Section 1024 Of Chapter 1.5. Water Leases From California Water Code >> Division 2. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 1.5.
1024
. (a) Nothing in this chapter authorizes the sale of any water
right or the modification of any water right or contract.
(b) No right in any water, water contract, or water right shall be
acquired by a use permitted under this chapter.
(c) (1) When any person entitled to the use of water under an
appropriative right fails to use all or any part of the water because
of water conservation efforts and leases that conserved water under
this chapter, any such cessation of, or reduction in, the use of the
appropriated water that is leased is deemed equivalent to a
reasonable beneficial use of water to the extent of that cessation
of, or reduction in, use. No forfeiture of the appropriative right to
the water conserved shall occur upon the lapse of the forfeiture
period applicable to water appropriated pursuant to the Water
Commission Act (Chapter 586 of the Statutes of 1913, as amended) or
this code, or to water appropriated prior to December 19, 1914.
(2) The state board may require any lessor of water who seeks the
benefit of this chapter to file periodic reports describing the
extent and amount of the reduction in water use due to water
conservation efforts. To the maximum extent possible, the reports
shall be made a part of other reports required by the state board
relating to the use of water. Failure to file the reports shall
deprive the user of water of the benefits of this chapter.
(3) For purposes of this chapter, "water conservation" means the
use of less water to accomplish the same purpose or purposes of use
allowed under the existing appropriative right. Where water
appropriated for irrigation purposes is not used by reason of land
fallowing or crop rotation, the reduced usage shall be deemed water
conservation for purposes of this section.