Title WAT, California Water Code

Notwithstanding Sections 75500 and 75502, for purposes of the United Water Conservation District, “groundwater” means all water beneath the earth’s surface, but does not include water that is produced with oil in the production of oil and gas, in a bona fide mining operation, dur…

“Production” or “producing” means the act of extracting ground water by pumping or otherwise. (Added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 75.)

“Water-producing facility” means any device or method, mechanical or otherwise, for the production of water from the ground water supplies within the district. (Added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 75.)

“Accumulated overdraft” means the amount of water necessary to be replaced in the intake areas of the ground water basins within the district or any zone or zones thereof to prevent the landward movement of salt water into the fresh ground water body, or to prevent subsidence of …

“Annual overdraft” means the amount, determined by the board, by which the production of water from ground water supplies within the district or any zone or zones thereof during the water year exceeds the natural replenishment of such ground water supplies in such water year. (Ad…

(a) “Water year” means the period beginning October 1 of one calendar year and ending September 30 of the following calendar year. (b) “Current water year” means the water year in which the investigation and report on the ground water conditions of the district is made, the heari…

“Agricultural water” means water first used on lands in the production of plant crops or livestock for market. (Added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 75.)

The boundaries of a district may be changed and tracts of land may be excluded therefrom, in the manner prescribed in this chapter. Neither such change of the boundaries of the district nor such exclusion of lands from the district shall impair or affect its organization, or its …

A guardian, executor, or an administrator of an estate, who is appointed as such under the laws of this state, and who, as such guardian, executor, or administrator, is entitled to the possession of the lands belonging to the estate which he represents, may, on behalf of his ward…

The provisions of this chapter are intended to be paramount and controlling as to all matters provided for in, and as to all questions arising out of procedure under, this chapter. (Added by Stats. 1943, Ch. 369.)

As used in this chapter, “works” includes canals, ditches, levees, dikes, embankments, dams, machinery, and other appropriate or ancillary means of accomplishing the purposes mentioned in this chapter. (Added by Stats. 1943, Ch. 369.)

As used in this chapter, “city” means any city, town, or municipal corporation incorporated under the laws of this State. (Added by Stats. 1943, Ch. 369.)

As used in this chapter, “city council” includes the legislative body of any city by whatever name it may be designated. (Added by Stats. 1943, Ch. 369.)

Every publication required by this chapter shall be made in some newspaper published in the city. (Added by Stats. 1943, Ch. 369.)

Except as otherwise specifically provided, if publication is in a daily paper the publication shall appear in at least 10 issues thereof, and if in a weekly paper in at least two issues thereof. (Added by Stats. 1943, Ch. 369.)

No publication shall be deemed to have begun until any required preceding publication has been completed. (Added by Stats. 1943, Ch. 369.)

A capital improvement project undertaken by a charter city to extend that city’s water, sewer, or storm drain system or similar system to a disadvantaged community in an unincorporated area shall be considered a public work for the purpose of Section 1720 of the Labor Code, but a…

This division shall be known and may be cited as the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency Act. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 844, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) Many separate cities, districts, and public utilities are responsible for distribution of water in portions of the Bay Area served by the regional system operated by the City and County of San Francisco. Residents in th…

This division shall be known and may be cited as the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority Act. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 849, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The City and County of San Francisco has acquired or constructed a system of reservoirs, pipelines and tunnels, and treatment plants that provides water to 2.4 million Californians who live in San Francisco and in neigh…

Unless the context otherwise requires the definitions hereinafter set forth shall govern the construction of this part of this division of this code. (Added by Stats. 1943, Ch. 369.)

“Board” means the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. Any reference to the Reclamation Board in this or any other code means the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 366, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2008.)

“Drainage district” means the Sacramento and San Joaquin Drainage District. (Added by Stats. 1943, Ch. 369.)

“Facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control” has the same meaning as that set forth in subdivision (e) of Section 5096.805 of the Public Resources Code. (Amended (as added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 366) by Stats. 2009, Ch. 275, Sec. 4. (AB 1165) Effective January 1, 2010.)

“Project levee” has the same meaning as that set forth in subdivision (g) of Section 5096.805 of the Public Resources Code. (Amended (as added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 366) by Stats. 2009, Ch. 275, Sec. 6. (AB 1165) Effective January 1, 2010.)

“State Plan of Flood Control” has the same meaning as that set forth in subdivision (j) of Section 5096.805 of the Public Resources Code. (Amended (as added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 366) by Stats. 2009, Ch. 275, Sec. 8. (AB 1165) Effective January 1, 2010.)

The public interest, welfare, convenience, and necessity require the construction in the manner provided in this part of a system of works for the conservation, development, storage, distribution, and utilization of water, with incidental generation, transmission, and distributio…

The construction, operation, and maintenance of the project as provided for in this part is in all respects for the welfare and benefit of the people of the State, for the improvement of their prosperity and their living conditions, and the provisions of this part shall therefore…

The department shall be regarded as performing a governmental function in carrying out the provisions of this part. (Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1932.)

The limitations prescribed in Section 11460 and 11463 shall also apply to any agency of the State or Federal Government which shall undertake the construction or operation of the project, or any unit thereof, including, besides those specifically described, additional units which…

Except as provided in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 1226) of this chapter, no right to appropriate or use water subject to appropriation shall be initiated or acquired except upon compliance with the provisions of this division. (Amended by Stats. 1974, Ch. 140.)

The definitions in this article govern the construction of this part. (Added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 196.)

“Lands, easements and rights of way” includes lands and rights or interests in lands whereon channel improvements and channel rectifications are located; lands, rights, or interests in lands necessary in connection with the construction, operation, or maintenance of such channel …

The board may base its report solely upon its own investigations or in addition thereto may hold hearings and take testimony. (Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1932.)

The report of the board as referee may contain such opinion upon the law and the facts as it deems proper in view of the issues submitted. (Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1932.)

The report shall set forth such findings of fact and conclusions of law as may be required by the court’s order of reference. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 368.)

Before filing its report the board shall announce it in the form of a draft. (Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1932.)

The board shall mail notice of the draft, together with a copy of the draft, to the parties or their attorneys. (Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1932.)

Within 30 days after the date of the mailing of the draft, or within such further time as the court may for good cause allow, any party may file objections to it with the board. (Amended by Stats. 1961, Ch. 132.)

After the objections have been considered by the board or a hearing has been held thereon if deemed advisable by it, the board shall file its report as referee with the clerk of the court and give notice by mail of the filing of its report to the parties or their attorneys. (Amen…

The report of the board as referee is subject to review by the court upon exceptions thereto filed with the clerk of the court within 30 days after date of mailing notice of the filing of the report. (Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1932.)

No exception to the report shall be considered, except in the court’s discretion or for good cause shown, unless it appears that the matter of the exception was presented to the board in the form of an objection. (Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1932.)

The report filed by the board is prima facie evidence of the physical facts therein found; but the court shall hear such evidence as may be offered by any party to rebut the report or the prima facie evidence. (Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1932.)

(a) At any time after filing of the report by the board as provided in Section 2016 the board, if it appears that underground water is being pumped in an amount which, if not restricted, would destroy or irreparably injure the waters of the basin due to ocean water intrusion befo…

Where a preliminary injunction has been granted pursuant to Section 2020, the final judgment shall equitably compensate in quantities of water for such variations as there may be between the rights of the parties to the use of water on which such preliminary injunction is based, …