Water Allocation in California – Legal Rights and Reform Needs

FOREWARD: Water supply, allocation, use and conservation are constantly debated in California, often appearing as highly charged political issues in candidates’ races and on election ballots. This year is no exception, with major ballot propositions already scheduled for the June primary election and being circulated to qualify for the November general election.

Accordingly this Research Paper on legal aspects of water allocation is being published for the valuable background it affords readers wishing to learn more about the subject. The author draws on his legal expertise, as well as his experience as Staff Director of the Governor’s Commission to Review California Water Rights Law. The paper emphasizes the crucial role of water rights in California water management, and it points to the need for and present lack of a political consensus on water law reform. The author concludes by suggesting forces that could bring about interest-group realignments and other developments favorable to achieving the needed consensus on water law and management reform that so far has eluded Californians.

Stanley Scott
Assistant Director
Institute of Governmental Studies
March 1982