August 2, 2023
Senate Bill 389: California Legislature Considers Granting State Water Board Unprecedented Authority
California Senate Bill 389 (SB 389) is a legislative effort to increase the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) authority over pre-1914 appropriative water rights and riparian water rights. Introduced by Senator Ben Allen (D-Redondo Beach) on February 9, 2023, the bill purports to “provide the State Water Board with more tools to determine whether senior water right claimants who assert riparian or pre-1914 appropriative rights have defensible ground for their diversion and use of water.” … Read More
Written by Maximilian C. Bricker