California's water is governed by a complex system based on seniority that does not recognize Native American tribes' historic uses of the state's rivers and streams.
Native tribes say the state's relying on outdated water rules, leading to overgrowths of algae and bacteria, preventing the tribes from performing cultural and religious practices.
President Joe Biden's administration has agreed to investigate how California manages its water. Some Native American tribes and environmental groups say the state has discriminated against them. They say the state's outdated water quality rules prevent tribes from performing their religious and cultural practices in the state's rivers. The California State Water Resources Control Board has pledged to cooperate with the investigation. The board says its highest planning priority has been restoring native fish species that are important to tribes. The Environmental Protection Agency has six months to investigate the allegations and present its findings. The board has not yet responded to the allegations in writing.