Title WAT, California Water Code

Each voter shall have one vote for each dollar’s worth of land to which he or she holds title. The last equalized assessment book of the district is conclusive evidence of ownership and of the value of the land so owned except that in the event that an assessment for a district s…

A district may, by ordinance adopted at least 90 days prior to any district election, determine that voters shall thereafter be ascertained pursuant to this section. In that event, the county elections official shall prepare the voter list required by Section 10525 of the Electio…

Every voter, or his legal representative, may vote at any district election either in person or by a person duly appointed as his proxy. (Amended by Stats. 1955, Ch. 1329.)

No appointment of a proxy shall be valid, accepted, or vote allowed thereon at any district election unless it meets all of the following requirements: (a) It is in writing. (b) It is executed by the person or legal representative of the person who, in accordance with the provisi…

Before a legal representative votes at a district election he shall present to the precinct board a certified copy of his authority which shall be kept and filed with the returns of the election. (Amended by Stats. 1965, Ch. 2019.)

Land within a water district, which need not be contiguous, may be formed into a distribution district for the purpose of contracting with the United States, pursuant to federal reclamation laws, or for the purpose of contracting with the district for the construction of a distri…

As used in this part, “federal reclamation law” shall mean the Federal Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stats. 388), and all acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto. (Added by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1935.)

The formation of a distribution district may be proposed and the petition therefor shall be signed by two-thirds or more in number of the holders of title to the land in the proposed distribution district appearing on the last equalized assessment roll of the district. (Added by …

A petition for the formation of a distribution district shall contain all of the following: (a) Statement of the plans of the proposed distribution system. (b) Description of the land in the proposed distribution district. (c) Names of the owners of all land within the proposed d…

The petition, all proceedings in reference to it, the distribution district, and the land in it shall be designated by a number. (Added by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1935.)

The petition may consist of any number of separate instruments, which shall be duplicates except as to signatures. (Added by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1935.)

A petition to form a distribution district shall be filed with the secretary in the office of the district and may be inspected by all persons interested. (Added by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1935.)

As used in this part “board of supervisors” means the board of supervisors of the principal county. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 390.)

As used in this part “bond” means a general obligation bond. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 390.)

Between the date on which the district was formed and 90 days thereafter, and between those dates annually thereafter, the board shall file with the clerk of the board of supervisors an estimate of the sum required by the district to discharge all of its obligations: (a) That are…

The annual estimate shall specify the portion thereof which will be required for the payment of bonds and of the interest on bonds. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 390.)

The annual estimate may include an amount to be determined by the board but not to exceed 1 percent of the total assessed value of the land, which sum shall be apportioned to the bond fund and used for the redemption or purchase of unmatured bonds or for the creation of a sinking…

The board shall deduct from the annual estimate the amount it anticipates will be derived from sales of water by the district and be available as needed to discharge its obligations during the next year, and this amount shall not be included in the sum required to be raised by as…

If, at the time any annual estimate is required to be filed, the board anticipates that the receipts from all sources will be sufficient and available as needed to pay all the district’s obligations due and payable during the next year, the board, in lieu of filing the estimate, …

Immediately upon the formation of the district the board may levy and collect the sum of fifty cents ($0.50) per acre for each acre of land. The money collected shall be used by the board to pay the preliminary expenses incurred in forming the district. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch.…

The board may from time to time by resolution provide for a district fiscal year to commence and end at the dates specified in such resolution. (Added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 730.)

If a fiscal year is adopted pursuant to Section 36558, in lieu of submitting the annual estimate at the time set forth in Section 36552, the board may, by resolution, establish that the annual estimate required by Section 36552 shall be filed within 90 days from the beginning of …

Assessments that are imposed pursuant to this part and Part 7.5 (commencing with Section 37200) to pay the principal of, and interest on, general obligation bonds of a district or which are issued by a district for an improvement district are ad valorem taxes that are imposed in …

One or more tracts of land may be excluded from the district under proceedings taken pursuant to the District Reorganization Act of 1965 (commencing at Section 56000, Government Code). (Amended by Stats. 1965, Ch. 2043.)

