Welcome to The Office of Enforcement

Enforcing Unauthorized Stream Reservoirs

In 2012, the Office of Enforcement assisted the Division of Water Rights in issuing eleven Administrative Civil Liability complaints and Cease and Desist orders for unauthorized stream reservoirs on northern California streams.

The Administrative Civil Liability complaints recommend imposing liability for past unauthorized diversion and use of water without the necessary water rights. The Cease and Desist orders outline actions that the property owners must take to either bring the reservoir into compliance with the State Water Board’s permitting authority, or require that the property owner render the reservoirs incapable of diverting water subject to the State Board’s permitting authority.

To date, the State Water Board has adopted orders or approved settlement agreements in six cases, imposing $39,600 in administrative civil liabilities and imposing terms that require the parties to cease all unauthorized diversions and come into compliance with the State Water Board’s permitting and reporting requirements.