount of such additional levies of taxes under class A as provided in W.S. 41-3-770, shall not in any one (1) year exceed an amount that would be raised by a levy of one-half (1/2) mill against the assessed value of such property as fixed for general tax purposes; provided, that such levies for defaults and deficiencies shall not at any time be so made as to impose upon class A as herein provided, payments in excess of twenty-five percent (25%) of the anticipated revenue from all sources to be raised for the specific purpose of payment of existing defaults and deficiencies; and provided further, that in making such additional levies and/or assessments, the board shall take into account all sources of revenue and equitably distribute the burden of such defaults and deficiencies according to the uses and benefits as provided in this act.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-777 - Duties of City and County Taxing Officials.

41-3-777. Duties of city and county taxing officials.
It shall be the duty of the officer or body having authority to levy taxes within each county, city and county, or town, to levy the taxes and special assessments as provided in this act and it shall be the duty of all county, or city and county officials, charged with the duty of collecting taxes, to collect such taxes and special assessments in the time, form and manner and with like interest and penalties as county or city and county taxes are collected and when collected to pay the same to the district, ordering its levy and/or collection, and the payment of such collections shall be made through the secretary of the district and paid into the depository thereof to the credit of the district. All taxes and assessments made under this act together with all interest thereon and penalties for default in payment thereof, and all costs in collection of the same, shall, until paid, constitute a perpetual lien on a parity with the tax lien of general, state, county, city, town or school taxes and no sale of such property to enforce any general, state, county, city, town or school tax or other liens shall extinguish the perpetual lien of such taxes and assessments.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-778 - Exemptions.

41-3-778. Exemptions.
All property of whatever kind and nature owned by the state and by towns, cities, school districts, drainage districts, irrigation districts, park districts, water districts, or any other governmental agency or agencies within the said district, shall be exempt from assessment and levy by the board as provided in this act for the purposes herein contained.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 7 - Water Conservancy Districts › Section 41-3-779 - Nonpayment.

41-3-779. Nonpayment.
If the taxes and/or assessments levied are not paid as herein provided, then the real property shall be sold at the regular tax sale for the payment of such taxes and assessments, interest and penalties, in the manner provided by the statutes of the state of Wyoming for selling property for nonpayment of general taxes. If there are no bids at said tax sale for the property so offered under class A and class B, said property shall be struck off to the county, and the county shall account to the district in the same manner as provided by law for accounting for school, town and city taxes. And if there are no bids for the property so offered under class C and class D, said property shall be struck off to the district and the tax certificate shall be issued in the name of the district and the board shall have the same power with reference to sale of said tax certificate, as now vested in county commissioners and county treasurer when property is struck off to the counties.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 8 - Flood Control Districts › Section 41-3-801 - Petition for Establishment; Notice of Election; Qualifications of Voters; Conduct of Election.

41-3-801. Petition for establishment; notice of election; qualifications of voters; conduct of election.
A flood control district may be established under the procedures for petitioning, hearing and election of special districts, and subsequent elections shall be held, as set forth in the Special District Elections Act of 1994. The petition and notice of publication shall describe by metes and bounds, following as nearly as possible established school district boundaries, the lands to be included in said district.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 8 - Flood Control Districts › Section 41-3-803 - Special Tax Authorized; Power of Board to Enter Into Cooperative Agreements; Authority to Make Rules and Hire Employees.

41-3-803. Special tax authorized; power of board to enter into cooperative agreements; authority to make rules and hire employees.
(a) The board of county commissioners of the county wherein each district is situated shall, at the time of the annual levy of general taxes, levy an additional special tax upon the real property in the amount certified to it by the district board of directors under W.S. 41-3-802, but not to exceed twelve (12) mills on each dollar of assessed valuation on all real property in the respective districts for the equipping and operational expenses of such district and for the payment of the bonded indebtedness of the same. The district board may receive voluntary donations and appropriations of money from any other source, and such donation hereinafter provided, by the county treasurer upon request of the district board. Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit boards of county commissioners from appropriating funds, paying any money or cooperating with any district so established under this act for the purpose of controlling or eradicating floods and all aforementioned moneys shall be turned over to the county treasurer to be kept in a fund designated as ".... Flood Control District of .... County Fund". Authority for such appropriations, payments or cooperation by boards of county commissioners is hereby authorized.
(b) Districts created under this act are authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with any federal, state, local, or private agency for the control and eradication of floods on highways, rights-of-way, rivers, streams, canals or ditches. Flood control district boards are hereby authorized and empowered to make and adopt rules and regulations necessary for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this act and to enforce such rules and regulations and shall file those rules with the county clerk for each county in which the district is located. The boards are hereby empowered to appoint employees and assistants as may be necessary and to fix their compensation.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 9 - Underground Water › Section 41-3-901 - Definitions.

41-3-901. Definitions.
(a) As used in this act, unless the context plainly otherwise requires:
(i) "Person" means a natural person, partnership, association, corporation, municipality, irrigation district, the state of Wyoming, any agency or political subdivision thereof, and the United States or any agency thereof;
(ii) "Underground water" means any water, including hot water and geothermal steam, under the surface of the land or the bed of any stream, lake, reservoir, or other body of surface water, including water that has been exposed to the surface by an excavation such as a pit;
(iii) "Aquifer" means any underground geological structure or formation having boundaries that may be ascertained or reasonably inferred, in which water stands, flows or percolates;
(iv) "Well" means any artificial opening or excavation in the ground, however made, by which underground water is sought or through which it flows under natural pressure or is artificially withdrawn, and a series of wells developed as a unit and pumped collectively by a single pumping unit shall be considered as one (1) well;
(v) "Construction" of a well includes boring, drilling, jetting, digging or excavating, and installing casing, pump and other devices for withdrawing or facilitating the withdrawal of underground water, or measuring the depth to the water table or the flow of the well;
(vi) "Pollution" of underground water means any impairment of the natural quality of such water, however caused, including impairment by salines, minerals, industrial wastes, domestic wastes or sewage, whether indrafted directly or through infiltration into the underground water supply;
(vii) "Additional supply" means underground water for irrigation use which is appurtenant to lands that have a direct flow supply of surface water or have an original supply from another underground water source. The limit of use of additional supply is beneficial use;
(viii) "Hydrothermal system" means a groundwater system, including cold water recharge and transmission and warm and hot water discharge;
(ix) "Hydrothermal feature" means a surface manifestation of a hydrothermal system, including, but not limited to, hot springs, geysers, mud pots and fumaroles.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 9 - Underground Water › Section 41-3-902 - Spring Waters; Perfection of Right to Use; Limitation.

