Wat. Code, § 35526

In addition to, and as an alternative to, the matters contained in this division regarding apportionment of water, the district may by resolution adopt a plan for water allocation which may include a determination as to what portion of district water will be made available for surface delivery and what portion will be devoted to recharge of ground water, may establish limited areas of the district as the areas in which surface delivery of water service will be made available, the quantity which will be made available to each such surface water service area, and the terms upon which such water service will be made available, and may enter into long-term water service contracts with holders of title to land in such surface water service areas which contracts may provide that the obligations are a lien on the landowners’ land in the nature of, and may be collected and enforced in the manner provided in this division for the collection and enforcement of, assessments. If such a contract does so provide, such lien shall have the same force, effect, and priority as an assessment lien as between the contracting landowner and the district, but unless such contract is recorded in the office of the county recorder in the county in which the land is situated, it shall have no force or effect whatever against any person other than a party to the contract unless such person has actual knowledge of the contract and its contents. Such contracts may be acknowledged or proved, certified and recorded in like manner and with like effect as grants of real property, and all statutory provisions relating to the recording or nonrecordation of conveyances of real property, and to the effect thereof, shall apply to such contracts with like effect. Such plan may further provide for allocation of water available to the district on a short-term basis without further notice and hearing. Such matters shall be determined and established in accordance with equitable criteria providing for the economical and efficient distribution and use of water within the district or available for use upon the lands within the district.