CA SB1247

Authorizes the Department of Water Resources to pay up to 50% of watermaster service area administration and water distribution costs (with remainder paid by water right holders) until January 1, 2014, to the extent funds are appropriated.

Reverts to requiring water right holders to pay 100% of watermaster costs beginning January 1, 2014.

Defines "owner's expense" as the total service area budget minus any amount paid by the department.

Maintains apportionment methods where one-tenth of owner's expense is divided equally among all water right owners and nine-tenths is divided based on water diversion/storage quantities.

Declares the act an urgency statute effective immediately to address severe fee increases to farmers and ranchers caused by elimination of state watermaster funding.