Lands which were within the Westlands Water District immediately prior to the merger shall, so long as said lands remain in the said district, have a prior right with respect to water to which said district was entitled under any contract with the United States in effect on the date of said merger over (1) lands added to the Westlands Water District as a result of the merger and (2) lands annexed to the said district subsequent to the merger.
Cal. Water Code § 37856
Operation of Surviving District
Known as the Westlands Water District Merger Law
The act spans §§ 37800–37861 (23 sections).
Applied in 2 court decisions — leading case Sumner Peck Ranch, Inc. v. Bureau of Reclamation (1993)
Most recently applied in 227 Cal. App. 4th 832 - North Coast Rivers Alliance v. Westlands Water District (July 2014)
Added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 746.
Official source: California Legislative Information. Reproduced from public-domain California statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.