Utah Stream Alteration Points

Section 73-3-29 of the Utah Code requires any person, governmental agency, or other organization wishing to alter the bed or banks of a natural stream to obtain written authorization from the State Engineer prior to beginning work. The Stream Alteration Program was implemented in 1972 in order to protect the natural resource value of the state’s streams and protect the water rights and recreational opportunities associated with them. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued Programmatic General Permit 10 (PGP-10) which allows an applicant to obtain both state approval and authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act though a single application process. Although not all stream alteration activities qualify for approval under PGP-10, many minimal impact projects can be approved under this joint permit agreement.