Agricultural Water Rights & Irrigation Regulations
A state-by-state research library for groundwater, surface water, permits, use reporting and responsible irrigation.
Explore key topics
Water rights fundamentalsUnderstand the distinction between water ownership, access and permission to use.Groundwater wells and pumpingResearch groundwater regulation, registration, pumping limits and groundwater districts.Surface-water diversion permitsResearch streams, reservoirs, diversion points, priority dates and exemptions.Agricultural irrigation authorizationsMatch proposed withdrawal, crop, acreage and season to relevant approvals.Riparian and prior-appropriation doctrinesLearn why state-law approaches and historical claims differ.Groundwater districts and local boardsFind basin authorities, conservation districts and local rulebooks.Water-use reporting and meteringTrack withdrawal volumes, measurement methods, records and deadlines.Drought restrictions and curtailmentVerify notices, priority administration and irrigation scheduling restrictions.Well drilling and constructionResearch driller licensing, well spacing, registration and inspections.Transfers, leases and changes in useReview documentation and approval steps for rights transfers or changes.Water conservation and NRCSPlan soil moisture, efficiency and conservation without assuming water entitlements.4-H and FFA water projectsBuild supervised water-quality, irrigation and conservation research projects.
Browse states and territories
Alabama67 geographic guidesAlaska30 geographic guidesAmerican Samoa5 geographic guidesArizona15 geographic guidesArkansas75 geographic guidesCalifornia58 geographic guidesColorado64 geographic guidesConnecticut8 geographic guidesDelaware3 geographic guidesDistrict of Columbia1 geographic guidesFlorida67 geographic guidesGeorgia159 geographic guidesGuam1 geographic guidesHawaii5 geographic guidesIdaho44 geographic guidesIllinois102 geographic guidesIndiana92 geographic guidesIowa99 geographic guidesKansas105 geographic guidesKentucky120 geographic guidesLouisiana64 geographic guidesMaine16 geographic guidesMaryland24 geographic guidesMassachusetts14 geographic guidesMichigan83 geographic guidesMinnesota87 geographic guidesMississippi82 geographic guidesMissouri115 geographic guidesMontana56 geographic guidesNebraska93 geographic guidesNevada17 geographic guidesNew Hampshire10 geographic guidesNew Jersey21 geographic guidesNew Mexico33 geographic guidesNew York62 geographic guidesNorth Carolina100 geographic guidesNorth Dakota53 geographic guidesNorthern Mariana Islands4 geographic guidesOhio88 geographic guidesOklahoma77 geographic guidesOregon36 geographic guidesPennsylvania67 geographic guidesPuerto Rico78 geographic guidesRhode Island5 geographic guidesSouth Carolina46 geographic guidesSouth Dakota66 geographic guidesTennessee95 geographic guidesTexas254 geographic guidesU.S. Virgin Islands3 geographic guidesUtah29 geographic guidesVermont14 geographic guidesVirginia134 geographic guidesWashington39 geographic guidesWest Virginia55 geographic guidesWisconsin72 geographic guidesWyoming23 geographic guides
Useful tools
Why source identification matters
Groundwater, stream diversions, irrigation district deliveries, reuse and rainwater harvesting may fall under different agencies. In Texas, TCEQ handles state surface-water rights, while many groundwater pumping requirements are set by groundwater conservation districts. Rules change, so verify each proposed use with the actual administrator.
For additional rural reporting visit Farm.FM.
Official sources to verify
Do not rely on this directory as a permit or legal determination. Confirm the actual rule, location, water source, service area, and effective date with the issuing agency.