State Water Resources Control Board staff outline temporary recharge permits and Water Code 1242.1 flood‑diversion option

State Water Resources Control Board staff at a public workshop explained how entities can use temporary permits and Water Code 1242.1 to recharge groundwater, detailed reporting and fee changes, and warned that neither pathway creates a water right.

"A temporary permit is a short term authorization for either 6 months or 5 years issued by the state water board's division of water rights," said Mike Conway, who leads the recharge permitting unit. Conway told attendees the office issued six 180‑day temporary permits during the most recent diversion season, four of which used the streamlined pathway, and that applications averaged about two months to process with 30‑day public notices.

The workshop provided context for why temporary permits and the non‑permit flood diversion option are in demand: staff cited recent drought and depleted groundwater basins and noted that temporary permits do not confer priority. "Temporary permits are not water rights in that they do not provide a data priority and are last in line for flows," Conway said. Staff recommended applicants file a standard (permanent) water right application as soon as possible to secure priority while using a 5‑year temporary permit or a 180‑day permit to allow diversion during processing.

Staff described…