The Legislature hereby finds and declares that a serious problem of water quality exists in the San Joaquin River between the junction of the San Joaquin River and the Merced River and the junction of the San Joaquin River with Middle River; that by virtue of the nature and causes of the problem and its effect upon water supplies in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, it is a matter of statewide interest and is the responsibility of the State to determine an equitable and feasible solution to this problem.
Part 4.6SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
Section § 12230
This law recognizes a water quality problem in a specific section of the San Joaquin River, which affects the water supply in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The law states that since this is an issue affecting the entire state, it is California's responsibility to find a fair and practical solution.
water quality San Joaquin River Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water supplies statewide interest equitable solution feasible solution water problem river junction Merced River Middle River
Section § 12231
This law states that it's California's policy to ensure that no one, including individuals, companies, or government bodies, takes water from the San Joaquin River and its connected streams if that water should rightfully go to certain users along the river's specific section.
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State that no person, corporation or public or private agency or the State or the United States should divert water from the San Joaquin River and its tributaries to which the users along the portion of the San Joaquin River described in Section 12230 are entitled.
San Joaquin River water rights water diversion tributaries public agencies private agencies river water use entitled users California water policy river water allocation water resources management statutory users water protection water entitlement
Section § 12232
This law requires various California state water agencies to ensure that their actions do not worsen the water quality in a specific section of the San Joaquin River. They must avoid causing any significant negative impact on the river between the points outlined in Section 12230.
The State Water Resources Control Board, the State Department of Water Resources, the California Water Commission, and any other agency of the state having jurisdiction, shall do nothing, in connection with their responsibilities, to cause further significant degradation of the quality of water in that portion of the San Joaquin River between the points specified in Section 12230.
San Joaquin River water quality State Water Resources Control Board State Department of Water Resources California Water Commission water protection river degradation environmental responsibility state agencies water pollution prevention river quality maintenance waterway jurisdiction environmental stewardship water management obligations California water agencies
Section § 12233
This law clarifies that nothing in the specified part changes the quality of water diverted from the Sacramento River into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. It also states that it does not affect any existing water rights or projects that applied to use water before June 17, 1961.
Nothing in this part shall be construed as affecting the quality of water diverted into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from the Sacramento River, nor as affecting any vested right to the use of water, regardless of origin, or any water project for which an application to appropriate water was filed with the State Water Resources Control Board prior to June 17, 1961.
Sacramento River San Joaquin Delta water quality vested water rights water diversion State Water Resources Control Board water appropriation applications pre-1961 water projects water rights protection Delta water management Sacramento-San Joaquin system water project applications historic water rights water resources law
