Water: unreasonable use.

Under existing law, the right to water or to the use of water is limited to that amount of water that is reasonably required for the beneficial use to be served, and does not extend to the waste, unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method of diversion of water. Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board to take appropriate actions to prevent the waste, unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method of diversion of water. This bill would require the board, by January 1, 2012, to adopt regulations to identify unreasonable uses of water during various periods of water shortage, as specified, and would set forth related legislative findings and declarations.