Senate Bill 88 requires that all water right holders who have previously diverted or intend to divert more than 10 acre-feet per year (riparian and pre-1914 claims), or who are authorized to divert more than 10 acre-feet per year under a permit, license, or registration, to measure and report the water they divert. Detailed information on the regulatory requirements for measurement and reporting is available on the State Water Resources Control Board Reporting and Measurement Regulation webpage. The legislation as written requires for diversion (or storage) greater than or equal to 100-acre feet annually that installation and certification of measurement methods be approved by an Engineer/Contractor/Professional. Diverters across CA were concerned about this requirement.
California Cattlemen's Association heard from their membership and worked with Assemblyman Bigelow on a bill that would result in a self-certification option. Assembly Bill 589 was passed and became law on January 1, 2018. This bill, until January 1, 2023, allows any diverter, as defined, who has completed this instructional course on measurement devices and methods administered by the University of California Cooperative Extension, including passage of a proficiency test to be considered a qualified individual when installing and maintaining devices or implementing methods of measurement. The bill requires the University of California Cooperative Extension and the board to jointly develop the curriculum for the course and the proficiency test.
At the workshop you will:
- Clarify reporting requirements for ranches.
- Understand what meters are appropriate for different situations.
- Learn how to determine measurement equipment accuracy.
- Develop an understanding of measurement weirs.
- Learn how to calculate and report volume from flow data.
This is likely the last training being held in 2021. If you need this training, register and pay here: https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=33616. If you encounter any issues with registering with the link provided, contact Sara Jaimes with the contact info found below. The scheduled training is:
November 4, 2021 Virtual Training. If you have any questions about this training, please contact Larry Forero (lcforero@ucanr.edu) or Sara Jaimes (sbjaimes@ucanr.edu) or by calling the Shasta UCCE office at 530-224-4900. Training will begin at 9:00 am and conclude at 12:30 pm.
Author - San Benito County Director and Area Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor