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Drought Test California's Water Rights System

  •  Katie Orr 
Monday, September 28, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
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USFWS Pacific Southwest Region / Flickr
 

USFWS Pacific Southwest Region / Flickr

California’s water rights system was established in 1913. Those with the longest rights get top priority; they’re called senior rights holders.

But they were not immune to the ongoing drought.

In June the state took the unusual step of ordering even senior rights holders to stop drawing water. It recently announced about 240 of those holders can begin taking water again. 

Jennifer Harder is an associate professor at McGeorge School of Law. She says overall, the system is working as it was intended.

"What we really need to do is to improve the data that the state water board has to make those decisions," she says.

Harder says the state should also pay more attention to ensuring all communities have access to clean, reliable drinking water. 


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    More about drought

  • State Of Drought

    Reservoir levels are at historic lows, municipalities are ordering mandatory conservation and farmers are bracing for water shortages. Capital Public Radio has continuous coverage on how Californians are being impacted by the drought.

 droughtdeltawater rights

Katie Orr

Former Health Care Reporter

Katie Orr reported for Capital Public Radio News through December 2015.  Read Full Bio 

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