Water Transfers Program
The Division of Water Rights manages the Water Transfers Program, which covers both temporary (less than one year) and long-term exchanges of water within the State of California. Water Transfers covered by Water Code Sections 1725 are referred to as temporary transfers. Water transfers lasting more than one year and covered by Water Code Section 1735 are referred to as long-term transfers. For more information on Transfers, please consult our "Guide to Water Transfers."
News and Announcements
- New! List of Potential 2024 Water Transfers
- New streamlined noticing process available. Read the complete FAQ and overview document.
- Please note, we are reformatting our website. Temporary Transfers are currently available below and at the previous noticing page
Useful Information
- Water Transfer Program Information
- Guide to Water Transfers - July 1999 (Draft) - Prepared by the State Water Resources Control Board
- Water Transfers Public Workshop, May 4, 2000
- Water Transfer Issues in California - Final Report of the Water Transfer Workgroup - June 2002
- Department of Water Resources - Water Transfer Webpage
- Water Code section 1707 Instream Flow Dedication
- Water Rights Online Forms
Streamlining the Transfer Process
- April 29th Public Listening Session on Water Transfer Process Streamlining Presentations and Comments
- Status of Water Transfer Efforts in 2014 presented by Department of Water Resources
- Video of April 29, 2014 Public Listening Session on Water Transfer Process Streamlining (26:31)
- Background on Water Transfers presented by State Water Board
- Overview of Transfer Processing presented by State Water Board
- Transfer Recommendations presented by California Economic Summit
- Water Transfer Overview presented by Department of Water Resources
Transfer Notices and Orders
Below you will find a table containing the Transfer Notices and Orders.
- To narrow the list, enter search criteria in the search box below.
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Application ID | Water Right Holder | Requested Amount (AF) | Type of Transfer | Date Received (yyyy/mm/dd) |
Notice (yyyy/mm/dd) |
Comment Deadline (yyyy/mm/dd) |
Order (yyyy/mm/dd) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23, 234, 1465, and 5638 | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 45,000 | Reservoir Release | 2024/08/27 | 2024/09/06 - Notice | 2024/10/07 | |
14804 | South Sutter Water District | 2000 | Reservoir Release | 2024/08/14 | 2024/08/15 - Notice | 2024/09/13 | 2024/10/18 - Order |
1692 | El Dorado Irrigation District | 750 | Reservoir Release | 2024/06/14 | 2024/06/14 - Notice | 2024/07/15 | 2024/08/09 - Order |
5632 | Yuba County Water Agency | 200,000 | Reservoir Release and Groundwater Substitution | 2024/04/04 | 2024/05/29 - Notice | 2024/06/28 | |
14443, 23, 234, 1465, 5626, 5628, 5638, 9363, 9364, 9368, 13370, 13371, 15374, 15375, 15764, 16767, 17374, 17376 | Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 428,300 | Exchange | 2024/05/16 | 2024/05/24 - Notice | 2024/06/24 | 2024/07/22 - Order |
1224 | Merced Irrigation District | 25,000 | Reservoir Release | 2024/05/17 | 2024/05/21 - Notice | 2024/06/17 | 2024/07/12 - Order |
1389 and 2221 | Walker River Irrigation District | 25,000 | Reservoir Release | 2024/01/05 | 2024/01/16 - Notice | 2024/02/15 | 2024/03/11 - Order |
5632 | Yuba County Water Agency | 25,000 | Reservoir Release | 2023/11/16 | 2023/11/27 - Notice | 2022/12/27 | 2024/01/19 - Order |
23, 234, 1465, and 5638 | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 45,000 | Reservoir Release | 2023/09/22 | 2023/10/02 - Notice | 2023/11/01 | 2023/11/17 - Order |
14804 | South Sutter Water District | 2,299 | Groundwater Substitution/Reservoir Release | 2023/07/12 | 2023/07/24 - Notice | 2023/08/23 | 2023/10/05 - Order |
1224 | Merced Irrigation District | 25,000 | Reservoir Release | 2023/06/15 | 2023/06/23 - Notice | 2023/07/24 | 2023/08/18 - Order |
14443, 23, 234, 1465, 5626, 5628, 5638, 9363, 9364, 9368, 13370, 13371, 15374, 15375, 15764, 16767, 17374, 17376 | Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 405,785 | Exchange | 2023/05/19 | 2023/05/30 - Notice | 2023/06/29 | 2023/07/21 - Order |
A001389 and A002221 | Walker River Irrigation District | 25,000 | Reservoir Release | 2023/01/23 | 2023/02/02 - Notice | 2023/03/06 | 2023/04/12 - Order |
5632 | Yuba County Water Agency | 25,000 | Reservoir Release | 2022/11/10 | 2022/11/17 - Notice | 2022/12/02 | 2022/12/21 - Order |
23, 234, 1465, and 5638 | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 45,000 | Reservoir Release | 2022/09/02 | 2022/09/12 - Notice | 2022/10/12 | 2022/11/07 - Order |
1692 | El Dorado Irrigation District | 750 | Reservoir Release | 2022/07/20 | 2022/08/01 - Notice |
2022/08/16 | 2022/09/19 - Order |
14804 | South Sutter Water District | 4,598 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/07/08 | 2022/07/26 - Notice | 2022/08/10 | 2022/09/23 - Order |
18085 | Placer County Water Agency | 21,053 | Reservoir Release | 2022/05/24 | 2022/06/03 - Notice | 2022/06/20 | 2022/07/22 - Order |
