§ 1206 Stream System Appropriation Limits

Water Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says that once a river or stream is declared 'fully used,' no new requests to take water from it will be allowed, unless special rules are set. It also says some temporary or changed uses might still be okay.

Key Takeaways

•If a river is declared 'fully used,' new requests to take water are usually not allowed.
•Special rules might still let some people take water, like only in certain seasons or for specific needs.
•Temporary permits or changes to existing water use might still be allowed even if the river is 'fully used.'

Example

A farmer wants to take water from a river to grow crops, but the river is already declared 'fully used.'

The farmer’s request to take water will likely be rejected unless there are special rules allowing it, like only taking water in certain months or for specific purposes.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 1206 Stream System Appropriation Limits

(a) From and after the date of adoption of a declaration that a stream system is fully appropriated, and subject to subdivision (b), the board shall not accept for filing any application for a permit to appropriate water from the stream system described in that declaration, and the board may cancel any application pending on that date. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the board may provide, in any declaration that a stream system is fully appropriated, for acceptance for filing of applications to appropriate water under specified conditions. Any provision to that effect shall specify the conditions and may contain application limitations, including, but not limited to, limitations on the purpose of use, on the instantaneous rate of diversion, on the season of diversion, and on the amount of water which may be diverted annually. The board may make those limitations applicable to individual applications to appropriate water, or to the aggregate of the applications, or to both. (c) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to applications for temporary permits made pursuant to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 1425) or to any provision of this code respecting change in point of diversion, place of use, or purpose of use. (Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 788, Sec. 1.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

fully appropriated permit to appropriate water temporary permits change in point of diversion place of use purpose of use

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Water Code. Section 1206.

§ 1206 Stream System Appropriation Limits

Water Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 1206 Stream System Appropriation Limits

Key Takeaways

•If a river is declared 'fully used,' new requests to take water are usually not allowed.
•Special rules might still let some people take water, like only in certain seasons or for specific needs.
•Temporary permits or changes to existing water use might still be allowed even if the river is 'fully used.'

Example

A farmer wants to take water from a river to grow crops, but the river is already declared 'fully used.'

The farmer’s request to take water will likely be rejected unless there are special rules allowing it, like only taking water in certain months or for specific purposes.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 1206 Stream System Appropriation Limits

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

fully appropriated permit to appropriate water temporary permits change in point of diversion place of use purpose of use

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Water Code. Section 1206.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References