Water Rights Online Forms (WROF) FAQs

Quick Links

• General FAQs
• Application for Appropriative Water Rights FAQs
• Petition FAQs

General FAQs

What is WROF?
Water Rights Online Forms (WROF) is an online portal where you can submit forms for water right applications, registrations, petitions, and more. WROF is part of an ongoing effort on behalf of the Water Boards to migrate our forms online for ease of access.

How do I access WROF?
You can access the WROF portal using the following link: https://public2.waterboards.ca.gov/mt/sites/site?siteName=WROF
After clicking the above link, you can access the different forms by creating an account and logging in, then clicking the “Create New Survey” button. All the different forms listed on the “Create New Survey” page are available to be submitted online. You do not need to complete the form in one sitting; the forms save after each section and can be finished at a future date.

What forms can I submit using WROF?
The Division of Water Rights is in the process of creating online forms to replace paper forms. Below are the following forms that must be submitted using WROF:

• Request for Contact Information Update
• Request for Ownership Change
• Initial Statement of Water Diversion and Use
• Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit
• Petition for Change
• Petition for Change Involving Temporary Water Transfer
• Petition for Change Involving Long-Term Water Transfer
• Petition for Temporary Urgency Change
• Petition for Instream Flow Dedication
• Petition for Split of a Water Right
• Petition for Extension of Time
• Petition for Wastewater Change
• Environmental Information for Petitions
• First Statement Cessation or Reduction in Groundwater Extraction
• First Notice of Extraction and Diversion of Water
• Minor Change Request

The Division of Water Rights is creating WROF forms to the remaining paper forms with the goal of moving all forms into WROF.

How do I get to the forms in the WROF?
You can access the WROF at the link below. https://public2.waterboards.ca.gov/mt/sites/site?siteName=WROF
An example of the WROF webpage can be seen below.

Once you have logged into WROF, please click “Create New Survey” as identified by the red arrow in the figure below.

Once you have selected “Create New Survey”, you can find the available WROF forms.

Are paper versions of these forms available?
Some forms are still available in paper form. However, the Division plans to transition all paper forms to the online forms in WROF. Please note that there are some forms which are strictly online and on WROF.

May I save my online form and return to it later?
Yes. When you start an online form, you will set up an account with a username and password in the Water Rights Online Portal.  If you have partially completed the form and wish to return to it later, the website will automatically save your last completed section.

May I edit my online form after it has been submitted?
No, the online form content is locked for review at the time of submittal.  After submitting the online form, board staff will conduct our initial review based on the information submitted.  Once the review is complete, you may request revisions to your form with your assigned project manager. Your assigned project manager will inform you of the requirements to make edits to your online form.

What forms of payment are acceptable?
Payment is accepted by the methods listed on  https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/make_a_payment/ or via manual payments (check, money order, or cashier check). For some forms, an additional $850 fee made payable to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is required pursuant to Public Resources Code section 10005. Please note that at this time the CDFW fee payment must be transmitted to the Division and the Division forwards the payment to CDFW.

May I submit supplemental materials by email to accompany my form?
You should submit all required information as part of the online form process.  Supplemental material greater than the 10 MB can be emailed to the appropriate email below based on the form you are intending to submit. 

Please include the name of your application and type of material submitted so that staff can correctly connect your additional material with your electronic application submittal.

If there is a need to submit additional documents as part of the application package that cannot be attached in the online application or emailed (e.g. certain maps, files in excess of 10 MB), these materials should be submitted by mail by next business day or in person to the Division of Water Rights file room on its next operating day after submittal.

Who can I contact for help if I am experiencing technical issues?
If you are experiencing technical issues, please contact the appropriate email below based on the form you are intending to submit:

For all other questions, please contact the Division of Water Rights at (916) 341-5300.

Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit FAQs

What are the steps for submitting the Online Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit?
The steps for submitting an application are as follows.

1. Submit the Online Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit in WROF.
2. Print, sign, and mail or hand-deliver the Notice of Submittal to the Division of Water Rights with the appropriate filing fees.  The Division of Water Rights must receive the hard copy signed version of the Notice of Submittal.  The Notice of Submittal is emailed to you upon completion of the Online Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit.

The Board recommends that the applicant/agent coordinate with the Division of Water Rights prior to submitting their Online Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit.  You can reach the Division of Water Rights at dwr-applications@waterboards.ca.gov.

How is the priority date of the application determined when submitting an Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit?
The priority date of the application is determined when the Division of Water Rights verifies receipt of the hard copy signed version of the Notice of Submittal with the appropriate filing fees.

How do I apply for a temporary permit?
All types of applications to appropriate water now use the online portal.  This includes the 180-day temporary permit, temporary small hydroelectric permit, and the five-year temporary permit for diversion to underground storage.

