AB 460 addresses a critical gap in our state’s water management by substantially increasing the fines that the State Water Resources Control Board can impose on illegal water diverters. This is particularly important during critically dry years in sensitive watersheds, where every drop of water counts.  Previously, the penalties for illegal water diversion were so minimal that they could be easily disregarded, essentially creating a loophole in our water protection efforts. AB 460 closes this loophole, giving real teeth to existing laws and providing a powerful deterrent against harmful water use practices.  CalTrout’s primary focus in supporting this bill was to discourage illegal water diversions during curtailment actions, which harm both fish and downstream water users. These diversions pose an existential threat to our state’s already limited water resources, particularly during drought conditions when our rivers and streams are most vulnerable.