1651 and 2778 | South Feather Water & Power Agency | 10,000 | Reservoir Release | 2022/05/13 | 2022/05/23 - Notice | 2022/06/07 | 2022/07/18 Order |
14443, 23, 234, 1465, 5626, 5628, 5638, 9363, 9364, 9368, 13370, 13371, 15374, 15375, 15764, 16767, 17374, 17376 | Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 393,385 | Exchange | 2022/05/11 | 2022/05/23 - Notice | 2022/06/07 | 2022/07/22 - Order |
138 | Carmichael Water District | 1,795 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/05/10 | 2022/05/10 - Notice | 2022/05/31 | 2022/06/30 - Order |
12321 and 12622 | City of Sacramento | 10,366 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/05/05 | 2022/05/16 - Notice | 2022/05/31 | 2022/06/30 – |
16401 | Tudor Mutual Water Company | 1,500 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/04/28 | 2022/05/09 - Notice | 2022/05/24 | 2022/08/02 - Order |
23, 234, 1465, 5638 | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 76,069 | Reservoir Release | 2022/03/11 | 2022/03/21 - Notice | 2022/04/20 | 2022/06/30 - Withdrawn |
5724 | East Side Canal & Irrigation Company | 5,000 | Conservation | 2022/03/10 | 2022/03/21 - Notice | 2022/05/04 | 2022/05/06 - Order |
3423, 4901 | Te Velde Revocable Family Trust | 4,597.80 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/02/19 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
1699 | Garden Highway Mutual Water Company | 6,500 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/07/01 - Order |
10030 | Tule Basin Farms | 3,520 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/07/01 - Order |
480 | Plumas Mutual Water Company | 5,500 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/07/01 - Order |
1199B | Conaway | 10,088 | Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
6146 | Henle Family Limited Partnership | 700 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
1617 | Lewis Ranch (Baber) | 1,200 | Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
1203 | Natomas Central Mutual Water Company | 20,000 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
1965A, 12470B | Pelger Mutual Water Company | 3,750 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
7641A, 7641C, 7641B, 15606, 7641D1, 15856A, 7641D2, 15856B, 15856C, 15858, 16182 | Pleasant Grove Verona Mutual Water Company | 15,439.50 | Groundwater Substitution, Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
244 | Princeton-Cordora-Glenn Irrigation District | 10,000 | Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
462 | Provident Irrigation District | 10,000 | Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
576 | Reclamation District No. 108 | 55,000 | Groundwater Substitution, Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
27 | Reclamation District No. 1004 | 22,000 | Groundwater Substitution, Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
575, 577 | River Garden Farms | 16,000 | Groundwater Substitution, Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
878 | Sutter Mutual Water Company | 36,000 | Groundwater Substitution, Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
1659 | Sycamore Mutual Water Company | 10,000 | Crop Idling/Crop Shifting | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
3247 | Windswept Orchards | 1,200 | Groundwater Substitution | 2022/02/18 | 2022/02/28 - Notice | 2022/03/15 | 2022/03/15 - Withdrawn |
5632 | Yuba County Water Agency | 25,000 | Reservoir Release | 2022/02/04 | 2022/02/14 - Notice | 2022/03/01 | 2022/04/01 - Order |
2221, 1839 | Walker River Irrigation District | 25,000 | Reservoir Release | 2021/11/10 | 2021/11/22 - Notice | 2021/12/22 | 2022/02/23 - Order |
4228 | East Bay Municipal Utility District | 658 | Reservoir Release | 2021/11/05 | 2021/11/09 - Notice | 2021/11/24 | 2021/12/17 - Order |
A014858A | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 30,000 | Reservoir Release | 2021/08/25 | 2021/08/26 - Notice | 2021/09/10 | 2021/10/14 - Order |
14443, 23, 234, 1465, 5626, 5628, 5638, 9363, 9364, 9368, 13370, 13371, 15374, 15375, 15764, 16767, 17374, 17376 | Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 200,000 | Exchange | 2021/07/27 | 2021/07/28 - Notice | 2021/08/12 | 2021/08/25 - Order |
1081 | Oakdale Irrigation District and South San Joaquin Irrigation District | 100,000 | Reservoir Release | 2021/06/21 | 2021/07/01 - Notice | 2021/07/23 | 2021/08/17 - Withdrawn |
Placer County Water Agency | 21,053 | Reservoir Release | 2021/06/04 | 2021/06/14 - Notice | 2021/06/29 | 2021/07/28 - Order | |
1739 | Thermalito Water and Sewer District | 3,500 | Reservoir Release | 2021/05/25 | 2021/06/04 - Notice | 2021/06/21 | 2021/07/16 - Order |
1651, 2778 | South Feather Water & Power Agency | 8,000 | Reservoir Release | 2021/05/25 | 2021/06/04 - Notice | 2021/06/21 | 2021/07/16 - Order |
14443, 23, 234, 1465, 5626, 5628, 5638, 9363, 9364, 9368, 13370, 13371, 15374, 15375, 15764, 16767, 17374, 17376 | Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation | 431,780 | Exchange | 2021/05/14 | 2021/05/24 - Notice | 2021/06/08 | 2022/05/06 - Additional Approval No. 2 2021/08/05 - Additional Approval No. 1 2021/07/14 - Order |
