Voluntary Dismissals
Voluntary dismissal of a water right
Owning and maintaining a water right requires responsibility, including keeping accurate records. If your water right is no longer an active project and you choose to dismiss a water right you are giving up your right to put water to beneficial use. However, if you have not used a water right for more than 5 consecutive years and do not anticipate using it in the future it may be in your best interest to close out the water right. If you choose to close out your right, you will no longer be required to submit annual water use reports or maintain an operational diversion works.
When submitting documents to this office, indicate the water right file number(s) on the top of the documents. You must submit complete current address information, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses (if applicable). Anything else that may be pertinent to the transaction which is involved in the dismissal of a water right(s) should also be included. Download the form by clicking on the link below, print the form then fill out all necessary information, have all owners sign it with notary and mail it in.
Download form: Water Right Dismissal Form (pdf)
Voluntary dismissal of an application for a permit to appropriate water
A standard form has been drafted to request that an application for a permit to appropriate water be voluntarily withdrawn. This form requires the application's file number and the original applicant's signature. A voluntary request to dismiss an application will forfeit the priority date of the application. Should you need additional assistance to complete the form please call the Water Right Information number listed on the web page titled Contacting DWR.
While there is no fee for voluntarily requesting that an application for a new permit be withdrawn the original application fee is non-refundable.
Download the form by clicking on it's title, "Voluntary Dismissal of an Application for Permit to Appropriate Water", print the document, and complete the requested information. The document with original signatures of the applicant will then need to be mailed to the address as indicated on the form.
Download form: Voluntary Dismissal of an Application for Permit to Appropriate Water (pdf)
Voluntary dismissal of an application for change
Change applications may be submitted for appropriations rights or vested rights. When approvals are issued by the Chief Engineer to change the authorized point of diversion, place of use or use made of water, the water right owners must comply with the terms and conditions of the approval.
Should the owners of a water right who have pending applications for change, determine prior to the issuance of approval documents that the proposed change or changes are no longer desired they should contact the field office in their area or the change application unit of the Water right section at the headquarters office in Topeka.
