This course offers an overview of California’s unique blend of riparian and appropriative water rights and provides an in-depth exploration of six major types of surface water rights. It covers their terminology, practices, authority, terms and conditions, as well as relevant case studies.
One Year Access
State Filed Applications
(Sample 9:32)
Water Right History and Water Right Types
(4:47)
WHY 1914?
(2:00)
Riparian Rights
(23:23)
Appropriative Rights: Pre-1914
(11:50)
Appropriative Rights: Post-1914
(21:44)
Pueblo Rights
(8:34)
Federal Reserved Rights
(9:33)
State Filed
(27:02)
You’ll gain insight into California’s unique blend of two different kinds of water rights and their historical development. You’ll understand the "first in time, first in right" principle and discover how to quickly access a list of water right types.
You’ll explore the background and significance of the Water Commission Act.
You’ll learn key riparian water rights terminology and gain a thorough understanding of riparian rights, riparian lands, and related practices. You’ll also discover the difference between natural flow and foreign water. We’ll illustrate water right priority with three scenarios specific to riparian rights.
You’ll learn the definition of appropriative water rights , including pre-1914 appropriative rights, and the concept of water diversion quantity growth, priority, and conditions for non-use. This will help you to distinguish between pre-1914 and post-1914 water rights.
You’ll explore post-1914 appropriative water rights and their sub-types. You’ll also be introduced to California water rights laws and regulations, with guidance on where to find them online. We’ll have case studies to walk you through a water right permit and a license. From there, you’ll get a summary of the major water right components.
You’ll explore the history of California’s colonization, including the establishment of pueblos, missions, and presidios, to understand Pueblo water rights and the eligibility of its right holders. You’ll also learn about its priority, water sources and water use, conditions for non-use, and due diligence.
You’ll learn about Federal Reserved rights by discovering five U.S. Supreme Court cases. This will include an exploration of the Doctrine, the adjudication process, the extent of federal reserved rights, the role of groundwater in these rights, and the limitations on their purposes of use.
You’ll explore State Filed applications and the two methods for using the water reserved in these applications: “Assignment” of and “Release from Priority” of a State Filed Application. Additionally, you’ll learn about priority considerations in water availability analysis, and the calculation of face values.