A majority in number of the holders of title to land irrigated or susceptible of irrigation from a common source and by the same system of works, who are also the holders of title to a majority in value of the land may propose the formation of a district under the provisions of t…

The proposed district may include land situated in other distinctive district agencies of the State, including other water storage districts having different plans and purposes and the object of which is not the same. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 391.)

The land proposed to be formed into a district need not consist of contiguous parcels. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 391.)

Directors, irrespective of the method of their selection, take office as soon as they qualify, except that directors elected at a general election take office at the commencement of the regular meeting of the board following their election. (Amended by Stats. 1975, Ch. 830.)

Within 10 days after receiving his certificate of election or being appointed, each director shall take and subscribe the official oath, and file it in the office of the district and execute the bond required of him. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 391.)

The members of the board elected at the formation election shall at their first meeting classify themselves by lot into two classes as nearly equal in number as possible. The term of office of the class having the greater number shall expire at the commencement of the regular mee…

After such classification the board shall elect a president from their number and appoint a secretary and treasurer, each of whom shall hold office during the pleasure of the board. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 391.)

On the day of the regular meeting of the board in April next following each general election, the directors shall meet and organize as a board, elect a president and appoint a secretary and a treasurer, who shall each hold office during the pleasure of the board. (Amended by Stat…

The board may elect a vice president and appoint an assistant secretary to serve during the pleasure of the board. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 391.)

The term of office of each director elected after the formation election shall be four years, and until his or her successor is elected and has qualified. Upon the district receiving actual written notice that a director or the entity the director represents no longer is a holder…

In order to be nominated and eligible for the office of director, a candidate shall be a holder of title within the district. If a holder of title to land is not a natural person, the holder of title to land may designate a representative or representatives to be eligible to be e…

Upon the organization of a district, the board shall make or cause to be made all examinations, surveys, plans and specifications, and estimates of costs for the acquisition, appropriation, diversion, storage, conservation, and distribution of water, any drainage or reclamation w…

The board may use and adopt all previous estimates, surveys, reports, and other data it may have or acquire. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 391.)

The cost of the examinations, surveys, plans, specifications, and estimates is a part of the expense of the project. The board may issue warrants therefor, which shall be payable out of the funds of the district and may be included in any bond issue authorized for the purposes of…

The board may acquire, improve, and operate the necessary works for the storage and distribution of water, and any drainage or reclamation works connected therewith. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 391.)

The board may sell, distribute, or otherwise dispose of water and water rights not necessary for the uses and purposes of the district. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 391.)

The board may grant to the owner or lessee of a right to the use of any water permission to store the water in any reservoir of the district or to carry it through any conduit of the district. (Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 391.)

The board shall establish equitable rules and regulations for the most economical and efficient distribution and use of water within the district, and pursuant thereto may enter into long-term water service contracts with landowners in the district which contracts may, in the dis…

Upon adoption of rules and regulations, or the adoption of any amendment thereto, a certified copy thereof shall be recorded with the county recorder of each affected county, and until so recorded, no rule or regulation, or amendment thereto, shall be enforceable against any pers…

In the event that the volume of water under the control of any district is in any season so diminished below normal, by reason of water shortage or otherwise, as to make it probable that all the land cannot receive the full amount of water which it may need and to which it would …

The board may enter into contracts with any or all interested parties for settlement or determination of any or all water rights on any stream system or on any part thereof which concerns the district or for the administration of water rights or of waters of any such stream syste…

In addition to levying assessments or fixing tolls and charges under Part 9 (commencing with Section 46000) of this division, and in lieu either in whole or in part of calling such assessments, the board may fix tolls or charges for the use of water, including the use of groundwa…