LRA 225 WEEK 1 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
●● Human Right to Water (where is it found)
Answer: Water Code Section 106.3
"Every human being must have the right to safe, clean, affordable, and
accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary
purposes."
The SWRCB is required to consider this policy.
●● Doctrine of Reasonable Use (Constitutional Langauge)
Answer: Article X, Section 2 (1928)
The right to the use of water is limited to the amount "reasonably
required for the beneficial use to be served" AND "shall not extend to
the [1] waste or unreasonable use, or [2] unreasonable method of use, or
[3] unreasonable method of diversion of water."
●● 4 Main Takeaways from the Doctrine of Reasonable Use
Answer: (1) What is "reasonable" depends on the circumstances and is
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
,(2) Water users have no VESTED RIGHT to the UNREASONABLE
USE of water
(3) There is NO PROPERTY INTEREST in unreasonable use and
therefore NO TAKING when an unreasonable use is reallocated.
(4) The amendment permitted the legislature to enact laws in furtherance
of this policy. They created the SWRCB and all water rights are subject
to the CONTINUING AUTHORITY of the SWRCB to prevent waste
and unreasonable use.
●● The Hydrologic Cycle
Answer: The circulation of water from the ocean, through the
atmosphere, to the land, and then ultimately back to the ocean.
●● California's Biggest Water Challenge (and exasperation by Climate
Change)
Answer: CA's biggest water challenge stems from variability--getting
water to the right place and at the right time.
Surface Water: Gets about 200 MAF in surface water each year or 23.5
inches of rain. About 60 percent (115 MAF) is either evaporated or
consumed by vegetation.
,Regional Variation: CA gets most of its precipitation in the North (40
inches in Eureka, 10 inches in San Diego). But most of the population is
in the South.
General Variation: ranges from 100 MAF to 300 MAF which can make
water delivery difficult in dry years.
Climate Change: CA's water system is built to maximize capture of
snow melt run off (snow = storage). But warmer winters means
precipitation tends to fall in the form of rain during the winter months
when reservoir capacity is full.
●● Consumptive Use of Remaining Surface Water:
Answer: Remaining surface water is usually 60-65 MAF.
Agriculture: 34 MAF (or 80 percent of all water for human use; 40
percent of all CA's water supply)
Urban Use: About 9 MAF
Environmental Use: About 40 MAF.
●● Total Water Use in Wet Years versus Dry Years
Answer: Wet Year: 90.6 MAF
, Dry Year: 64.4 MAF.
●● CVP (Causes leading to its creation)
Answer: Federal Project (Bereau of Reclamation; Interior) Primarily to
develop irrigation for agricultural use.
History:
(1) Gold rush led to a growth of agriculture. Agriculture caused summer
flows of rivers to be appropriated. CA needed a large project to capture
WINTER FLOOD WATER.
(2) 1887 Wright Act: allows the establishment of irrigation districts.
(3) This lead to the widespread use of groundwater pumping in the San
Joaquin Valley. Overpumping led to subsidence, and saltwater intrusion
in the Delta.
Solution: "Send Sacramento River Water South" to supplement the water
supply.
Problem: CA could not finance the project.
Solution: Federal Government takes control under the RIvers and
Harbors Act of 1935. Purpose: flood control, irrigation, municipal use,
power generation.
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
●● Human Right to Water (where is it found)
Answer: Water Code Section 106.3
"Every human being must have the right to safe, clean, affordable, and
accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary
purposes."
The SWRCB is required to consider this policy.
●● Doctrine of Reasonable Use (Constitutional Langauge)
Answer: Article X, Section 2 (1928)
The right to the use of water is limited to the amount "reasonably
required for the beneficial use to be served" AND "shall not extend to
the [1] waste or unreasonable use, or [2] unreasonable method of use, or
[3] unreasonable method of diversion of water."
●● 4 Main Takeaways from the Doctrine of Reasonable Use
Answer: (1) What is "reasonable" depends on the circumstances and is
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
,(2) Water users have no VESTED RIGHT to the UNREASONABLE
USE of water
(3) There is NO PROPERTY INTEREST in unreasonable use and
therefore NO TAKING when an unreasonable use is reallocated.
(4) The amendment permitted the legislature to enact laws in furtherance
of this policy. They created the SWRCB and all water rights are subject
to the CONTINUING AUTHORITY of the SWRCB to prevent waste
and unreasonable use.
●● The Hydrologic Cycle
Answer: The circulation of water from the ocean, through the
atmosphere, to the land, and then ultimately back to the ocean.
●● California's Biggest Water Challenge (and exasperation by Climate
Change)
Answer: CA's biggest water challenge stems from variability--getting
water to the right place and at the right time.
Surface Water: Gets about 200 MAF in surface water each year or 23.5
inches of rain. About 60 percent (115 MAF) is either evaporated or
consumed by vegetation.
,Regional Variation: CA gets most of its precipitation in the North (40
inches in Eureka, 10 inches in San Diego). But most of the population is
in the South.
General Variation: ranges from 100 MAF to 300 MAF which can make
water delivery difficult in dry years.
Climate Change: CA's water system is built to maximize capture of
snow melt run off (snow = storage). But warmer winters means
precipitation tends to fall in the form of rain during the winter months
when reservoir capacity is full.
●● Consumptive Use of Remaining Surface Water:
Answer: Remaining surface water is usually 60-65 MAF.
Agriculture: 34 MAF (or 80 percent of all water for human use; 40
percent of all CA's water supply)
Urban Use: About 9 MAF
Environmental Use: About 40 MAF.
●● Total Water Use in Wet Years versus Dry Years
Answer: Wet Year: 90.6 MAF
, Dry Year: 64.4 MAF.
●● CVP (Causes leading to its creation)
Answer: Federal Project (Bereau of Reclamation; Interior) Primarily to
develop irrigation for agricultural use.
History:
(1) Gold rush led to a growth of agriculture. Agriculture caused summer
flows of rivers to be appropriated. CA needed a large project to capture
WINTER FLOOD WATER.
(2) 1887 Wright Act: allows the establishment of irrigation districts.
(3) This lead to the widespread use of groundwater pumping in the San
Joaquin Valley. Overpumping led to subsidence, and saltwater intrusion
in the Delta.
Solution: "Send Sacramento River Water South" to supplement the water
supply.
Problem: CA could not finance the project.
Solution: Federal Government takes control under the RIvers and
Harbors Act of 1935. Purpose: flood control, irrigation, municipal use,
power generation.
