Water Rights
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What is a Water Right?
A water right is legal permission to use a reasonable amount of water for a beneficial purpose such as swimming, fishing, farming or industry. f you take water from a lake, river, stream, or creek, or from underground supplies for a beneficial use, the California Water Code (Division 2) requires that you have a water right. Because California water right law is complicated, you may have a water right even if you do not have a water right permit issued by the state. Read more...
Public Trust Doctrine
The origins of the public trust doctrine are traceable to Roman law concepts of common property. Under Roman law, the air, the rivers, the sea and the seashore were incapable of private ownership; they were dedicated to the use of the public. This concept that tide and submerged lands are unique and that the state holds them in trust for the people has endured throughout the ages. Read more...