The Legal Framework for Acquiring Water Entitlements from Existing Users

Abstract

This article provides a detailed analysis of the legal framework under Alberta's <i>Water Act</i> and <i>IrrigationDistricts Act</i>, pursuant to which a person may acquire an entitlement to water from an existing user. The first part of the article covers both the agreement to assign water as well as the licence transfer procedure introduced in the new <i>Water Act</i>. The second part of the article deals with the creation of derivative rights to water by irrigation districts including rural water licence use agreements and water conveyance agreements. The article also examines the temporary and permanent assignments of rights to irrigable acreage within irrigation districts.