What are the primary sources of water law?
Water law in California is mainly constituted by two primary sources: the laws of nature and the laws of man. The laws of nature refer to the laws governing how water flows, how it interacts with other elements, and how it is used up or contained. These laws refer to the laws found in physics, chemistry, and biology that regulate water and its movement. The laws of man are the laws created and enforced by the state and federal governments. These laws include the California Water Code, the California Code of Civil Procedure, the California Health and Safety Code, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, among others. These laws are passed to protect water resources, regulate the use and allocation of water, provide for conflict resolution, promote public health, protect wildlife, and many other purposes. These laws may be enforced through civil and/or criminal penalties. It is also important to note that the primary sources of water law in California also include treaties between sovereign tribes and the United States government, and case law, which consists of rulings made by the Supreme Court of California, the appellate courts of California, and the United States Supreme Court. These sources of law are important in interpreting the statutory laws, and in developing the legal principles related to the use and protection of water in California.
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