Chapter 1. General Provisions of California Water Code >> Division 13. >> Part 8.1. >> Chapter 1.

This part shall be known and may be cited as the Westlands Water District Merger Law.

The state and the people thereof have a primary and supreme interest in securing to the inhabitants and property owners within and adjacent to the federal service area of the San Luis unit of the Central Valley project now under construction by the United States the greatest possible use and conservation of the waters to be made available from said unit and the greatest use thereof to the area, thereby assuring that the greatest productivity of the largest possible area may be accomplished and safely carried on within reasonable limits of economy.

Investigation having shown that conditions in and surrounding the federal service area of the San Luis unit of the Central Valley project are peculiar to that area, it is hereby declared that a general law cannot be made applicable thereto and that this part is therefore necessary for the proper distribution, use, and control of the natural supplies of water now available for said area and of the water to be made available from the San Luis unit of the Central Valley project, and for elimination of duplication of governmental authority, the securing of greater economy of administration, and the more efficient and effective utilization of ground water and imported water supplies.

The Westlands Water District, situated in Fresno and Kings Counties, was formed, prior to the enactment of this part, and is operating under this division, primarily for irrigation purposes. The West Plains Water Storage District, situated in Fresno and Kings Counties, was formed, prior to the enactment of this part, and is operating under the California Water Storage District Law, primarily for irrigation purposes.

This part is enacted in part under the authority expressly granted in Section 13 of Article XI of the Constitution of the state.

This part shall be given a liberal construction for the purpose of sustaining any and all proceedings taken hereunder.

Nothing in this part shall impair or adversely affect any right of any bondholder or creditor of the water storage district or the California water district.