California Water Code

§ 1011.5

WAT § 1011.5 Effective Jan 1, 2004Div. 2 · Part 1 · Ch. 1

Statute text

(a)The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the growing water needs of the state require the use of water in an efficient manner and that the efficient use of water requires certainty in the definition of property rights to the use of water. The Legislature further declares that it is the policy of this state to encourage conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater supplies and to make surface water available for other beneficial uses. The Legislature recognizes that the substantial investments that may be necessary to implement and maintain a conjunctive use program require certainty in the continued right to the use of alternate water supplies.

(b)When any holder of an appropriative right fails to use all or any part of the water as a result of conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater involving the substitution of an alternate supply for the unused portion of the surface water, any cessation of, or reduction in, the use of the appropriated water shall be deemed equivalent to a reasonable and beneficial use of water to the extent of the cessation of, or reduction in, use, and to the same extent as the appropriated water was put to reasonable and beneficial use by that person. No forfeiture of the appropriative right to the water for which an alternate supply is substituted shall occur upon the lapse of the forfeiture period applicable to water appropriated pursuant to the Water Commission Act or this code or the forfeiture period applicable to water appropriated prior to December 19, 1914. The state board may require any holder of an appropriative right who seeks the benefit of this section to file periodic reports describing the extent and amount of the reduction in water use due to substitution of an alternate supply. To the maximum extent possible, the reports shall be made a part of other reports required by the state board relating to the use of water. Failure to file the reports shall deprive the user of water of the benefits of this section.

(c)Substitution of an alternate supply may be made only if the extraction of the alternate supply conforms to all requirements imposed pursuant to an adjudication of the groundwater basin, if applicable, and meets one of the following conditions:

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Legislative history

Amended (as added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 779, Sec. 1) by Stats. 2003, Ch. 740, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2004.