Water Measurement and Reporting Regulations: Rulemaking
Revisions were made to the Water Measurement regulation which is in Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations chapter 2.8 (Water Measurement). Revisions were also made to chapters 2 (Appropriation of Water) and 2.7 (Water Diversion and Use Reports).
Rulemaking Background
Chapters 2 and 2.7: Changes to chapters 2 (Appropriation of Water) and 2.7 (Water Diversion and Use Reports) have been approved and are in effect. The revised regulations require reporters to have an email address on file with the Board and align the annual reporting period for groundwater recordations with the water year.
Chapter 2.8: Changes to chapter 2.8 (Water Measurement) have been approved and updated measuring and data submission requirements go into effect on October 1, 2026. Please refer to the Effective Dates for Requirements graphic for more information.
The physical version of the rulemaking record is available in the Division of Water Rights' public records room, located in the CalEPA Headquarters. Anyone can request to view the physical rulemaking record by emailing dwr@waterboards.ca.gov.
Rulemaking and Supporting Documents
Rulemaking and Supporting Documents
Effective Dates for Requirements
Effective Dates for Requirements
Water Measurement Page
Water Measurement Page
Contact Us
Contact Us
Response to Comments and Written Comments Request
State Water Board staff reviewed, summarized, and responded to all comments received during the rulemaking process. For your convenience, staff prepared an Indexed Summary and Response to Comments document that identifies the specific summaries and responses for each commenter. Please see the rulemaking proceedings below for the non-indexed version of the Summary and Response to Comments document that was submitted to the Office of Administrative Law.
Rulemaking and Supporting Documents
| Rulemaking Proceeding | Item | Date |
|---|---|---|
| December Rulemaking Regulation Resubmission |
|
12/9/2025 |
| December Board Adoption Meeting | 12/2/2025 | |
| August Rulemaking Regulation Submission |
|
8/14/2025 |
| August Board Adoption Meeting | 8/5/2025 | |
| Initial Proposed Rulemaking Package |
|
2/28/2025 |
| Administrative Procedure Act (APA) Hearing | 4/16/2025 | |
| First 15-Day Comment Period | 5/22/2025 | |
| Second 15-Day Comment Period | 6/16/2025 | |
| Third 15-Day Comment Period | 10/30/2025 |
Materials and Documents Relied Upon
Economic Impact Assessment
- Department of Finance, State of California, 2024. Economic Forecasts, U.S. and California.
- Employment Development Department, State of California, 2024. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2009-2024.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2020. National Inventory of Dams.
- Economic and Fiscal Impact Statement, STD. 399 form, for the “Measurement & Reporting on the Diversion of Water” Emergency Regulation, 2016.
Final Statement of Reasons
- Division of Drinking Water (2021) California Laboratory Intake Portal Technical Documentation for EDP/EDD. State Water Resources Control Board.
- Division of Water Rights (2013) Considerations for Reservoir Licensing. State Water Resources Control Board.
- Division of Water Rights (2024a) Draft Proposed Changes to the Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation: Staff Workshop PowerPoint Slides.
- Division of Water Rights (2024b) Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation (SB-88): Feedback Summary, Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation. State Water Resources Control Board.
- Regulation of Water, 23 California Code of Regulations §657 (1987)
- State Water Resources Control Board (2005) GeoTracker GEO_BORE, GEO_REPORT, and FIELD POINT/WELL CONSTRUCTION Guidelines & Restrictions: Electronic Deliverable Format, Version 2.
- State Water Resources Control Board (2018) Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento San Joaquin Delta Estuary.
- State Water Resources Control Board (2021) Initial Order Imposing Water Right Curtailment and Reporting Requirements in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta Watershed.
- State Water Resources Control Board (2024) Instructions for Submitting CEDEN Compatible Data.
- Storage of Water, 23 California Code of Regulations §658 (1987).
- US. Geological Survey (2024) Water Quality Daily Data.
- State Water Resources Control Board (2016) Measurement and Reporting of Water Diversion Emergency Regulations Digest.
On November 4, 2024, the State Water Resources Control Board held a staff workshop to present information and solicit public input on draft revisions to California Code of Regulations, Title 23, chapters 2 (Appropriation of Water), 2.7 (Water Diversion and Use) and 2.8 (Measuring and Monitoring). The workshop was followed by a 4-week written public comment period.
Draft Proposed Regulation Text and Public Workshop
- December 2, 2024 - Written Comments Submission Deadline on the Proposed Changes to the Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation
- To request a copy of written public comments submitted in response to the November 4, 2024 Draft Proposed Regulation Text, please email DWR-Measurement@Waterboards.ca.gov.
- November 13, 2024 - Staff Workshop on Proposed Changes to the Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation
- November 4, 2024 - Proposed Changes to the Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation
- Draft Proposed Regulation Text
- Notice of 11/13/2024 Staff Workshop and Opportunity for Public Input on Proposed Changes to the Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation
- Aviso del 11/13/2024 Taller del Personal y Oportunidad de Opinión Pública Sobre los Cambios Propuestos en el Reglamento de Medición e Información Sobre el Agua
Senate Bill 88 (SB 88) was signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on June 24, 2015, and codified in Division 2 of the California Water Code, Sections 1840-1841.5. On January 19, 2016, the State Water Board adopted a Resolution to adopt an Emergency Regulation for Measuring and Reporting Water Diversions. The regulation was submitted to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for review on March 10, 2016, and approved on March 21, 2016.
Outreach Events
- January 18, 2019 - Measurement and Reporting Workshop
- August 22, 2016 - Measurement and Reporting Fair
- April 6, 2016 - Fact Sheet: Emergency Regulation for Measuring and Reporting on the Diversion of Water
Rulemaking
- March 21, 2016 - Approved Text of Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation
- February 19, 2016 - Regulation Package Submitted to OAL
- Notice of Proposed Emergency Rulemaking
- Form 400 (including Board-adopted regulation text)
- Form 399 and Fiscal Impact Analysis
- Board-Adopted Regulation Text and Informational Materials (Digest)
- January 19, 2016 - Board Meeting
- Proposed Regulations Presented to the Board (draft)
- State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 2016-0005(includes the adopted regulation text)
- December 17, 2015 - Board Workshop
- November 2-12, 2015 - Public Meetings
- June 2015 - Text of Senate Bill 88
Stay Informed
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Contact Us
For questions regarding the regulation please contact us at:
Email: DWR-Measurement@waterboards.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 323-9393
(Page last updated 02/04/2026)
Water Rights Resources
Water is a precious resource in California, and maintaining its quality is of utmost importance to safeguard the health of the public and the environment.
