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Ground Water Commission Meeting Minutes Page 17 <br /> August 14 &t 15, 2025 <br /> publication. Staff will make every effort to notify the owner of the original <br /> erroneous determination based on DWR and County records. If no objection was <br /> received, Staff would issue a corrected determination of water rights. This <br /> process would not be used in instances where a clerical typographical error was <br /> involved, or if the application was for a change of water right. <br /> Commissioner Hume asked if past applications where an erroneous <br /> determination was issued involved a landowner who applied for a <br /> determination on a neighboring property without that owner's permission. <br /> Ms. Brucker clarified that the specific situations encountered involved a <br /> landowner who made an application for a determination of water rights, then <br /> sold a portion of the land before the determinations were issued. <br /> Ms. Mete asked Ms. Brucker why Staff needs to be the Applicant in these <br /> situations. <br /> Ms. Brucker replied that it isn't necessarily required for Staff to be the <br /> Applicant, but it would likely be a challenge to get the owner of the <br /> determination to pay a filing fee and submit an application to reduce their <br /> determination amount. It also would not necessarily be fair for Applicants that <br /> are willing to correct the determination themselves to be penalized with a <br /> filing fee, while those who are unwilling to cooperate do not have to pay the <br /> filing fee. Ms. Brucker also mentioned that these situations do not come up <br /> often, and Staff have only encountered two instances in the past few years. <br /> Commissioner Hume expressed the importance that every effort be made to <br /> contact the original water right owner in these situations. <br /> Ms. Brucker commented that in the two situations encountered, the first water <br /> right owner was notified and aware of the error. The second water right owner <br /> involved a bankrupt development company, which made notification to a <br /> successor owner more difficult. <br /> Commissioner Denning asked if both erroneous determinations were filed with <br /> the County. <br /> Ms. Brucker replied that it was unknown if the documents were filed with the <br /> County. <br /> Commissioner Denning commented that it would be helpful to educate realtor <br /> groups regarding the ability to own water rights separate from the land. <br />