1. The quantity of water from either a surface or underground source which may hereafter be appropriated in this state shall be limited to such water as shall reasonably be required for the beneficial use to be served.
2. Where the water is to be diverted for irrigation purposes, or where the water is to be stored for subsequent irrigation purposes, the State Engineer in determining the amount of water to be granted in a permit to appropriate water shall take into consideration the irrigation requirements in the section of the State in which the appropriation is to be made. The State Engineer shall consider the duty of water as theretofore established by court decree or by experimental work in such area or as near thereto as possible. The State Engineer shall also consider the growing season, type of culture, and reasonable transportation losses of water up to where the main ditch or channel enters or becomes adjacent to the land to be irrigated, and may consider any other pertinent data deemed necessary to arrive at the reasonable duty of water. In addition, in the case of storage of water, reservoir evaporation losses should be taken into consideration in determining the acre-footage of storage to be granted in a permit.
[11:140:1913; A 1945, 87; 1943 NCL § 7899]