§ 1427 Water Diversion Review Requirements

• •Before approving a temporary water diversion, the board must check existing records and past decisions about water availability and downstream users' rights.
• •The board must talk to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to understand any potential impacts on wildlife.
• •If the board thinks it's needed, they will visit the site to investigate in person.

A farmer wants to temporarily divert water from a river to irrigate crops during a dry summer.

The board must first check records to ensure there’s enough water and that other farmers downstream won’t be left without water. They must also talk to wildlife experts to make sure fish and animals in the river won’t be harmed. If they’re unsure, they might visit the river to see the situation for themselves.