Senate BillChaptered/SignedWater
SB 697: Determination of water rights: stream system.
What SB 697 does, verified December 7, 2025
The bill aims to revise the state water resources control board's process for determining water rights in stream systems. It requires representatives of the board to investigate the use of water with the authority but does not mandate a field investigation. If the board determines that the information provided is inadequate, it can issue information orders requiring claimants to submit reports of water use from the stream system through a form provided by the board. Claimants must respond to the order within 75 days of its issuance. The bill applies the procedures for reconsideration, amendment, and judicial review to the board's decisions and orders issued under the revised process.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 422, Statutes of 2025. (2025-09-02)Alert me
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| Oct. 06, 2025 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 422, Statutes of 2025. |
| Oct. 06, 2025 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 09, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. |
| Sep. 02, 2025 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 2410.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Sep. 02, 2025 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 36. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, October 6, 2025 · 1,382 words
Senate Bill No. 697
CHAPTER 422
An act to amend Sections 1120, 2551, 2552, 2553, 2554, 2555, and 2600 of, and to add Section 2556 to, the Water Code, relating to water.
[ Approved by Governor October 06, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 06, 2025. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 697, Laird. Determination of water rights: stream system.
(1) Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to hold proceedings to determine all rights to water of a stream system whether based upon appropriation, riparian right, or other basis of right. Existing law provides various requirements for the board when determining adjudication of water rights, including, among other things, performing a detailed field investigation of a stream system, as defined, issuing an order of determination, providing notice and a hearing process, and filing a final order.
This bill would revise the above-described provisions regarding the board’s statutory adjudication of water rights during an investigation of a stream system to, among other things, require representatives of the board to investigate in detail the use of water with the authority, but no requirement, to conduct a field investigation, authorize the board, if the board determines that the information provided by the person, as specified, is inadequate, to issue information orders that require claimants to submit reports of water use from the stream system through a form provided by the board, and require claimants to respond to that order within 75 days of the date of issuance by the board.
(2) Existing law establishes procedures for reconsideration and amendment of specified decisions and orders of the board. Existing law authorizes any party aggrieved by a specified decision or order of the board to file, not later than 30 days from the date of final board action, a petition for writ of mandate for judicial review of the decision or order.
This bill would apply the procedures for reconsideration, amendment, and judicial review to decisions and orders of the board issued pursuant to the provisions described above.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 1120 of the Water Code is amended to read:1120.
This chapter applies to any decision or order issued under this part or Section 275, Part 2 (commencing with Section 1200), Part 2 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 6, Part 2.55 (commencing with Section 10608) of Division 6, or Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 10735) of Part 2.74 of Division 6, Article 7 (commencing with Section 13550) of Chapter 7 of Division 7, or the public trust doctrine, and to any information order issued under Article 3 (commencing with Section 2550) of Chapter 3 of Part 3.SEC. 2.
Section 2551 of the Water Code is amended to read:2551.
(a) During the investigation of the stream system, the representatives of the board shall investigate in detail the use of water by each person who has given notice of intent to file a proof of claim, and shall determine the acreage under irrigation or otherwise define the place of use and purpose of use, determine the location and capacity of the person’s diversion works and conduits conveying water from the stream system, and the amount of water diverted and reasonably required to satisfy the uses being made.(b) In conducting investigations under this article, the board shall consider all pertinent information, including, but not limited to, information provided under Sections 1840 and 1841.
(c) Representatives of the board may conduct a field investigation of a person’s water use after giving 30 days’ notice in writing to the person subject to the investigation, or at the request of that person as part of the investigation of the stream system. It shall be the duty of each claimant to be present at some time during the detailed field investigation either in person or by an agent who is authorized to sign the proof of claim.
SEC. 3.
Section 2552 of the Water Code is amended to read:2552.
Each claimant shall provide to the representatives of the board all pertinent information on the extent and nature of the claimant’s water use and basis of water right, so as to expedite the investigation and facilitate the completion of the proof of claim.SEC. 4.
Section 2553 of the Water Code is amended to read:2553.
Immediately upon conclusion of the investigation of water use, the claimant or the claimant’s representative shall be provided, by registered mail, a blank form of proof of claim and a copy of the factual determinations of the representatives of the board for use in preparing the proof of claim.SEC. 5.
Section 2554 of the Water Code is amended to read:2554.
During the investigation of the stream system, the board shall investigate in detail the projects of all water users known to the board who have not filed a notice of intent to file proof of claim. The investigations may include a field investigation in accordance with Section 2551, except that the water users need not be notified in advance of the investigation and, if not notified, are not required to be present during the field investigation.SEC. 6.
Section 2555 of the Water Code is amended to read:2555.
Water users who do not file notice of intent shall, insofar as they are known, be supplied a copy of the factual determinations of the representative of the board and a blank form of proof of claim and shall be allowed to file proof of claim after completion of the detailed investigation of their project by the representatives of the board on the same basis as persons who were present and who filed timely notices of intent.SEC. 7.
Section 2556 is added to the Water Code, immediately following Section 2555, to read:2556.
(a) In conducting an investigation pursuant to this chapter, if the board determines in writing that the information provided by the person pursuant to Sections 1840 and 1841 and any regulations adopted by the board pursuant to those sections is inadequate for the board’s investigation, the board may issue an information order to any person or entity that diverts or uses water or claims a water right to prepare and submit to the board any technical or monitoring program reports related to that diversion or use, or to submit any report of the basis for that claimed water right, as the board may specify.(b) The burden of preparing the report, including costs, shall bear a reasonable relationship to the need for the requested information and the benefits to be obtained from the board receiving that information. In making a request, the board shall do both of the following:
(1) Provide the person to whom the request is directed with a written explanation with regard to the need for the information.
(2) Identify the evidence that supports requiring that person to provide the information.
(c) If the preparation of individual reports would result in a duplication of effort, the board may order any person or entity subject to the order to pay a reasonable share of the cost of preparing reports.
(d) In conducting an investigation pursuant to this chapter, the board may inspect property or facilities where water is claimed to be used, diverted, or conveyed. The board is authorized to obtain an inspection warrant pursuant to the procedure set forth in Title 13 (commencing with Section 1822.50) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure for purposes of an inspection pursuant to this subdivision.
(e) A person or entity who receives an information order shall respond within 75 days of the date of the information order. An information order issued pursuant to this section may include a requirement that the recipient update the information annually while an adjudication is pending. A recipient of an order may request from the board an extension of time to respond to the information order for good cause shown, which request shall not be unreasonably denied.
SEC. 8.
Section 2600 of the Water Code is amended to read:2600.
After all investigations of water use have been completed and the time for filing proofs of claims has expired, the board shall prepare a report describing the water supply and abstracting the claim of water right of each claimant.Text of SB 697 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions