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Show CALIFORNIA 131 rights in the State's waters, and to assist the courts in adjudication of water rights when requested.15 In 1921, the rights and duties of the State Water Commission were transferred to the newly created department of public works.16 These duties were expanded to include participation in the water project authority, which administered the Central Valley project authorized in 1933." A large-scale reorganization occurred in 1956, when the legislature created the Department of Water Kesources and the State water rights board.18 The Department of Water Resources succeeded to the powers and duties of the Department of Public Works (with exceptions noted below), the water project authority, the department of finance in relation to the State water plan and Central Valley project, and the State engineer.19 Duties of the State water rights board included those duties of the Department of Public Works which were not transferred to the Department of Water Resources, including ad- ministration of the statutory appropriative rights procedure and water rights determinations.20 Finally, in 1967, the State water rights board was merged with the State water quality control board to become the State water resources control board,21 a division within the resources agency of the Department of Water Resources (along with other agencies hav- ing responsibilities in the natural resource field). (2) Present water administration agencies. California presently has three principal agencies with duties in the water rights area. These are the Department of Water Resources, the State water control board, and the California Water Commission. Some of the duties of these agencies are mentioned in the historical section above. Basically, the water commission is an advisory board which serves as a watchdog over Department activities, and which confers with and counsels the director of the Department.22 The De- partment itself is primarily a line agency in charge of operation of the State's water projects and programs. The control board serves as a regulatory and adjudicatory agency. (a) Department of Water Resources.-In addition to those powers already enumerated, the Department has major responsibilities in administering State and Federal grant programs,23 in the appropria- tion of water for State projects and programs,24 and as representa- tive of the State in any commission created to form compacts to con- trol use of interstate waters.25 The department is also charged with planning and developing water-related recreational resources.26 16 See sec. 2.2, infra. 18 Stats. 1921, c. 607, sec. 363e. 17 Stats. 1933, c. 1042. The Director of the Department of Public Works served as chairman of the water project authority. 18 Stats. 1956, 1st ex. sess., c. 52. 19 Id., sec. 153. 20 Id., sees. 185-189. 21 Stats. 1967, c. 284. 22 W.C., sees. 150-166. 83 See, e.g., W.C., sees. 133 and 12881 et seq. 24 W.C., sees. 10500 et seq. ^W.C, sec. 128. 26 W.C., sec. 123. The department now participates in the California Klamath River Commission and the California-Nevada Interstate Compact Commission. 499-242-73------10 |