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<br />Additional State Administrative <br />Authority <br /> <br />In addition to the permit enforcement <br />mechanisms, the Department and the Water <br />Board are required by Water Code Sec- <br />tion 275 to prevent the waste and unrea- <br />sonable use of water. . Water Gode 275 <br />states that: <br /> <br />"The Department and the Board shall take <br />all appropriate proceedings or actions <br />before executive, legislative or judi- <br />cial agencies to prevent waste, unrea- <br />sonable use, unreasonable method of use, <br />or unreasonable method of diversion of <br />water in this State." <br /> <br />The section imposes upon the Department <br />of Water Resources and the Board a man- <br />datory duty to prevent unreasonable use <br />of water. It extends to all water users <br />regardless of the user's claim of right. <br />The Board's authority under this section <br />to seek injunctive and declaratory re- <br />lief regarding direct diversion of water <br />by riparian land owners was sustained in <br />People ex rei. State Water Resources <br />Control Board v. Forni, 54 Gal. App.3d <br />743 (1976). <br /> <br /> <br />fJI!/ / <br /> <br />123 <br />