1. (a) The Deputy Director may issue information orders to some or all water users, landowners, diverters, or other water right holders in the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds, requiring them to provide additional information related to water use as relevant to implementing this article. The Deputy Director will prioritize information orders for larger diverters and landowners or water right holders with the highest potential to impact surface flows. The Deputy Director, in determining whether and the extent to which to impose information orders under this subdivision, will consider the need for the information and the burden of producing it, and will take reasonable efforts to avoid requiring duplicative reporting of information that is already in the State Water Board's possession. Information orders shall follow the same procedures set forth in section 875, subdivision (d).

   1. (1) For wells:

      1. (A) Location of the well;
      2. (B) Age of well, including date of installation and first use;
      3. (C) Maximum pump rate and volume pumped per month;
      4. (D) Place of use and purpose of use (beneficial uses of water);
      5. (E) Projected estimate of pumping volumes at a frequency of no more than weekly;
      6. (F) Estimates or measurements of past use;
      7. (G) Groundwater level; and
      8. (H) Other available water sources.

   2. (2) For surface water diversions:

      1. (A) Place of use and purpose of use (beneficial uses of water);
      2. (B) Type of water right;
      3. (C) Source of water;
      4. (D) Volume of storage;
      5. (E) Diversion rate;
      6. (F) Other available water sources; and

      7. (G) Projected estimate of diversion at a frequency of no more than weekly.

         The orders may additionally request other information relevant to forecasting use, impacts to the surface streams in the current drought year, assessing compliance with this article, or in contingency planning for continuation of the existing drought emergency.

   Information required in an order may include, but is not limited to:

2. (b) Any party receiving an order under this subdivision shall provide the requested information within the time specified by the Deputy Director, but not less than five (5) days. The Deputy Director may grant additional time for the submission of information regarding diversion and use of water upon a showing of good cause. Each landowner is responsible for immediately providing notice of any information order(s) to all water users associated with the parcel of land related to the information order.
3. (c) New Diversions. For purposes of this subdivision, a new diversion means a diversion initiated after issuance of a general information order to landowners in the watershed in which the new diversion is located. The owner of any new diversion must submit to the Deputy Director any information required by a general information order issued under section 875.8 prior to commencement of the new diversion, unless the Deputy Director approves commencement of the diversion based on substantial compliance with the general information order or one of the exemptions outlined in sections 875.2 or 875.3.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 1058 and 1058.5, Water Code. Reference: Article X, Section 2, California Constitution; Sections 100, 102, 104, 105, 109, 174, 275, 1051, 1052 and 1058.5, Water Code; and Light v. State Water Resources Control Board (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 1463.

History

1. New section filed 2-1-2024 as an emergency; operative 2-1-2024 (Register 2024, No. 5). The finding of emergency was exempt from OAL review pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(b). Pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(c), a Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 1-31-2025 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day. For prior history, see Register 2023, No. 34.

2. New section refiled 1-27-2025 as an emergency; operative 1-27-2025 (Register 2025, No. 5). The finding of emergency was exempt from OAL review pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(b). Pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5(c), a Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 1-26-2026 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.