ARTICLE 2. Petition and Preliminary Proceedings [2525. - 2529.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 2.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 2525. Section 2525.

Upon petition signed by one or more claimants to water of any stream system, requesting the determination of the rights of the various claimants to the water of that stream system, the board shall, if, upon investigation, it finds the facts and conditions are such that the public interest and necessity will be served by a determination of the water rights involved, enter an order granting the petition and make proper arrangements to proceed with the determination.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 2526. Section 2526.

As soon as practicable after granting the petition the board shall prepare and issue a notice setting forth the following: (a) The facts of the entry of the order and of the pendency of the proceedings; (b) That all claimants to rights to the use of water of the stream system are required to inform the board within 60 days from the date of the notice, or such further time as the board may allow, of their intention to file proof of claim; (c) The date prior to which all claimants to rights to the water of the stream system shall notify the board in writing of their intention to file proof of claim and the address to which all subsequent notices to the claimant relating to the proceedings may be sent; (d) A statement that all claimants will be required to make proof of their claims at a time to be fixed by the board after the conclusion of its investigation.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 2527. Section 2527.

The notice shall be published at least once a week for four consecutive weeks, commencing within 20 days of the date of issuance of the notice, in one or more newspapers of general circulation published in each county in which any part of the stream system is situated, and, within the same 20-day period, the notice shall be mailed to all persons known to the board who own land that appears to be riparian to the stream system or who divert water from the stream system.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 2528. Section 2528.

Whenever proceedings are instituted for the determination of rights to water, it is the duty of all claimants interested therein and having notice thereof as provided in this chapter, to notify the board of their intention to file proof of claim and to appear and submit proof of their respective claims at the time and in the manner required by this chapter.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 2529. Section 2529.

(a) Within 60 days after the date by which claimants to rights to the water of the stream system are required to notify the board in writing of their intention to file proof of claim, the board shall prepare and file for record, in the office of the county recorder of each county in which any part of the stream system is situated, a notice setting forth all of the following facts: (1) The order has been entered and the proceedings are pending. (2) Information regarding the status of the proceedings may be obtained from the board. (3) The proceedings will result in a determination of the rights to water of the stream system. (4) Any claimant who fails to appear and submit proof of his or her claim as provided in this chapter shall be held to have forfeited all rights to water previously claimed by him or her on the stream system, other than as provided in the decree, unless entitled to relief under the laws of this state. (5) At the conclusion of the proceedings, the superior court will enter a decree determining the water rights appurtenant to each parcel identified in the notice, including the specific parcel against which this notice appears, and the decree may accord the claimant for that parcel water rights which are different from those he or she has claimed. (b) The notice shall identify the current owners of each parcel that appears to be riparian to the stream system or to which water is diverted from the stream, and shall be recorded in a manner so that anyone researching the title of a parcel will find the notice. (c) If the board subsequently identifies an additional parcel or parcels which appear to be riparian to the stream system or to which water is diverted from the stream, the board shall prepare and file for record a supplementary notice identifying the current owners of the additional parcels. The supplementary notice shall be recorded in the same manner as the original notice.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026