Land owners in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta have until Friday to prove they are legally taking water from rivers and streams. The order comes after the State Water Resources Control Board received information that some riparian and pre-1914 water right holders may be illegally diverting stored water in the Sacramento and San Joaquin watersheds and the Delta. Matt Weiser is a senior writer at The Sacramento Bee covering water and the environment. He join us to explain why California is making these water users prove their rights, and what this means for those water users.

LINKS:

• National Law Review: California State Water Board Launches Investigation Into Claims of Senior Water Rights
• Sacramento Bee: Central Valley, Delta water rights under scrutiny
• San Jose Mercury News: California water conservation weakening as drought worsens. Tougher rules on the way?
• Sierra Sun Times: Water Rights: California Farmers Prepare for Possibility of New Curtailments
• Centra Valley Business Times: Water Board orders diverters to further justify senior Delta water rights

Water Rights Order by Capital Public Radio