Water Replenishment AssessmentAdjudication
Section § 60350
This law section states that starting in the third fiscal year after a court has finalized decisions about groundwater extraction rights and the natural safe yield of groundwater in a district, the district board must exempt some water from replenishment assessments. This exemption applies to water pumped by individuals with adjudicated rights, as long as their usage doesn't surpass their agreed share of the safe yield. If water usage exceeds their share, a replenishment fee is assessed on the excess. The board can decide whether to apply these rules, and their decision can be reviewed by a court if challenged.
Section § 60351
This law states that when ground water is replenished as part of this act, no one can claim ownership or any rights to the water that the district uses for this replenishment.
Section § 60352
This law states that after a legal decision about water rights, the cost of replenishing water supplies shifts specifically to those who use more water than they are allowed from the groundwater in their district. These users benefit from the fees they pay, as these fees go toward buying extra water to supplement what they can't legally take from natural sources. If they don't adhere to this, they risk legal consequences.