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HomeWater CodeDiv. 2Pt. 2Ch. 1Art. 5§ 1245 Watershed Access Liability Rules

§ 1245 Watershed Access Liability Rules

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

§ 1245 Watershed Access Liability Rules

This law says that if a city or company takes water from a watershed to supply water to a town, they have to pay for any harm they cause to people or businesses in that area.

Key Takeaways

  • •If a city or company takes water from a watershed, they must pay for any harm caused.
  • •This includes damage to property, businesses, or jobs in the area.
  • •The law covers both direct and indirect harm.

Example

A city builds a dam in a river to get more water for its residents.

If the dam causes a nearby farm to lose water and their crops die, the city has to pay the farmer for the damage.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 1245 Watershed Access Liability Rules

Every municipal corporation of this State, and every person, firm or corporation engaged in supplying water to any municipal corporations for municipal, domestic or other uses, who enters any watershed, or any lands, streams or waters in the watershed for the purpose of acquiring or increasing a water supply for such purpose, or for the purpose of taking, diverting or transporting water for use by or in a municipal corporation, or for the purpose of supplying the needs of any municipal corporation, or its inhabitants, with water for the enumerated uses, shall be liable to all persons, firms and corporations, their heirs, representatives and successors, and to municipal corporations, districts and political subdivisions of this State whose property, business, trade, profession or occupation is within or conducted or carried on within the watershed entered, for all damage suffered or sustained by them either directly or indirectly because of injury, damage, destruction or decrease in value of any such property, business, trade, profession or occupation resulting from or caused by the taking of any such lands or waters, or by the taking, diverting or transporting of water from such watershed to and for use by or in any such municipal corporation. (Added by Stats. 1955, Ch. 49.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

municipal corporationwatershedliabilitydamagediverting or transporting water

Related Statutes

  • § 1246 Arbitration Of Damage Claims
  • § 1005 Municipal Water Rights Protection
  • § 10610.2 Urban Water Conservation Planning
  • § 108 State Water Project Planning
  • § 11155 Financial Records Oversight

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Water Code. Section 1245.
View Official Source