Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to hold proceedings to determine all rights to water of a stream system whether based upon appropriation, riparian right, or other basis of right. Existing law provides various requirements for the board when determining adjudication of water rights, including, among other things, performing a detailed field investigation of a stream system, as defined, issuing an order of determination, providing notice and a hearing process, and filing a final order.
This bill would revise the above-described provisions regarding the board's statutory adjudication of water rights during an investigation of a stream system to, among other things, require representatives of the board to investigate in detail the use of water with the authority, but no requirement, to conduct a field investigation, authorize the board to issue information orders that require claimants to submit monthly reports of water use from the stream system through a form provided by the board, and require claimants to respond to that order within 45 days of the date of issuance by the board.

Statutes affected:
SB 697: 2551 WAT, 2552 WAT, 2553 WAT, 2554 WAT, 2555 WAT, 2600 WAT
02/21/25 - Introduced: 2551 WAT, 2552 WAT, 2553 WAT, 2554 WAT, 2555 WAT, 2600 WAT