Cal. Wat. Code § 102 : CALIFORNIA WATER CODE — GENERAL STATE POWERS OVER WATER — GENERAL STATE POLICY — Water property of people; acquisition of right to use of water TEXT PDF All water within the State is the property of the people of the State, but the right to the use of water may be acquired by appropriation in the manner provided by law. Ca. Water Code § 102 Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 368.