§ 12640 Water Project County Protection

Water Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says that water from certain projects must be shared fairly, and the county where the water comes from can't be left without enough water for its own needs.

Key Takeaways

•Water from big projects must be shared, but the original county gets first dibs.
•No one can take or move water if it leaves the original county without enough.
•The Department of Water Resources decides if there's enough water left for the county.

Example

A big water project is built to bring water to different areas.

The county where the water starts can't be left high and dry. They must get enough water for their own use before it's sent elsewhere.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 12640 Water Project County Protection

The provisions of Part 2 of this division shall be applicable to all water made available by the construction of the works of any project approved by Chapters 1 and 2 of this part. No priority under Part 2 shall be released nor assignment made of any appropriation that will, in the judgment of the Department of Water Resources, deprive the county in which the appropriated water originates of any water necessary for the development of the county. (Amended by Stats. 1959, Ch. 1269.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

Part 2 Chapters 1 and 2 Department of Water Resources water appropriation

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Water Code. Section 12640.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References