Water infrastructure: dams and reservoirs: water release: false pretenses.

Assembly Member Papan's reservoir management legislation prohibits the release of stored water from California reservoirs under false pretenses, defined as knowingly misrepresenting the purpose and intended use of released water. The measure grants the State Water Resources Control Board authority to issue interim relief orders halting potentially fraudulent releases.

The bill establishes a framework for rapid regulatory response, allowing the board to act without prior notice when necessary to prevent imminent harm to public health, water users, or environmental benefits. In such cases, affected operators may request a hearing within 15 days. Interim orders remain effective for 30 days unless extended by mutual agreement.

Violations carry civil penalties up to $10,000 per day, applicable to both private and federal reservoir operators as permitted under the McCarran Amendment. For federal entities declining to pay penalties, the board may pursue collection through various mechanisms, including reallocating fee obligations to water delivery contractors or refusing to process related applications. These enforcement provisions operate separately from existing misdemeanor penalties for other water code violations.