Opinion ID: 1800972
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: administrative procedure and the courts

Text: The provisions of article X, section 2 of the California Constitution being self-executing (see fn. 4, ante ), the courts have traditionally enforced the proscriptions against unreasonable uses and unreasonable methods of diverting water. (E.g., Joslin v. Marin Mun. Water Dist. (1967) 67 Cal.2d 132 [60 Cal. Rptr. 377, 429 P.2d 889]; Peabody v. City of Vallejo (1935) 2 Cal.2d 351 [40 P.2d 486].) In our prior opinion in the instant case, we considered the relationship between legislative provisions governing administrative regulation of reclamation of waste water and judicial enforcement of the self-executing provisions of article X, section 2. Based on statutory regulation of such reclamation, the potential dangers to public health, the problems of feasibility of reclamation, and the complexity of the issues, we concluded that courts should not exercise concurrent jurisdiction of proceedings to compel water agencies to reclaim waste water, but should defer in the first instance to the expertise of the appropriate administrative agencies. (20 Cal.3d 327, 341 et seq.) We recognized that courts had traditionally exercised jurisdiction of claims of unreasonable water use and we distinguished cases involving competing claims as to the reasonableness of normal water use, pointing out that they did not involve the complexity of the waste water reclamation issue or the transcendent interests of public health and safety. (20 Cal.3d 327, 344.) Recently, this court again considered both the judicial and administrative enforcement of article X, section 2. The Legislature established a comprehensive administrative scheme with judicial review of determinations of riparian rights in a stream system between competing users. This court held that prior court adjudications in original proceedings between some users would not be res judicata in the later administrative proceeding and that the latter proceeding would result in a final and comprehensive determination of user rights in light of what constitutes a reasonable beneficial use under article X, section 2. ( In re Waters of Long Valley Creek Stream System (1979) 25 Cal.3d 339, 359-360 [158 Cal. Rptr. 350, 599 P.2d 656].) This court emphasized that private judicial litigation involves piecemeal adjudication determining only the relative rights of the parties before the court, whereas in administrative proceedings comprehensive adjudication considers the interests of other concerned persons who may not be parties to the court action. (25 Cal.3d at pp. 345, 347, 359-360.) Although denying res judicata effect to prior private litigation, the court expressly recognized that superior courts have adjudicated claims between riparian owners (25 Cal.3d at p. 347), and nothing in the opinion suggests that traditional court enforcement is to be abandoned. (3b) Apart from overriding considerations such as are presented by health and safety dangers involved in the reclamation of waste water, we are satisfied that the courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the legislatively established administrative agencies to enforce the self-executing provisions of article X, section 2. Private parties thus may seek court aid in the first instance to prevent unreasonable water use or unreasonable method of diversion. The fact that the board has retained jurisdiction to consider the diversion point of appropriated water does not deprive the superior court of jurisdiction. Express retention of jurisdiction of a matter not previously determined is merely express recognition of its statutorily granted concurrent jurisdiction. The board has not determined whether diversion of the EBMUD water through the Folsom-South Canal rather than diversion at Hood constitutes an unreasonable method of diversion. The judgment is reversed with directions to grant appellants leave to amend their complaints to allege that diversion of EBMUD's water through the Folsom-South Canal constitutes an unreasonable method of diversion.