California water regulators on Tuesday approved new rules aimed at improving how the state tracks diversions of surface water.

 

The regulations adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board require all those who divert water from rivers and streams to measure and report how much they use annually. The regulations apply to thousands of holders of water rights across the state, from farmers to water agencies.

 

Water board officials said previously some holders of water rights were required to report on diversions every three years instead of annually, and a number of them had been able to claim an exemption to avoid the measurement requirements.