45-182. Claim of right to withdraw, divert or use public waters; exception; administration by director of water resources

A. Except as provided by subsections B and E of this section, all persons who before March 17, 1995 were using and claiming the right to withdraw or divert and make beneficial use of public waters of the state based on state law shall file not later than ninety days before the date of the filing of the director's final report pursuant to section 45-256 for the subwatershed in which the claimed right is located a statement of claim for each water right asserted, on a prescribed form. The filing by any person on behalf of its members or users shall constitute the required filing of the individual users under this section.

B. The requirement of the filing of a statement of claim shall not apply to any of the following:

1. Any water rights issued pursuant to a permit or certificate issued pursuant to law.

2. Rights acquired to the use of the mainstream waters of the Colorado river.

3. Rights acquired or validated by contract with the United States of America, court decree or other adjudication.

C. The director succeeds to the administration of this article and may adopt such rules as may be necessary to do so. Such rules supersede those previously adopted by the state land department and the Arizona water commission relating to this article.

D. A person who before March 17, 1995 was using and claimed the right to withdraw or divert and make beneficial use of public waters of the state based on state law and who is exempt from filing pursuant to subsection B of this section is permitted to file a statement of claim of right under this article for each water right asserted not later than ninety days before the date of filing of the director's final report pursuant to section 45-256 for the subwatershed or federal reservation in which the claimed right is located. Any statement of claim of right filed pursuant to this section may be amended at any time before ninety days before the filing of the director's final report pursuant to section 45-256 for the subwatershed or federal reservation in which the claimed right is located.

E. Water right claims may be asserted under this article for uses, diversions or withdrawals of public waters of the state based on state law and initiated at any time before March 17, 1995. A claim may not be asserted under this article for uses, diversions or withdrawals of public waters of the state initiated on or after March 17, 1995. Any person who before March 17, 1995 filed a statement of claim for a water right under this article is not required to file another statement of claim for the same water right after March 17, 1995.