1. California State University Bakersfield
Foundations of California Water Law and Transfers
April 28, 2008

2. Physical Foundation
Legal Background
Application to Water Transfers

3. California’s Basic Water Dilemma:
Mismatch of Rainfall and Productive Area
Very Wet
40-45 in
70-75 in
20-25 in
55-60 in
10-15 in
0-5 in
Over 100 in
30-35 in
Very Dry
Source: Oregon Climate Service, 1995
CA Annual Average ( ) - inches

4. Water uses in California:
11% urban municipal & industrial development
43% agricultural production
46% environmental preservation

7. Water Supplies and Demands, SJV Portion of Kern
Graph as tool for understanding local water
Red line represents the total demand
Vertical Bars show water availability during years - varying sources
Inadequate surface supply > net groundwater withdrawals
Surplus surface supply > net groundwater recharge

8. Annual water usage in Kern County:
Municipal and industrial - 182,000 acre-feet
Agricultural - 2,250,000 acre-feet