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Show 132 CALIFORNIA (b) Water Resources Control Board.-The legislative mandate of the Board is to "exercise the adjudicatory and regulatory functions of the State in the field of water resources.27 The Board is authorized to hold such hearings and conduct such investigations as it deems necessary to carry out the powers vested in it. All hearings are re- quired to be open to the public.28 Major responsibilities include ad- ministration of the water appropriation statutes and maintenance of water rights records.29 Although the Board must follow the statutory procedure adopted by the legislature when it considers water rights applications,30 it may adopt rules for the conduct of its business in conformity with the provisions of sections 11371 et seq. of the Government Code.31 Broad powers in the area of water quality control were given to the Board by the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act.32 The work of the Board in the water quality area is investigative, advisory, adjudicatory, and regulatory. These functions are carried out through nine regional boards,33 which formulate and adopt regional water quality control plans in conformity to the policies of the State 3i as set forth in the statutes and as promulgated by the State board. (c) California Water Commission.-The Commission advises the Director of the Department of Water Eesources, after holding its own investigatory meetings and hearings. Although the legislature has expressly stated that all policy decisions made by the Department be in agreement with the advice of the Commission, the Department is declared to have the controlling voice when the views of the two differ.35 Other responsibilities of the Commission are found in Water Code, sections 150-166. b. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES As stated above, the responsibility for administering California water rights procedures falls primarily upon the water resources control board. Procedures are provided by statute, but the board has the power to establish rules and regulations to assist it in conducting its work. All board activities are governed by the general State water policy.36 Administration is in accordance with procedures and poli- cies found in the State water code, as amended, first compiled in 1943.37 (1) State water policy The legislature has declared that: [T]he general welfare requires that the water resources of the State be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which they are capable, and that the ^W.C., sec. 174. a8W.C, sec. 183. 29W.C, sees. 4999-5008. 30 See sees. 2.1.2 and 3.1, infra. 31 W.C., sec. 185. 82 Stats. 1969, c. 482; W.C., sees. 13020 et seq. aaW.C, sees. 13200 et seq. 34 W.C., sees. 13240-13246. These are discussed in greater detail in sec. 2.3, infra. ^W.C, sec. 162. 38W.C., sees. 100-108 and 1050. 37 Stats. 1943, c. 368. |
