How to find a list of Navigable Rivers in CA.

[Gromatici]

I'm trying to find a list of navigable rivers and streams in CA. List of recognized rivers.

Please let me know.

[Warren Smith]

Harbors and Navigation Code section 100 et seq.

[CBarrett]

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/face ... .&article=

[Gromatici]

Thanks. It doesn't list Santa Ynez River is Santa Barbara. Seems like it might now be comprehensive...........hmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Edward M Reading]

It's comprehensive, It's what defines them in law.

[Gromatici]

The problem with that list is that some of the rivers NOT listed are navigable and treated as navigable by Federal and State agencies. For instances, here is what the Army Corps of Engineers lists as Navigable. For Santa Ynez, hunters are allowed to hunt in the bed of the river since the state owns it, and it owns it because it's considered navigable by the Feds. The Feds also consider Los Angeles River as navigable. There are also many fish restoration projects, that only qualify for federal money since the rivers/creeks are considered navigable by the FEDS.

https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Missions ... Waterways/

https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/ ... dH3Q%3d%3d

Seems like the FEDS decided there were more than the legislature in CA has listed. I have a feeling that trumps what the CA code lists. I had trouble finding this with key words like "santa ynez river" but managed to find it. I'm working on a wierd boundary issues with a river in Los Alamos has "unknown" listed as the owner by the assessor and was trying to find a reference to see if it was considered navigable. Anyways, thanks for all you help!

Thank you,

[CBarrett]

Have a conversation with the county surveyor's office. They are the best source of local information.

[DanFrink]

Submit a request through the California State Lands Commission. You can submit your request to me and I'll be happy to help you out.

Dan Frink
daniel.frink@slc.ca.gov

[DanFrink]

The Harbors and Navigations code lists navigable waters, but this list is not intended for boundary purposes (although in many cases they are one in the same). Also, the Federal Test for navigability and the the State test area different. One is for jurisdictional purposes, the other is for ownership purposes. That's why it's best to reach out to State Lands. Ultimately they are who you would be dealing with.