Skip to Main Content
Notice! Water Board Office Closures - As a result of the COVID-19 emergency, most Water Board offices are closed to the public, and non-essential file reviews are postponed.
  • State of California
  • CalEPA
  • Home
  • Share:
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Settings
SWRCB.gov
Menu Search
  • Home
  • Board 
    • Board Members
    • Past Agendas
    • Past Meeting Minutes
    • Executive Director's Report
    • Adopted Orders
    • Tentative Orders/Documents for Public Comment
    • Plans and Policies
    • Videos
    • Webcasts
  •  Programs 
    • Administrative Hearings Office
    • Agriculture
    • Cannabis Cultivation
    • Conservation
    • Delta Watermaster
    • Beaches & Ocean
    • Drought Year Info
    • Enforcement
    • Financial Assistance
    • Groundwater
    • Human Right to Water
    • Operator Certification
    • Permit / Licensing
    • Petitions
    • Septic Systems (OWTS)
    • Storage Tanks
    • Storm Water
    • Strategic Plan
    • Water Quality Assessment
    • More Programs . . .
  •  Drinking Water 
    • Programs
    • Certificates and Licenses
    • Operator Certification
    • Compliance
    • Districts
    • Labs
    • Petitions
  •  Water Quality 
    • Cannabis Cultivation
    • Composting Facilities
    • Forestry Program
    • Groundwater Cleanup
    • Groundwater Information and Activities
    • Irrigated Agricultural Land Discharge Permitting
    • Land Disposal
    • Non-point Source Pollution Planning, Grants, and Implementation
    • NPDES Point Source Permitting
    • Oceans and Beaches
    • Oil and Gas
    • Plans and Policies
    • Recycled Water Policy and Research
    • Storage Tanks
    • Storm Water Planning and Permitting
    • Surface Water Quality Assessment to Water Quality
    • TMDLs
    • Water Quality Certification and Wetlands
    • Water Quality Monitoring
    • Water Quality Goals
  •  Water Rights 
    • Programs
    • Bay Delta Program
    • Cannabis Cultivation
    • Drought
    • Applications
    • Fees
    • Hearings
    • Decisions
    • Petitions & Transfers
    • Public Trust
    • Registrations
    • Revocation Information
    • Reports
  •  Notices 
    • Press Releases
    • Past Announcements
    • Public Participation
    • Board Calendar
    • Public Comments
    • Petitions
    • Drinking Water Petitions
    • UST Petitions
    • Water Quality Petitions
    • Water Rights Petitions
    • Water Quality Certifications
  •  Water Boards 
    • State Water Resources Control Board
      • Water Boards Map
      • Division of Drinking Water
      • Division of Financial Assistance
      • Division of Water Quality
      • Division of Water Rights

    • Region 1 - North Coast
    • Region 2 - San Francisco Bay
    • Region 3 - Central Coast
    • Region 4 - Los Angeles
    • Region 5 - Central Valley
    • Region 6 - Lahontan
    • Region 7 - Colorado River Basin
    • Region 8 - Santa Ana
    • Region 9 - San Diego
    • My Water Quality
    • Santa Monica Bay Restoration
    • CalEPA
  •   
  • Search

Water Rights Policies and Regulation

Policies and Regulations

  • Cannabis Cultivation Policy - Principles and Guidelines for Cannabis Cultivation
  • Regulation for Measuring and Reporting the Diversion of Water
  • Emergency Regulation: Information Orders readopted, effective October 17, 2016
  • Emergency Regulations: Statewide Drought Related Curtailment of Water Diversions
  • Emergency Regulation: 2015 Curtailment of Diversions due to Insufficient Flows for Specific Fisheries in Mill, Deer, and Antelope Creeks
    Resolution adopted on March 17, 2015, effective March 30, 2015
  • Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams
    Resolution adopted on October 22, 2013, effective February 4, 2014
  • Russian River Frost Protection Regulation Implementation
    Resolution adopted on September 20, 2011

Policy and Regulation Development

  • Proposed Water Rights Enforcement Policy
  • Russian River – Emergency Regulation for Enhanced Water Conservation and Additional Water User Information for the Protection of Specific Fisheries in Tributaries to the Russian River
  • Curtailment of Diversions due to Insufficient Flow for Specific Fisheries in Mill, Deer, and Antelope Creeks
  • Policy for Maintaining Instream Flows in Northern California Coastal Streams
  • Russian River Frost Protection Regulation
    The State Water Board is developing a proposed regulation pertaining to the diversion of water from the Russian River stream system for purposes of frost protection.

  (Page last updated 2/22/19)

Water Rights Resources

  • Applications: Permitting & Licensing
  • Bay-Delta Program
  • Business Help
  • Complaints and Enforcement
  • Hearings
  • Petitions and Transfer
  • Policies & Regulations
  • Public Trust
  • Records (eWRIMS Database)
  • Registrations
  • Orders, Decisions & Judgments
  • Useful Water Rights Information
  • Water Quality Certification
  • Water Rights Fees
  • Water Use Reports & Measurement
  • More Programs

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.

Statewide Campaigns

  •  EPA Water Sense
  •  Report an Environmental Concern
  •  Save Our Water
  •  Flex Alert
  •  Register to Vote
COVID-19 information

Quick Links

  •   Board Agendas
  •   Fees
  •   Make a Payment
  •   Grievance Procedure
  •   Help / Business Help
  •   Uniform Grants Guidance
California Grants Portal

Resources

  • OIMA
  • CEDEN
  • Data & Databases
  • Drought Information
  • FAAST
  • Language Access Complaint
  • Queja de Acceso al Idioma
  • My Water Quality
  • Performance Report
  • Tribal Affairs
  • Website Index

Working with the Board

  • Abbreviations and Acronyms
  • Board Priorities
  • Decisions Pending &
    Opportunities for Public Participation
  • Employment
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Grants & Loans
  • Laws / Regulations
  • Plans / Policies
  • Public Records Center
  • Publications / Forms
  • Back to Top
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Twitter
  • Board YouTube
 
Website Accessibility Certification

Copyright © State of California
The California Water Boards include the State Water Resources Control Board and nine Regional Boards
The State Water Board is one of six environmental entities operating under
the authority of the California Environmental Protection Agency
Cal/EPA | ARB | CalRecycle | DPR | DTSC | OEHHA | SWRCB
.