Every water right action requires research, since a water right is based upon it’s beneficial use. Our water right analysts have over 50 years combined experience and are experts in water right research, which is a core aspect of our excellence in the water right business.
Surface Water
Water collecting on the ground or in a stream, river, lake, or wetland is called surface water; as opposed to groundwater. Surface water is naturally replenished by precipitation and naturally lost through discharge to the oceans, evaporation, and sub-surface seepage into the groundwater. Although there are other sources of groundwater, such as connate water and magmatic water, precipitation is the major one and groundwater originated in this way is called meteoric water. Surface water is the largest source of fresh water.
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth below which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock become fully saturated with water forms a surface that is called the water table. Groundwater is recharged from, and eventually flows to, the surface naturally; natural discharge often occurs at springs and seeps, streams and rivers, and can form oases or wetlands. Groundwater is also withdrawn for residential, agricultural, municipal and industrial use by constructing and operating extraction wells. The study of the distribution and movement of groundwater is hydrogeology, also called groundwater hydrology.
Typically groundwater is thought of as liquid water flowing through shallow aquifers, but technically it can also include soil moisture, permafrost (frozen soil), immobile water in very low permeability bedrock, and deep geothermal or oil formation water. Groundwater is hypothesized to provide lubrication which can possibly aid in movement along faults.
Research
RMEA researches water rights for prospective real estate purchases. Research projects require information such as the legal location, Township, Range, Section, and quarter section and the names of the former or recent owners. Such a “due-diligence” research study of this nature can be turned around in within a month of authorization.
RMEA also researches “pending” water rights filings in order to provide a client with a detailed accounting of the pending claim. When necessary, we request assistance from experienced water right attorneys. RMEA can also research, discover, and document the water priority for a client