A joint study of the U.S. Geological Survey, Utah Division of Water Rights, and the Utah Division of Water Resources in 2000 cited a long-term decline in the groundwater levels of the Beryl/Enterprise area. According to the report, water users were pumping more water out of the ground than the wells could naturally replace. The overdraft meant water levels were dropping by about 1.2 feet each year.

In 2005, a state task force on groundwater management toured the Beryl/Enterprise region for a first-hand look at several sinkholes or depressions that occurred because of the lowering water table. The following legislative session, Utah Code 73-5-15 was enacted and called for the regulation of groundwater withdrawals through the adoption of a groundwater management plan.

"If they start canceling people's water rights without compensation, it would all end up in court," said Schmutz, who has served as the local water commissioner for six years. "Farmers would prefer that nothing be done at this point, but if anything is done, then they feel that they should be compensated."

Six years ago, 10 percent of the water-rights users were out of compliance or using more than they were legally allowed, he said.

"Today that is down to 10 percent of 1 percent," he said. "That's a significant difference."

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com