Chapter 9. Collection, Payment In Lieu Of Assessment And Distribution Of Water By Public Agencies of California Water Code >> Division 11. >> Part 10. >> Chapter 9.

As used in this chapter, "public agency" means any city or district, other than an irrigation district, authorized to distribute water, which is in whole or in part included within the exterior boundaries of an irrigation district.

Any district may enter into a contract with any public agency which provides in effect as follows: 1. The public agency shall: a. Collect for the district assessments levied by the district against all or part of the lands within the district and shall collect such assessments and pay the amount thereof over to the district at such times and in the manner agreed upon between the district and the public agency; or, in the alternative, b. Pay to the district in lieu of assessments by the district upon all or any part of the lands within the district a sum of money which shall not be less than the total amount of assessments which would have been levied by the district against those lands in the absence of such contract calculated upon the same basis as assessments made upon an acreage basis against other land in the district receiving gravity water service. Such payment shall be made at such time and in the manner agreed upon between the district and the public agency. 2. If the contract provides for the payment of a water charge in addition to the assessment upon district lands, then in determining the sum of money which may be paid to the district in lieu of assessments by the district under paragraph b of subdivision 1, the district may determine that a lesser rate of assessment or no assessment would be appropriate upon lands covered by the contract and, if such determination is made, may so provide in the contract and adjust or eliminate the assessment. 3. The district shall make available to the public agency each year for distribution and use upon the lands within the district covered by the contract, such a quantity of water as may be agreed upon by the district and the public agency. 4. The owner of lands within the district covered by such a contract shall each year be entitled to receive and use from the water so made available by the district to the public agency, or from other water available to the public agency, an amount of water sufficient to supply his reasonable and beneficial needs, limited however to his proportionate share of such water made available by the district based upon the ratio which the number of acres owned by him bears to the total number of acres within the district receiving a surface supply of water from the district and the public agency. 5. The public agency may charge such rates as it may determine for the service of water to any lands covered by the contract unless such rates are limited by agreement between the district and the public agency.

The water made available by the district to the public agency may be used upon the lands covered by such contract for such irrigation, municipal, domestic or other uses as the district and the public agency may agree upon.

Upon the execution of such contract and so long as the contract remains in force and effect, the district shall be relieved of any further obligation to furnish water for use on the lands covered by the contract.

Nothing in this chapter authorizes the sale or transfer of any water right nor shall the agreement authorized in Section 26671 be construed or deemed to constitute the sale or transfer of a water right.

No right in any water or water right owned by the district or the public agency shall be acquired or lost by the use permitted by this chapter.

Except as otherwise provided herein the contract between the district and the public agency may include such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the district and the public agency.

The provisions of this chapter shall supersede all provisions of this code inconsistent herewith.