May I use this Online Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit for a water right to grow cannabis?
This form may be used to submit applications for water rights to grow cannabis.  However, applicants for cannabis cultivation should first consider whether applying for a Small Irrigation Use Registration (SIUR) may be a better fit for their cultivation operation.  The SIUR form can be accessed via the Cannabis Cultivation Program Application Portal.  Please note that water diversions for cannabis cultivation must comply with the State Water Board’s Cannabis Cultivation Policy regardless of the basis of right.

What information will I need when filling out the Online Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit?
You should have as much information as possible relating to your proposed project before you begin the Online Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit.  This information includes justification of the amounts requested, diversion rates, proposed uses, areas of use, water availability information including instream needs, environmental review and documentation, easements needed to exercise the water right, and information on any existing water rights to the stream system within which water is proposed to be diverted.  A detailed list of useful information to have before you begin the application is included in the introductory section of the application.

May I edit my online form after it has been submitted?
No, the online form content is locked for review at the time of submittal.  After submitting the online form, board staff will conduct our initial review based on the information submitted.  Once our review is complete, you may request revisions to your application. You may start this process by contacting the assigned project manager to explore if the change will require a petition, or qualifies to be processed as minor change or a correction.  This will ensure that your changes are accounted for in your application.  Please note that the maximum diversion rate, the maximum diversion amount, and the season of diversion may not be increased after the online application has been submitted.

How will I know which staff person is processing my application?
Upon receipt of your signed Notice of Submittal, the Division will conduct an initial review of your application.  This process generally takes about a month.  When the Division concludes the review, we will contact you to provide the results of the initial review.  In this contact, we will inform you of the project manager assigned to your application along with their contact information.  Once a project manager has been assigned, you may contact the project manager if you have questions on your application.

If I have a technical problem with the online application, whom should I contact?
You may email dwr-applications@waterboards.ca.gov if you have technical or a general question regarding the Online Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit.

What filing fees are required to process the application after the application has been submitted?
Your application will not be accepted for initial review and processing unless it is accompanied by the following required filing fees:

1. Fee payable to the State Water Resources Control Board. There are different types of fees depending on the type of application filed. Instructions for calculating the fee are available at: Water Right Fees. Make Fees payable to the State Water Resources Control Board.
2. A $850 fee payable to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is required for applications with certain exceptions. See specific exceptions in Public Resources Code, Division 10, Section 10005. Send the California Department of Fish and Wildlife fee to the State Water Resources Control Board.

Aside from initial filing fees, applicants should be aware that most applications are also charged an annual fee each year they are pending.

Petitions FAQs

How do I get to the Online Petitions in the WROF?
You can get to the Petition Forms by using the same link as the Online Application for Appropriative Water Rights Permit, which is provided again here. https://public2.waterboards.ca.gov/mt/sites/site?siteName=WROF

What are the steps for completing the Petition?
The steps for completing an application are as follows.

1. Submit the appropriate form in WROF depending on the type of petition being filed.
2. Complete the Environmental Info for Petitions form.
3. Print, sign, and mail in the Notice of Submittal to the Division of Water Rights with the appropriate filing fees.  The Notice of Submittal is emailed to you upon completion of the Online Petition form.

Which Petition form should I file?
There are several options for online forms to select from when you are filing a change petition. The most common form is the Petition for Change form. Consult the list below to see if any of the forms better match your situation and your proposed change. Bear in mind that except for minor change requests, all petitions must also file the form Environmental Info for Petitions. If you are unsure, please email dwr-petitions@waterboards.ca.gov for assistance.

List of petitions:

• Petition for Change
• Petition for Extension of Time
• Petition for Change Involving Temporary Water Transfer
• Minor Change Request
• Environmental Info for Petitions
• Petition for Instream Flow Dedication
• Petition for Long-Term Transfer
• Petition for Split of a Water Right
• Temporary Urgency Change Petition
• Wastewater Change Petition

If I have a technical problem with the online petition form, whom should I contact?
You may email dwr-petitions@waterboards.ca.gov if you have technical or a general question regarding any of the petition forms.

What filing fees are required to process the Petition after the application has been submitted?
Your petition form(s) will not be accepted for initial review and processing unless it is accompanied by the required filing fees, including the following:

1. Fee payable to the State Water Resources Control Board. Instructions for calculating the fee are available at: Water Right Fees. Make Fees payable to the State Water Resources Control Board.
2. Fee of $850 payable to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. An $850 fee is required for all change petitions, with certain exceptions. See specific exceptions in Public Resources Code, Division 10, Section 10005. Send the California Department of Fish and Wildlife fee to the State Water Resources Control Board.

May I use a petition for change for registrations?