San Diego County Recorder Water Claims
Finding aid created by San Diego County Archives staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Diego County Archives
2024
10144 Mission Gorge Road
Santee, California 92071
(619) 237-0502
archives@sdcounty.ca.gov
https://www.sdarcc.gov/content/arcc/home/divisions/recorder-clerk/county-archives.html
Title: San Diego County Recorder Water Claims
Dates: 1883-1950, bulk 1883-1928
Collection Number: RCC/OFR20
Creator/Collector:
San Diego County (Calif.). Office of County Recorder
Extent: 4 cubic feet (5 oversize boxes)
Repository:
San Diego County Archives
Santee, California 92071
Abstract: Per the California State Water Resources Board, California law recognized appropriative rights, the diversion of surface water
as early as 1851. Water Claims were the legal instrument utilized to appropriate this water usage. The collection consists
of five volumes dating from 1883-1928 and a single document dated 1950.
Language of Material: English
Please contact the San Diego County Archives staff at archives@sdcounty.ca.gov for access information.
[Identification of item]. San Diego County Recorder Water Claims . Collection Number: RCC/OFR20. San Diego County Archives
Scope and Content of Collection
Water Claims consists of four volumes and one index. They are recorded notices submitted by claimants asserting water rights
for various purposes, often involving the diversion of flowing water for manufacturing or agricultural purposes. Materials
have been divided into two series, Indexes to Water Claims (1883-1928; 1950) and Water Claims (1883-1928; 1950).
Series 1, Indexes to Water Claims, consists of 4 volumes. Space is available for name of claimant, date of recording, book
and page number, and file number, though not all information is always present. There is no distinct place to record a description
of the claim, however, the space reserved for a second name was sometimes used to record this information. Materials are arranged
alphabetically by the claimant’s last name.
Series 2, Water Claims, notes a description of the land on which water was found, at which it would be diverted, and the volume
of water in miner’s inches that they were claiming. Note: A miner’s inch is a measurement of water flow. California Water
Code General Provisions 24 defines a miner’s inch as “equivalent to one and one-half cubic feet of water per minute, measured
through any aperture or orifice.” Claims are listed chronologically by date of recording.
Claims
Water rights--California--San Diego County
San Diego County (Calif.)
San Luis Rey River (Calif.)--Water rights
Indexes (reference sources)