Title 10. Actions In Particular Cases · Chapter 7. Actions Relating to Groundwater Rights · Article 3. Notice and Service of Complaint · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 835 requires the plaintiff in a comprehensive adjudication to notify agencies, local governments, water systems, tribes, state agencies, federal agencies, and other interested persons within set deadlines, by mail or email, unless they've already been served or intervened.
(a)The plaintiff shall provide notice of the comprehensive adjudication to all of the following:
(1)A groundwater sustainability agency that overlies the basin or a portion of the basin.
(2)A city, county, or city and county that overlies the basin or a portion of the basin.
(3)A district with authority to manage or replenish groundwater resources of the basin in whole or in part.
(4)The operator of a public water system or state small water system that uses groundwater from the basin to supply water service.
(5)A California Native American tribe that is on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
(6)The Attorney General, the State Water Resources Control Board, the department, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(7)A federal department or agency that manages a federal reservation that overlies the basin or a portion of the basin.
(8)A person identified under Section 836.5 who is not a party to the comprehensive adjudication.
(9)A person who is on a list, maintained by a groundwater management agency, of interested parties that have requested notice under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
(b)The plaintiff may provide notice under this section by first class mail or electronic mail.
(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), the plaintiff shall provide notice under this section as follows:
(A)To any person entitled to notice under paragraphs (1) to (7), inclusive, of subdivision (a) within 15 days of the filing of the complaint.
(B)To any person entitled to notice under paragraphs (8) and (9) of subdivision (a) within 30 days of receipt of the name and address of the person entitled to notice.
(2)The plaintiff may take additional time as is reasonably necessary before providing notice under this section if the plaintiff determines that additional time is necessary to identify a person entitled to notice under this section, confirm the accuracy of the name or address of a person, or to determine if the conditions requiring notice have been satisfied.
(d)The plaintiff is not required to provide notice under this section to a person who has already been served or intervened in the action.
Plain-English Summary
Because a comprehensive adjudication can affect everyone with a stake in a basin's groundwater, § 835 requires the plaintiff to cast a wide notice net beyond the individual defendants named in the complaint. Subdivision (a) lists nine categories of recipients: groundwater sustainability agencies, overlying cities and counties, districts with authority over the basin's groundwater, operators of public or state small water systems drawing from the basin, California Native American tribes on the Native American Heritage Commission's contact list, the Attorney General, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Department of Water Resources, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, federal agencies managing an overlying reservation, persons identified through the § 836.5 information requests, and anyone on an interested-parties list maintained under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
Subdivision (b) allows notice by first class mail or email. Subdivision (c) sets the timing: notice to most categories must go out within fifteen days of the complaint being filed, while notice to persons identified through § 836.5 requests or interested-parties lists must go out within thirty days of receiving their name and address, with additional reasonable time allowed if the plaintiff needs to identify a recipient, confirm accuracy, or determine whether notice conditions are satisfied.
Subdivision (d) relieves the plaintiff of the duty to notify anyone who has already been served or has already intervened in the action, avoiding duplicative notice to people already participating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must the plaintiff notify when filing a comprehensive adjudication?
A wide range of entities and persons listed in § 835(a), including groundwater sustainability agencies, overlying local governments, water system operators, tribes, several state agencies, and federal agencies managing an overlying reservation.
How can the plaintiff deliver this notice?
By first class mail or electronic mail, under § 835(b).
How quickly must notice go out?
Within fifteen days of filing the complaint for most recipients, or within thirty days of receiving a person's name and address for those identified through § 836.5 requests or interested-parties lists.
Does the plaintiff have to notify someone already served or already a party?
No. Section 835(d) excuses notice to anyone already served or already intervened in the action.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2016 ch 86 (SB 1171),s 27, eff. 1/1/2017. Added by Stats 2015 ch 672 (AB 1390),s 1, eff. 1/1/2016.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
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