Bulletin 1.pdf - California Department of Water Resources - State of ...

22 WATER RESOURCES OF CALIFORSIA
"2. Such right does not extend to the waste of water.
"3. Such right does not extend to unreasonable use or unreasonable
method of use or unreasonable method of diversion of water.
"4. Riparian rights attach to, but to no more than so much of
the flow as may be required or used consistently with this section of
the Constitution.
"The foregoing mandates are plain, they are positive, and admit
of no exception. The;r apply to the use of all water, under whatever
right the use may be enjoyed. The problem is to apply these rules in
the vaIJ-ing circumstances of cases as the;r arise. "
During the last few years quality of water has become a matter of
vital concern to some areas of the State. Ithas long been common practice
to discharge various sewage and industrial wastes into water sources and
onto the land, thereby often impairing the quality of surface and ground
water supplies. Local communities have made some efforts to cope with
the problems thus created, but without great success. The need for effective
action was finally brought sharply into focus by the tremendous
expansion in industrial development during and since World War II.
An increase in population of about 4,000,000 in the last decade intensified
pollution damage, and the ever increasing threat to the quality of
their water supplies became a matter of grave anxiety to water users.
As a result, under provisions of a series of laws enacted by the Legislature
in 1949, the State has recognized the continuing threat of water pollution
and assumed responsibility for maintaining the quality of its water
resources. These acts created nine regional water pollution control boards
and one state board, and endowed them with broad powers to control
water pollution.
THE CAUFORNIA WATER PROBLEM
The over-all water problem of California is made up of many interrelated
problems, some of which are mainly local while others are statewide
in implication. Prior to the time when the southern part of California
had to turn to the Colorado River, and until rapidly receding
ground waters in southern San Joaquin Valley brought about initiation
of the Central Valley Project, water needs were met in most instances
by some form of local action. It is now generally realized, however, that
a greater measure of state leadership and participation in planning and
construction is required if the water resources of California are to be
properly controlled and utilized to meet rapidly increasing needs of
the people.
From a state-wide point of view, redistribution of the water supply
from areas of surplus to areas of deficiency provides the greatest challenge,
especially in the northern and central portions of California. About
two-thirds of the water is in the northern third of the State, whereas the
greater demands--agricultural, industrial, and municipal-are in the
central and southern portions. The solution of such a geographical problem
must involve transportation and exchange of water, generally from
north to south. It must include construction of surface storage reservoirs
and utilization of the great ground water storage capacity of the valleys
for regulating stream flow. Multiple-purpose basin and trans-basin developments
will be required, involving many complex technical, financial,