New regulations for surface water rights holders

Earlier this week, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a new regulation: all surface water rights holders and their claimants must measure and report the amount of water they are diverting. The regulation will impact 12,000 water rights holders and claimants, including those with riparian water rights.

Previously, riparian water rights holders were required to report water diversions every three years. Exceptions were given to around 70 percent of riparian rights holders who found the measuring and reporting to be costly.

“Knowing where, when, and how much water is being used is essential to managing the system fairly for all,” State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus said in a statement. “We’ve historically not had a complete picture and these past two years have made it even more essential to take this common sense move.”

By January 1, 2017, the following requirements will be implemented:

• Large water diverters who use more than 1,000 acre feet per year will be required to install a measuring device to track hourly water diversion.
• Claimed water rights holders who divert 100 acre feet per year or more per year must record their water daily.

By January 1, 2018, claimed water rights holders who divert 10 acre feet or more per year must record their water diversions on a weekly basis.

“All diverters, regardless of size, are required to report their monthly diversions on an annual basis,” the statement said.

Failing to comply with diversion reporting will result in monetary penalties of up to $500 per day.