Intervention - Actions Relating To Groundwater Rights - Civil Procedure - CA

Section § 837

This law explains who can join in legal proceedings to decide how groundwater is used in a specific area. Groundwater sustainability agencies and certain government bodies like cities or counties can be involved. Individual landowners or those who use water from the area can also join if they own land there or use the water. They need to notify others in the case according to court rules. Additional guidance for others wanting to join is provided in another section of the law.

(a) A groundwater sustainability agency for the basin or a portion of the basin may intervene in a comprehensive adjudication conducted pursuant to this chapter.

(b) A city, county, or city and county that overlies the basin or a portion of the basin may intervene in a comprehensive adjudication conducted pursuant to this chapter.

(c) The court shall allow any person to intervene in a comprehensive adjudication conducted pursuant to this chapter upon an ex parte application that demonstrates that the person holds fee simple ownership in a parcel in the basin, or extracts or stores water in the basin. A person filing an ex parte application pursuant to this subdivision shall give notice to the plaintiff consistent with the California Rules of Court.

(d) A person may apply to intervene in a comprehensive adjudication conducted pursuant to this chapter pursuant to Section 387.

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Section § 837.5

This law allows the state to step into certain legal cases called comprehensive adjudications. However, it doesn't change any existing laws or rights.

(a) The state may intervene in a comprehensive adjudication conducted pursuant to this chapter.

(b) This section does not affect substantive law.

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