41-3-108. Lands taken out of agricultural production or lands taken by eminent domain; retention of priority.

(a) Where lands are taken out of agricultural production as the necessary result of acquisitions for railroad roadbed construction, highway construction, mining or petroleum extraction operations or industrial site acquisitions or lands taken by proceedings in eminent domain or which have become impracticable to irrigate by reason of any of the foregoing conditions, the owner of an affected water right may transfer the water right to other lands held by the owner. The petition for the change in use, or change in place of use shall be properly filed within five (5) years of the date the land went out of production because of any of the conditions specified herein. Failure to file the petition within five (5) years results in forfeiture of the right except as otherwise provided.

(b) The petition for a change in use, or change in place of use, of a water right under this section shall retain its original date of priority.

(c) For a period of five (5) years after the effective date of this act, any appropriator whose land has been out of production for more than five (5) years may petition the board requesting transfer of the water rights involved. The granting or denial of a petition under these circumstances is within the discretion of the board. The decision of the board may be appealed to the district court. The board may hold public hearings in connection with a petition being considered pursuant to this section. All costs in conjunction with the hearing shall be borne by the petitioner.