Water Right Network
About the Water Right Network:
The intent of the Water Right Network (WRN) is to be an easily available central data repository housing statewide hydrologic data including hydrography, water right information, diversion records, streamflow records, and accounting models.
The Division of Water Rights also has a need to digitize water usage for increased accountability and transparency as noted by the legislative performance audit report no. 2023-15 reg. This allows for improved transparency not only for those involved in water use and planning, but also the public.
For more information regarding the legislative audit, see: Utah's Water Management Report No. 2023-15: Report to the UTAH LEGISLATURE, A Performance Audit of Ensuring Data Integrity, Program Best Practices, and Comprehensive Water Planning
Current Work and Progress:
Our team consists of 2 subteams, one focused on the Colorado River and its tributaries, the other focused on the Great Salt Lake Basin. These teams both focus on mapping water rights use, diversion, measurement, and diversion accounting. We have an engineer to help with depletion accounting, modeling efforts, and supporting the team with training and outreach. The Water Right Network Manager supports the team with long-term goals, coordinating with outside data users, and other senior engineer level issues. The Water Right Network is being developed to support diversion accounting with WCAT models, Technical Services' General Solver, and will be considered in the development of HydroServer. Our team's focus is on diversion and depletion accounting, but the WRN can be used by many other sections within Water Rights.
For up to date information on our progress in building out the Water Right Network in the Colorado River Basin and the Great Salt Lake Basin, please see the Water Right Network Progress Dashboard.