Water Rights Protection Act of 2017

Bill 115 hr 2939, also known as the Water Rights Protection Act of 2017, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to protect water rights of individuals and entities on federal lands.

The bill aims to prohibit federal agencies from requiring the transfer of water rights as a condition for obtaining a permit, lease, or other land use arrangement. It also prohibits federal agencies from imposing conditions that require the relinquishment of water rights in exchange for the approval of a land use permit.

Additionally, the bill requires that any federal agency seeking to acquire water rights on federal lands must do so through voluntary transactions and in accordance with state water law. It also ensures that any water rights acquired by a federal agency are subject to state water law and can only be used for the purposes specified in the agreement. Overall, the Water Rights Protection Act of 2017 seeks to protect the water rights of individuals and entities on federal lands, while also ensuring that federal agencies comply with state water law and do not infringe on the rights of water users.