What is the role of the State Water Resources Control Board?

The role of the State Water Resources Control Board is to manage and protect California’s water resources. This includes overseeing the allocation and quality of water throughout the state, ensuring compliance with water rights laws, and regulating activities that impact water resources. The Board is also responsible for developing policies and regulations that aim to preserve the state's water supply and address issues such as pollution and water shortages. Their comprehensive approach involves monitoring water usage, issuing permits, and facilitating water rights transfers to balance the needs of different stakeholders, including agricultural, urban, and environmental interests.

In contrast to this, distributing water to urban areas often falls under the jurisdiction of local water agencies rather than the State Water Resources Control Board. Building new reservoirs is typically a function of different state or local entities responsible for large infrastructure projects, and while the Board may influence such projects through regulations or funding, it does not engage directly in construction. Lastly, regulating water pricing for consumers is generally managed at the local level by utility companies, with the Board playing a role more focused on water management and quality rather than specific pricing mechanisms. Thus, the Board’s primary purpose is encapsulated in its responsibility for the broader management and protection of California’s water resources.