Information Pertaining to Water Rights in California

A handbook on water rights produced by the State Water Resources Control Board, dated January 2000.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
• General Information Pertaining to Water Rights
• Appropriative Rights Initiated Prior to December 19, 1914
• Appropriative Rights Initiated Subsequent to December 19, 1914
• Loss of Appropriative Rights
• Riparian Rights
• Prescription
• Vested Appropriative and Riparian Rights Not Affected by Filing an Application
• Disputes Over the Use of Water
• Public Trust
• Determination of Existing Rights
• Appropriation of Underground Water
• Spring Water
• No Assistance Rendered in Securing Right of Access to Point of Diversion or Right-of-Way
• Patents and Homesteads
• Supervision Over Dams
• Provision of Fish and Game Code
• Statements of Water Diversions and Use
• Stockpond Rights
• General Information Pertaining To Applications For Permits To Appropriate Unappropriated Water
• Who Should File An Application
• Who Should Not File An Application
• Purpose of Filing
• When to File
• Unappropriated Water and Responsibilities of Permittees
• Outline of Essential Steps
• Preparation of Applications
• Changes In Ownership
• Appendix – Table of Equivalents