Opinion ID: 1208095
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Water Rights in Alaska

Text: Free flowing waters in Alaska are subject to the appropriation doctrine: water may only be taken, or appropriated, [8] from a stream with permission from the State, but the first person to apply has first priority to the volume of water requested. This doctrine is reflected in article VIII, section 13 of the Alaska Constitution: All surface and subsurface waters reserved to the people for common use, except mineral and medicinal waters, are subject to appropriation. Priority of appropriation shall give prior right. Except for public water supply, an appropriation of water shall be limited to stated purposes and subject to preferences among beneficial uses, concurrent or otherwise, as prescribed by law, and to the general reservation of fish and wildlife. After successfully appropriating a specific amount of water, the appropriator is entitled to a water right, a full and permanent property right in that quantity of water. The Alaska Water Use Act, AS 46.15.010.270, governs the appropriation and distribution of water rights in Alaska. Doyle v. Peabody, 781 P.2d 957, 960 (Alaska 1989). DNR's regulations elaborate on the statutory requirements. A person must file an application with DNR to obtain a water right. 11 AAC 93.040 (1994). [9] The applicant must provide information such as the specific use proposed for the water, when, where and how much water will be taken and discharged, the maximum amount to be used, and descriptions of any impoundment structures to be used. 11 AAC 93.040(c). After providing notice and an opportunity for others to file objections, DNR will issue a permit to appropriate water if issuance meets the requirements of AS 46.15.080. [10] AS 46.15.133; 11 AAC 93.080-110. DNR may place conditions on the permit which protect the public interest, by ensuring that a quantity of water will be maintained in the stream and that proposed structures for taking the water are adequate. 11 AAC 93.120(e); AS 46.15.100. The permit enables the permittee to construct any necessary works and to begin using the water so that he or she can qualify for a certificate of appropriation. See AS 46.15.110 (A permit may place a time limit for beginning construction and perfecting appropriation.); AS 46.15.120 (Upon completion of construction of the works and commencement of use of water, the permit holder shall notify the commissioner that the appropriator has perfected the appropriation.). DNR may extend the permit for good cause shown, upon receipt of a written request from the permittee showing diligent effort toward completing the appropriation. AS 46.15.110; 11 AAC 93.120(f). DNR may also cancel the permit if the permittee (1) does not develop and make use of the appropriation within the permit time period, or (2) as provided in AS 46.15.175, violates a term or condition of the permit. 11 AAC 93.125. Once the permittee has demonstrated that the means necessary for the taking of water have been developed and the permit holder is beneficially using the quantity of water to be certificated, he or she will receive a certificate of appropriation of water. 11 AAC 93.130(a)(1); AS 46.15.120. This provides the holder with a full and permanent property right in that quantity of water. The right attaches as of the date of application but may be lost through abandonment, primarily if a beneficial use is not made for a period of five years. AS 46.15.050(b); AS 46.15.140(c).