ID S1156

Authorizes owners of a majority of land within natural flow irrigation districts who also hold appurtenant water rights to petition for partition of the district into two separate irrigation districts to preserve agricultural uses and ensure continued irrigation.

Requires petitions to include assessment numbers, legal descriptions, property owners, appurtenant water rights, property characterization, and number of divisions, along with maps showing canal locations and a bond equal to double the probable organization costs.

Establishes a public notice and hearing process requiring publication in county newspapers at least 2 weeks before presentation to county commissioners and at least 3 weeks before hearing, with copy filed to Department of Water Resources at least 4 weeks prior to hearing.

Provides that county commissioners shall issue partition orders if majority landowner signatures are verified and land is primarily agricultural, with board unable to modify original petition boundaries but able to accept supplemental petitions from 40+ acre agricultural parcels meeting original criteria.

Requires newly partitioned districts to divide into 3-7 divisions for director elections, share jointly-held property and canals proportional to water delivery, share outstanding debts proportionally, and establish a joint board of control not exceeding 7 members to manage shared irrigation works.