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State water board recognizes Division of Water Rights for new drone program supporting enforcement
Summary
The State Water Resources Control Board on Aug. 5 publicly recognized staff in the Division of Water Rights for developing a certified unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) program to help with remote inspections and enforcement, particularly for cannabis-related investigations.
The State Water Resources Control Board on Aug. 5 recognized a cross‑division team that built the first unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) program for the division of water rights, the agency said during the board’s hybrid meeting in Sacramento. The program establishes certified pilots, procurement standards, operating procedures and data‑analysis practices to support inspections and enforcement in remote, hazardous terrain.
Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel opened the recognition and called Robert Cervantes of the Division of Water Rights to present the award to staff. Cervantes described the effort as “a ground up initiative” started in February 2023 that researched federal aviation and state legal requirements, coordinated with other state divisions and partner agencies, and produced a comprehensive operations manual and guidance document. Cervantes said the program is “fully operational” and already being used to collect spatial data and support enforcement, including compliance inspections and cannabis investigations.
Division and board leaders said the program was designed to ensure compliance with privacy and Fourth Amendment protections, and to coordinate with the office of chief counsel and the Office of Enforcement. Board members praised the initiative for improving staff safety and improving the board’s ability to monitor remote watersheds.
The board did not take formal regulatory action on the drone program at the meeting; the recognition was ceremonial and intended to acknowledge the staff who led procurement, pilot certification and technical integration. Esquivel said the effort “sets a precedent for responsible technology integration across the water boards.”
The presentation named several staff who contributed, including Scott Sharanaka and a cross‑agency list of technicians and IT staff; the board and presenters noted the program’s value for safer, higher‑quality field data collection and as an enforcement support tool going forward.
