California 4-year drought
California's water regulators are getting resistance from some of the state's oldest water rights holders, during the current 4-year drought. That includes water rights that date back to the Gold Rush era.
For example, Robert Forbes' family has been collecting water from the same reservoir for over a century. The family's access to the water dates back to a claim in Plumas County dating back to the 1870s.
For decades he has been accessing the water by the same traditional ways. That includes using a shovel in the winter, and then setting irrigation schedules with neighbors in the spring.
However, California's drought is now extending to its fourth year. This is creating a clash between the state's water regulators and water rights holders.
Critics of holders of "senior water rights" argue that the system is complex and outdated, according to UTS San Diego. They enjoy almost unlimited water, with almost no cost or accountability.
The Water Resources Control Board of California recently ordered over 1,000 property owners to legally prove their water rights. This month the board informed claim holders to expect their ability to redirect water from streams and rivers to be reduced.
California established its process of issuing water rights permits in 1914. However, its recent actions include water rights holders whose claims precede that date.
According to California's water rights database, over 14,000 official statements regarding water use and diversion are pre-1914. The areas are centered around northern California and counties surrounding the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, according to Sacramento Bee.
Many thousands of individuals, businesses, and organizations control the claims. From 2010 through 2013 those rights averaged 19.2 million acre-feet (23.7 cubic km) in yearly water diversions.
The claims include an enormous quantity of water. Last year California had allotted surface water totaling five times greater than what is available in a year of high precipitation.
Forbes' family moved to his California ranch during the 1950. The local Water Works company recently almost tripled the previous monthly residential water fee of $8.
He shares that there has been "much" change in very "little" time.
