Statutory Water Rights Law and Related California Code Sections (as amended including Statutes 2022). Country/Territory United States of America Territorial subdivision California Document type Legislation Date 1914 (2023) Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Fisheries, Water, Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Stock enhancement/repopulation Fishery management and conservation Basic legislation Freshwater resources management Water rights Water abstraction Institution Groundwater Sustainable development Sustainable use Integrated management Basin/catchment/watershed Waterworks Well sinking/boreholes Irrigation Enforcement/compliance Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Policy/planning Recycling/reuse Right to water Human rights Inland waters Ecosystem preservation Wetlands Protection of habitats Geographical area Americas, Arctic, East Pacific, North America, North Atlantic Abstract This is a compilation of California Statutes on water rights law and related Sections. It contains sections from the California Constitution, the California Water Code, the Civil Code and other related codes which affect water rights decisions. These Statutes govern the acquisition and exercise of rights to reasonable and beneficial use of surface waters (and of groundwater flowing in known and definite channels) by priority of appropriation initiated on or after December 19, 1914. That is the effective date of the Water Commission Act, which is the origin of many of the water right provisions of the current Water Code. The Water Code authorizes a proceeding whereby all rights to the use of surface waters within a given stream system, regardless of doctrinal origin, may be adjudicated on a system-wide basis (statutory adjudication). It has a procedure for recognition of pre-1914 rights (also for groundwater). Fundamental to water use is art. X, § 2 of the California Constitution, which requires that the beneficial use of water be maximized, that water be conserved, and that water be diverted and used under the rule of reasonableness. Full text English Website www.waterboards.ca.gov