§ 480 Water Transfer Facilitation Program

Water Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

Key Takeaways

•The state helps people share or move water they already use or have saved.
•You can only share or move water if it's already being taken from a river or stream for a good reason.
•The state won’t help move water that isn’t being used yet.

Example

A farmer has extra water saved from a river because he fixed his irrigation system.

The state can help the farmer sell or give that extra water to another farmer who needs it, but only if the water was already being used or saved.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 480 Water Transfer Facilitation Program

The department shall establish an ongoing program to facilitate the voluntary exchange or transfer of water and implement the various state laws that pertain to water transfers. The department shall seek to facilitate these transactions only if the water to be transferred is already developed and being diverted from a stream for beneficial use or has been conserved. (Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 970, Sec. 1.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

voluntary exchange or transfer of water beneficial use conserved

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Water Code. Section 480.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References