Nothing in this division shall be interpreted to grant the board any regulatory or governing authority over any ordinance or regulatory measure adopted by a city, county, or special district that pertains to land use, water rights, or environmental quality.
Chapter 5Limitations
Section § 32620
This section makes it clear that the board has no power to regulate or control any local laws related to land use, water rights, or environmental quality that are set by cities, counties, or special districts.
land use policies water rights environmental quality regulations local ordinances city regulations county regulations special district laws regulatory limitation board authority local government autonomy local land use control environmental governance water management legal interpretation limitation local jurisdiction empowerment
Section § 32621
This section outlines restrictions on the conservancy's actions to ensure they do not interfere with other entities managing water resources. Specifically, the conservancy cannot disrupt operations related to groundwater or surface water management, violate court orders related to water in the San Gabriel River, or impact existing Los Angeles County water projects. Additionally, any action that could degrade water quality or interfere with water rights is prohibited.
The conservancy must notify local water associations at least 45 days in advance before taking actions that could affect water rights or delivery systems. Also, if there is potential overlap in responsibilities with other conservancies, they should collaborate to find environmentally beneficial solutions, with any disputes referred to the Resources Agency.
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 32621(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, the conservancy shall not take any action that does any of the following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 32621(a)(1) Interferes or conflicts with the exercise of the powers or duties of any watermaster, public agency, or other body or entity responsible for groundwater or surface water management or groundwater replenishment as designated or established pursuant to any adjudication or statute.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 32621(a)(2) Interferes or conflicts with any provision of any judgment or court order issued, or rule or regulation adopted, pursuant to any adjudication affecting water or water management in the San Gabriel River watershed and basin.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 32621(a)(3) Impedes or adversely impacts any previously adopted Los Angeles County Drainage Area project, as described in the report of the Chief of Engineers dated June 30, 1992, including any supplement or addendum to that report as of September 1, 1999, or any maintenance agreement to operate the project.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 32621(a)(4) Results in the degradation of water quality, or interferes or conflicts with any action by a watermaster or public agency that is authorized pursuant to statute, any water right or adjudication including, but not limited to, any action relating to water conservation, groundwater recharge, conservation or storage of water, or both, the pumping
of groundwater, water treatment, the regulation of spreading, injection, pumping, storage, or the use of water from local sources, stormwater flows and runoff, or from imported or reclaimed water that is undertaken in connection with the management of the San Gabriel River or any branch, stream, fork, or tributary thereof, a groundwater basin, or groundwater resource.
(5)CA Public Resources Code § 32621(a)(5) Interferes with, obstructs, hinders, or delays the exercise of, any water right by the owner of a public water system, including, but not limited to, the construction, operation, maintenance, replacement, repair, location, or relocation of any well or water pumping, treatment, or storage facility, pipeline, or other facility or property necessary or useful to the operation of the public water system.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 32621(b) The conservancy shall provide written notice to every water association in the jurisdiction of the conservancy
of any proposed action, policy, or project that may affect any water right or water delivery system at least 45 calendar days prior to the date set for approval of any of those matters by the conservancy.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 32621(c) As used in this section, “adjudication” means any final judgment or order entered in any judicial proceeding adjudicating or affecting water rights, surface water management, or groundwater management.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 32621(d) The conservancy shall consult with other conservancies within the Resources Agency prior to implementing any project pursuant to this division in which there may be a jurisdictional overlap between those conservancies. Each of those conservancies shall make its best effort to resolve any issues regarding any project development that is carried out pursuant to this division in a mutually advantageous and environmentally beneficial manner. Any dispute between the
conservancies shall be referred to the Resources Agency for resolution.
conservancy restrictions water management groundwater replenishment San Gabriel River water quality degradation water rights Los Angeles County Drainage Area water master duties public agency water responsibilities water project notification adjudication water delivery systems Resources Agency jurisdictional overlap environmentally beneficial solutions
