Bill > SB697

This bill modifies California's water rights determination process by updating the State Water Resources Control Board's authority and procedures for investigating water rights in a stream system. The bill requires board representatives to investigate water use in detail, with the option (but not the obligation) to conduct field investigations, and introduces a new provision allowing the board to issue information orders to water users if the initially provided information is deemed inadequate. These information orders can require claimants to submit reports about their water use within 75 days, and the board must provide a written explanation for why the additional information is needed. The bill also clarifies that the board may inspect properties where water is being used, diverted, or conveyed, and can obtain an inspection warrant if necessary. Additionally, the bill establishes that the costs of preparing reports should be reasonable and proportional to the information's value, and allows the board to require annual updates to the information while an adjudication is pending. The legislation aims to improve the board's ability to comprehensively assess and manage water rights by ensuring more thorough and up-to-date information gathering during stream system investigations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB697