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HomeWater CodeDiv. 7Ch. 4Art. 1§ 13200 Regional Water Basin Divisions

§ 13200 Regional Water Basin Divisions

Water Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 13200 Regional Water Basin Divisions

Key Takeaways

  • •California is split into 9 water regions to manage water and waste rules.
  • •Each region has clear borders based on rivers, lakes, and land shapes.
  • •The state’s water rules apply up to 3 miles into the ocean from the shore.
  • •Maps from the state show the exact lines of these regions.

Example

If you live in San Francisco, your water rules are part of the San Francisco Bay region.

This means the state looks at your area’s rivers and ocean borders to decide water and waste rules for you.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 13200 Regional Water Basin Divisions

The state is divided, for the purpose of this division, into nine regions: (a) North Coast region, which comprises all basins including Lower Klamath Lake and Lost River Basins draining into the Pacific Ocean from the California-Oregon state line southerly to the southerly boundary of the watershed of Estero de San Antonio and Stemple Creek in Marin and Sonoma Counties. (b) San Francisco Bay region, which comprises San Francisco Bay, Suisun Bay, from Sacramento River and San Joaquin River westerly from a line which passes between Collinsville and Montezuma Island and follows thence the boundary common to Sacramento and Solano Counties and that common to Sacramento and Contra Costa Counties to the westerly boundary of the watershed of Markley Canyon in Contra Costa County, all basins draining into the bays and rivers westerly from this line, and all basins draining into the Pacific Ocean between the southerly boundary of the north coastal region and the southerly boundary of the watershed of Pescadero Creek in San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties. (c) Central Coast region, which comprises all basins, including Carrizo Plain in San Luis Obispo and Kern Counties, draining into the Pacific Ocean from the southerly boundary of the watershed of Pescadero Creek in San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties to the southeasterly boundary, located in the westerly part of Ventura County, of the watershed of Rincon Creek. (d) Los Angeles region, which comprises all basins draining into the Pacific Ocean between the southeasterly boundary, located in the westerly part of Ventura County, of the watershed of Rincon Creek and a line which coincides with the southeasterly boundary of Los Angeles County from the ocean to San Antonio Peak and follows thence the divide between San Gabriel River and Lytle Creek drainages to the divide between Sheep Creek and San Gabriel River drainages. (e) Santa Ana region, which comprises all basins draining into the Pacific Ocean between the southeasterly boundary of the Los Angeles region and a line which follows the drainage divide between Muddy and Moro Canyons from the ocean to the summit of San Joaquin Hills; thence along the divide between lands draining into Newport Bay and into Laguna Canyon to Niguel Road; thence along Niguel Road and Los Aliso Avenue to the divide between Newport Bay and Aliso Creek drainages; thence along that divide and the southeasterly boundary of the Santa Ana River drainage to the divide between Baldwin Lake and Mojave Desert drainages; thence along that divide to the divide between Pacific Ocean and Mojave Desert drainages. (f) San Diego region, which comprises all basins draining into the Pacific Ocean between the southern boundary of the Santa Ana region and the California-Mexico boundary. (g) Central Valley region, which comprises all basins including Goose Lake Basin draining into the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers to the easterly boundary of the San Francisco Bay region near Collinsville. The Central Valley region shall have section offices in the Sacramento Valley and the San Joaquin Valley. (h) Lahontan region, which comprises all basins east of the Santa Ana, Los Angeles and Central Valley regions from the California-Oregon boundary to the southerly boundary located in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties of the watersheds draining into Antelope Valley, Mojave River Basin and Dry Lake Basin near Ivanpah. (i) Colorado River Basin region, which comprises all basins east of the Santa Ana and San Diego regions draining into the Colorado River, Salton Sea and local sinks from the southerly boundary of the Lahontan region to the California-Mexico boundary. The regions defined and described in this section shall be as precisely delineated on official maps of the department and include all of the areas within the boundaries of the state. For purposes of this section the boundaries of the state extend three nautical miles into the Pacific Ocean from the line of mean lower low water marking the seaward limits of inland waters and three nautical miles from the line of mean lower low water on the mainland and each offshore island. Nothing in this section shall limit the power conferred by this chapter to regulate the disposal of waste into ocean waters beyond the boundaries of the state. (Added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 482.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

North Coast regionSan Francisco Bay regionCentral Coast regionLos Angeles regionSanta Ana regionSan Diego regionCentral

Related Statutes

  • § 1120 Water Rights Decision Scope
  • § 1121 Service Of Board Decisions
  • § 12850 Watershed Protection And Flood Prevention
  • § 13201 Regional Water Board Appointments
  • § 13202 Regional Board Member Terms

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Water Code. Section 13200.
View Official Source