ARTICLE 2.6. Nonreserved Water Rights for Federal Uses [1227 - 1227.4]
( Article 2.6 added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 670, Sec. 1. )
The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to provide a priority of right to appropriate water for various beneficial water uses which were initiated by the United States, or its agencies, on reserved lands prior to July 3, 1978, and which uses are for secondary purposes, other than those for which the federal reservation was created, provided that the priority of right does not impair any existing water right.
(Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 670, Sec. 1.)
(a) To obtain the priority of right set forth in Section 1227, any agency of the United States shall submit to the board, on or before July 1, 1984, a statement for each water use initiated under claim of right by the United States on reserved lands for which beneficial use of water was initiated on or before July 3, 1978, concerning which water rights litigation was not a matter of record prior to July 3, 1978, and which use is for secondary purposes other than those for which the federal reservation was created.
(b) Each statement shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) The name and address of the agency of the United States which maintains the federal water project.
(2) The name and address of the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the federal water project.
(3) The name of the stream or other source from which the water is being appropriated and the name of the next major stream or other body of water to which the source is tributary.
(4) The point of diversion and place of use.
(5) The purpose of the use.
(6) A general description of the area in which the water is used.
(7) The year in which the diversion was commenced or as near as is known.
(8) Any information tending to indicate the quantity of water used, as may be prescribed by the board.
(c) The board shall make available to any person upon request copies of statements filed pursuant to this section for federal water uses within a particular county. Any person may file a request for special notice, by county.
(Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 670, Sec. 1.)
(a) Subject to subdivisions (b) and (c), any use for which a statement is submitted to the board pursuant to Section 1227.1 has a priority for the appropriation of water as of the date of initial use of the water, except that all permits and licenses issued by the board on applications, including those filed by the department pursuant to Part 2 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 6, filed prior to July 1, 1984, have priority over any water right claimed by the United States pursuant to this article. Any use for which a statement is required shall be subject to Article 3 (commencing with Section 11460) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 6, in a like manner as the Central Valley Project.
(b) The scope of any appropriative right recognized pursuant to this article, including terms and conditions judged necessary by the board to best develop, conserve, and utilize the appropriated water in the public interest, shall be determined when that scope is at issue in any of the following proceedings:
(1) A proceeding upon an application, permit, or license of another, pursuant to this part, where the United States is a protestant or interested party.
(2) A proceeding to determine all rights to water of a stream system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 2500) of Part 3.
(3) A general adjudication of water rights commenced in the courts of this state.
(4) A proceeding to determine whether the board should commence an action pursuant to Section 1052, whether the United States is a complainant or a respondent.
(5) A proceeding under Section 275 and rules of the board in implementation thereof, whether the United States is a complainant or a respondent.
(c) The board shall, following any determination pursuant to subdivision (b), issue evidence of the scope of the right so determined; provided, that in no event, either prior or subsequent to the determination, shall the right exceed the amount of water that may be reasonably used without waste and under reasonable methods of use and diversion.
(Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 670, Sec. 1.)
This article does not apply to uses involving the appropriation of water by any person, including any agency of the United States, pursuant to the Federal Reclamation Law, as amended or supplemented, or any other federal statute which authorizes projects for the development of water for uses other than uses upon reserved federal lands.
(Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 670, Sec. 1.)
The board may, after following procedures set forth in Sections 1675 to 1675.2, inclusive, revoke any water right determined pursuant to this article upon a finding that the water has ceased to be used for a purpose for which the original development was intended.
(Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 670, Sec. 1.)