A Performance Audit
An Audit Report on Selected Watermaster Programs at the Commission on Environmental Quality
July 2025
Overview
Watermasters at the Commission on Environmental Quality (Commission) did not manage diversions of state water in accordance with requirements. Watermasters allowed water to be diverted without advance approval, did not always obtain information about meters used to measure water diversions, and did not consistently apply penalties when diverters deviated more than 10 percent from approved amounts. Not complying with requirements for managing diversions of state water increases the risk that water will not be available to users when needed.
Watermasters established policies for visiting water diversion sites but did not consistently comply with those policies. The Commission investigated and resolved complaints and potential rules violations in accordance with applicable requirements.