Under the California Water Code, water is a public resource that is protected for the use and benefit of all Californians. California's waters cannot be owned by individuals, groups, businesses, or governmental agencies. But permits, licenses, and registrations give individuals and others the right to beneficially use reasonable amounts of water.

Points of Diversion (PODs) are locations where water is being drawn from a surface water source such as a stream or river. Each water right registered with the California State Water Resources Control Board's Division of Water Rights includes an identified point of diversion. Ground water extraction points (such as water supply wells) are not included in this dataset.

The spatial and attribute information are maintained by the Division of Water Rights in the electronic Water Rights Information Management System (eWRIMS). Water Rights staff plot points of diversion based on the coordinates provided as part of the water right statement or application. The water source is identified visually in the GIS edit process. Additional spatial attributes (such as Regional Board, county, and public land survey system coordinates) are calculated automatically by the eWRIMS GIS system.

Under the California Water Code, water is a public resource that is protected for the use and benefit of all Californians. California's waters cannot be owned by individuals, groups, businesses, or governmental agencies. But permits, licenses, and registrations give individuals and others the right to beneficially use reasonable amounts of water.

Points of Diversion (PODs) are locations where water is being drawn from a surface water source such as a stream or river. Each water right registered with the California State Water Resources Control Board's Division of Water Rights includes an identified point of diversion. Ground water extraction points (such as water supply wells) are not included in this dataset.

The spatial and attribute information are maintained by the Division of Water Rights in the electronic Water Rights Information Management System (eWRIMS). Water Rights staff plot points of diversion based on the coordinates provided as part of the water right statement or application. The water source is identified visually in the GIS edit process. Additional spatial attributes (such as Regional Board, county, and public land survey system coordinates) are calculated automatically by the eWRIMS GIS system.