16401 | Tudor Mutual Water Company | 1,200 | Groundwater Substitution | 2021/05/07 | 2021/05/17 - Notice | 2021/06/01 | 2021/07/09 - Order |
4635 | Clifton Court LLC | 1,539 | Crop Idling | 2021/05/05 | 2021/05/24 - Notice | 2021/06/08 | 2021/07/30 - Order |
138 | Carmichael Water District | 1,889 | Groundwater Substitution | 2021/05/05 | 2021/05/14 - Notice | 2021/06/01 | 2021/06/29 - Order |
12140, 12321, 12622, 16060 | City of Sacramento | 14,650 | Groundwater Substitution | 2021/04/30 | 2021/05/10 - Notice | 2021/06/09 | 2021/07/07 - Order |
3544 | Montague Water Conservation District | 500 | Reservoir Release | 2021/04/21 | 2021/04/28 - Notice | 2021/05/28 | 2021/06/04 - Order |
10030 | Tule Basin Farms | 3,520 | Groundwater Substitution | 2021/04/16 | 2021/04/26 - Notice | 2021/05/26 | 2021/06/18 - Withdrawn |
5724 | Stevinson Water District and East Side Canal & Irrigation Company | 5,000 | Conservation | 2021/04/14 | 2021/10/22 - Notice | 2021/11/22 | 2023/03/22 - Order |
1699 | Garden Highway Mutual Water Company | 5,500 | Groundwater Substitution | 2021/03/19 | 2021/03/29 - Notice | 2021/04/28 | 2021/05/28 - Order |
480 | Plumas Mutual Water Company | 2,000 | Groundwater Substitution | 2021/03/12 | 2021/03/22 - Notice | 2021/04/21 | 2021/05/28 - Order |
23, 234, 1465, 5638 | U.S. Bureau of Reclamations | 76,069 | Reservoir Release | 2021/01/29 | 2021/02/08 - Notice | 2021/03/10 | 2021/04/30 - Order |
Process to Anticipate
The process for temporary water transfers is governed by Water Code section 1726. The number of days are in statute and are calendar days. Note that petitioners will likely need to provide responses to comments received.
Submittal
~6 Days
10 Days
+30 Days
+5 Days
+20 Days
To request a transfer petition, the petitioner must follow these steps:
- Review Program Criteria and Limitations. The prospective petitioner reviews the information about the program to determine if the petition is appropriate. A call to the State Water Board's Division of Water Rights at (916) 341-5300 may be helpful.
- Submit a Petition. The process is initiated when the petitioner files a petition. Options include:
- Long Term Transfer Petition. Use for a transfer of water that will last for more than one year.
The petition specifically describes the proposed changes to the project to accomplish the transfer. Typically a transfer involves a willing buyer and seller or an exchange. The water right is modified to include the new of point of diversion/re-diversion of the water, the new purposes of use of the water (if different from the water right) and the new place of use (such as the service area of the buyer). The petitioner must provide a copy of the petition to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the board of supervisors of the county in which the petitioner currently stores or uses the water, and the board of supervisors of the county to which the water is proposed to be transferred. The Board notifies the petitioner shortly after receipt if the petition is incomplete.
- Environmental Review.
- Long Term Transfers: Consideration of environmental effects is required by the California Environmental Quality Act before a long term transfer petition can be issued. The Board examines the proposed project's potential environmental impacts and determines whether mitigation measures will be needed.
In addition to any obligation the State Water Board may have under the California Environmental Quality Act, the State Water Board has an independent obligation to consider the effect of the proposed project on public trust resources and to protect those resources where feasible
- Public Notice and Comment Consideration. The State Board issues a notice of the right holder's intent to change their project and invites comment. The Board considers any comments that have been filed. In some cases, a formal hearing is held before one or more members of the State Board. The Board's decision is based upon the record produced during the hearing.
- Order Issuance. Board findings are required before a petition can be issued including:
- Long Term Transfers:
- Change does not initiate a new water right;
- Change can be made without substantial injury to other legal users of water, and
- Change can be made without unreasonable effect upon fish, wildlife or other instream beneficial uses;
- Change is in the public interest, a concept that is an overriding concern in all Board decisions.
- The Order is then issued if the Board determines that the proposed change meets these criteria. If it determines otherwise, conditions may be imposed to ensure they are satisfied or the petition may be denied.
- Long Term Transfers:
For long term transfers, processing time can extend from up to a year to several years, depending on the complexity of the project and the amount of information gathering and coordination the party has completed prior to submittal of the petition.
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