Locations for Places of Use (POUs) for active bona fide (licensed or decreed) water rights in Idaho. POUs represent areas where water can be used from a live flow, either surface water or ground water (springs, stream or well), and put to beneficial use under a water right. A water right must have at least one use, and may have many uses. Uses may be consumptive, such as irrigation or domestic, or non-consumptive, such as power or instream flow. Polygons depicting POUs were initially developed from the PLSS descriptions on the water right documents, such as quarter quarters and government lots. Some POUs have been digitized using aerial imagery. POU locations are continuously being updated as better locational information becomes available. A water right can be in one or more of seven process or stages: (1) Application for a permit to develop a new water right; (2) Permit for applicant to develop the water use; (3) Licensed bona fide water right through which the Idaho Department of Water Resources has approved final configuration and amounts; (4) Claim for a water right or beneficial use which has been claimed in an adjudication; (5) Recommendation , which is the determination of the final configuation and amount of a Claim, that, when approved by the court, is decreed and supersedes its License, if one previously existed; (6) A decreed bona fide water right, as decreed by a court through an adjudication; (7) Transfer of a portion of the WR or claim, generally through a change of ownership splitting the right, or change in one or more elements of the water right or claim.

Locations for Places of Use (POUs) for active bona fide (licensed or decreed) water rights in Idaho. POUs represent areas where water can be used from a live flow, either surface water or ground water (springs, stream or well), and put to beneficial use under a water right. A water right must have at least one use, and may have many uses. Uses may be consumptive, such as irrigation or domestic, or non-consumptive, such as power or instream flow. Polygons depicting POUs were initially developed from the PLSS descriptions on the water right documents, such as quarter quarters and government lots. Some POUs have been digitized using aerial imagery. POU locations are continuously being updated as better locational information becomes available. A water right can be in one or more of seven process or stages: (1) Application for a permit to develop a new water right; (2) Permit for applicant to develop the water use; (3) Licensed bona fide water right through which the Idaho Department of Water Resources has approved final configuration and amounts; (4) Claim for a water right or beneficial use which has been claimed in an adjudication; (5) Recommendation , which is the determination of the final configuation and amount of a Claim, that, when approved by the court, is decreed and supersedes its License, if one previously existed; (6) A decreed bona fide water right, as decreed by a court through an adjudication; (7) Transfer of a portion of the WR or claim, generally through a change of ownership splitting the right, or change in one or more elements of the water right or claim.