Mark Baird is Vice President of Scott Valley Protect Our Water 

Baird explained that the State Dept. of Fish & Game is trying to implement re-written Permits that will affect the use of the agriculturists’ Water Rights. Two separate Permits will demand a reduction in the legal water allotment that Water Right owners use to irrigate their pastures and fields.
Farmers and ranchers believe this is a “water grab” by the State of California and if allowed to be successful will create a major problem for the rest of the state, including municipalities that divert water for use by residents.
Those involved with Scott Valley Protect Our Water ad-hoc group are standing on their U.S. and California Constitutional rights, which protect Property Rights. Court decisions have declared Water Rights are a Property Right.
If Water Rights are affected and the state can tell a landowner how much water he or she can use — this is a “taking” of a Property Right.