Groundwater Recordation Program

The Groundwater Recordation Program (Water Code, section 4999, et. seq.) applies only to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties. This reporting program requires those persons with wells with aggregate extractions of more than 25 acre-feet (or 10 acre-feet or more from a single source) to file an annual report of their groundwater extractions. Groundwater extractors should submit their annual groundwater recordation reports to the designated local agencies identified below, or directly to State Water Board through the Report Management System (RMS).

Local Agency Delegation Process

In April 2006, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) delegated authority to the Division of Water Rights (Division) to designate local agencies the oversight of the Groundwater Recordation Program. If a groundwater extractor is located within the jurisdictional boundaries of an agency as identified below, the groundwater extractor will be responsible for submitting annual groundwater recordation reports and any accompanying fees to the respective local agency. Each local agency will establish whether to require an annual fee and the amount of that fee. To date, the Division has delegated oversight of the Groundwater Recordation Program to the following local agencies:

Note: San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency and Western Municipal Water District are working as a cooperative.

Reporting Process

For extractors outside of the jurisdiction of a local agency, Groundwater Recordation reports must be filed annually before February 1 through RMS. Reminder notifications are mailed each year with user IDs and passwords along with instructions for reporting. For more information about annual water use reporting, visit the Annual Water Diversion and Use Reporting page.

Related Fees

Each groundwater recordation report submitted to the Division must be accompanied by the Groundwater Recordation Fee adopted by the State Water Board each fiscal year. For information on the Groundwater Recordation Fee for the present fiscal year and any other fee related information visit the State Water Boards, Water Rights Fee web page.

Groundwater Extraction and Diversion Forms

More Information

For questions about the materials found on this web page please contact: (916) 341-5431 or by email at RMS@waterboards.ca.gov.