Services / Water Resources Planning and Management
Water Rights Evaluation
Hydrosphere is often called upon to perform analyses of water rights and water rights transfers. The assignments have ranged from evaluations of small transfers of ditch shares to analysis of the compliance of water uses with the terms of interstate compacts and Supreme Court decrees.
- Water right yield determination
- Characterization of stream depletions associated with historical and proposed uses of water rights
- Development and negotiation of formal terms and conditions of use to prevent injury to other water rights
- Expert testimony in hearings and water court proceedings
Our water rights services include:
Our expertise is based on a thorough understanding of the doctrines and principles of western water law, supplemented by advanced technical training and experience.
- Consumptive use
- Irrigation requirements
- Characterization of subsurface return flow regimes
- Determination of stream depletion patterns
- Simulation of the basin-wide effects of changes in water rights administration
We use a wide range of data reduction and statistical analysis techniques and have developed computer models for calculation of:
However, our expertise goes beyond technical "number-crunching." We are familiar with real irrigation practices and with the field reconnaissance and interviewing methods necessary to develop credible analyses of sparse data and anecdotal information. These evaluations typically include examining conveyance systems, assessing soil conditions and cropping patterns, and characterizing historical irrigation practices. We have extensive experience in air and satellite photo interpretation, including infrared. We also understand the importance of clear and understandable presentation of facts to permitting agencies and water judges.