41-3-902. Spring waters; perfection of right to use; limitation.
All springs and spring waters where the yield does not exceed twenty-five (25) gallons per minute and where the use is for domestic or stock purposes only, shall be considered as groundwater. Perfection of the right to use spring water up to twenty-five (25) gallons per minute for domestic or stock use shall be made in accordance with the laws pertaining to groundwater.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 9 - Underground Water › Section 41-3-903 - By-Product Water; Definition.

41-3-903. By-product water; definition.
By-product water is water which has not been put to prior beneficial use, and which is a by-product of some nonwater-related economic activity and has been developed only as a result of such activity. By-product water includes, but is not limited to, water resulting from the operation of oil well separator systems or mining activities such as dewatering of mines.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 9 - Underground Water › Section 41-3-904 - By-Product Water; Appropriation; Conditions and Limitation.

41-3-904. By-product water; appropriation; conditions and limitation.
(a) Any person intending to appropriate by-product water for beneficial use shall file an application with the state engineer on the forms and in the manner prescribed for groundwater applications. By-product water shall be considered as being in the same class as groundwater for the purposes of administration and control. An application may be filed only if both the following conditions exist:
(i) The by-product water is intercepted while it is readily identifiable and before it has commingled with the waters of any live stream, lake, reservoir or other surface watercourse, or part of any groundwater aquifer; and
(ii) The developer of the water is the applicant, or an agreement is filed in the office of the state engineer wherein the developer of the water gives the applicant permission to use the water as proposed in the application. The agreement must be signed by the developer of the water, and may contain provisions for reservation of the water to the use of the developer-grantor, and if so stipulated, the reservation can be superior in right and title to any use by the applicant-grantee.
(b) In all other cases, an application to appropriate by-product water shall be governed by the laws pertaining to surface water, and by-product water shall be considered as part of the surface supply, subject to use by existing priority rights.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 9 - Underground Water › Section 41-3-905 - Application; Generally; Registration of Vested Rights; Permit to Construct Well; Registration of Formerly Exempted Wells.

41-3-905. Application; generally; registration of vested rights; permit to construct well; registration of formerly exempted wells.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to interfere with the right of any person to use water from any existing well where such water is economically and beneficially used for irrigation or for municipal, railway, industrial or other beneficial use, to the extent only that such continued right does not injuriously affect existing adjudicated surface rights not heretofore abandoned, and such use is hereby declared to constitute a vested right, provided, that the owner of any such right acquired before April 1, 1947, must have filed with the state engineer the statement required by W.S. 41-3-901 through 41-3-938, on or before December 31, 1957, and the owner of any right acquired on or after April 1, 1947, must have registered his well with the state engineer as required by W.S. 41-3-901 through 41-3-938, prior to the effective date of this act, and provided further, that the right to take underground water from any well exempted from the provisions of W.S. 41-3-901 through 41-3-938, that is not exempted from the provisions of this act, and that shall be registered with the state engineer prior to the effective date of this act, shall also constitute a vested right in the use of water with priority as of the time of completion of the well. No well shall be constructed after the effective date of this act unless a permit has been obtained from the state engineer. All existing stock and domestic wells formerly exempted may be registered with the state engineer prior to December 31, 1972. The state engineer shall make appropriate forms for such registration available with each county clerk and at such other places as he deems feasible.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 9 - Underground Water › Section 41-3-906 - Application; Rights Subject to Preferences; Rights of Municipal Corporations.

41-3-906. Application; rights subject to preferences; rights of municipal corporations.
Rights to underground water shall be subject to the same preferences as provided by law for surface waters, and rights not preferred may be condemned and changed to a preferred use in the manner provided by law for surface waters. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to impair the rights of municipal corporations to acquire any underground water or underground water rights for a necessary public purpose by eminent domain or condemnation proceedings.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 41 - Water › Chapter 3 - Water Rights; Administration and Control › Article 9 - Underground Water › Section 41-3-907 - Application; Preferred Right of Appropriations for Stock or Domestic Use.

41-3-907. Application; preferred right of appropriations for stock or domestic use.
Appropriations of underground water for stock or domestic use, the latter being defined as household use and the watering of lawns and gardens for noncommercial family use where the area to be irrigated does not exceed one (1) acre, where the yield or flow does not exceed .056 cubic feet per second or twenty-five (25) gallons per minute, shall have a preferred right over rights for all other uses, regardless of their dates of priority, subject to the provisions of W.S. 41-3-911, as amended, if an appropriation is for two (2) or more uses, and includes one (1) of the above preferred uses, the preferred use shall be limited to .056 cubic feet per second or twenty-five (25) gallons per minute, and the application shall specify one (1) acre upon which such preferred uses shall be made. Such preferred use shall not include municipal use by any person of water appropriated by a municipality or company, or any instance where water is purchased or held out for sale.