In addition to, and as an alternative to, the matters contained in this division regarding apportionment of water, the district may by resolution adopt a plan for water allocation which may include a determination as to what portion of district water will be made available for surface delivery and what portion will be devoted to recharge of ground water, may establish limited areas of the district as the areas in which surface delivery of water service will be made available, the quantity which will be made available to each such surface water service area, and the terms upon which such water service will be made available, and may enter into long-term water service contracts with holders of title to land in such surface water service areas which contracts may provide that the obligations are a lien on the landowners’ land in the nature of, and may be collected and enforced in the manner provided in this division for the collection and enforcement of, assessments. If such a contract does so provide, such lien shall have the same force, effect, and priority as an assessment lien as between the contracting landowner and the district, but unless such contract is recorded in the office of the county recorder in the county in which the land is situated, it shall have no force or effect whatever against any person other than a party to the contract unless such person has actual knowledge of the contract and its contents. Such contracts may be acknowledged or proved, certified and recorded in like manner and with like effect as grants of real property, and all statutory provisions relating to the recording or nonrecordation of conveyances of real property, and to the effect thereof, shall apply to such contracts with like effect. Such plan may further provide for allocation of water available to the district on a short-term basis without further notice and hearing. Such matters shall be determined and established in accordance with equitable criteria providing for the economical and efficient distribution and use of water within the district or available for use upon the lands within the district.

(Added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 1085.)

Terms Used In California Water Code 35526

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • County: includes city and county. See California Water Code 14
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or company. See California Water Code 19
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
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