Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA)

Cannabis cultivators applying for a Mendocino County Cannabis Cultivation Business License and a Department of Cannabis Control Annual License must have a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement ("LSAA") or written verification from CDFW that one is not needed. CDFW requires an LSAA when a project activity may substantially adversely affect fish and wildlife resources. LSAA provide actions to avoid and minimize adverse impacts and provide protections to California’s fish and wildlife resources.

Documentation

If you have a Lake and Streambed Alteration (LSA) agreement, Operation of Law (OpLaw) letter, Notification Not Required (NNR) letter, No Agreement Needed (NAN) letter, or Self-Certification letter, you need to verify that the documentation is up to date. If your LSA agreement or OpLaw letter is expired or will expire prior to license renewal, or if your project has changed since receiving an NNR, NAN, or Self-Certification letter, please see the table in the tab below for suggested next steps.

For more information, please visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's website.

Next Steps

Final LSAA Document Current Status Next Steps
LSAA Expired
  • If you need more time to complete some or all of the project activities authorized in the LSAA, you will need to submit a new notification and obtain a new LSAA to finish the work.
  • If you have completed all project activities authorized in the LSA agreement, please reach out to your LSA Regional Contact for next steps.
LSAA Not expired
  • If you need more time to complete some or all of the project activities authorized in the LSAA, you will need to submit an extension request* prior to the expiration in order to extend the term of the LSAA.
  • If you have completed all project activities authorized in the LSAA, please reach out to your LSA Regional Contact for next steps.
LSAA Issued to someone else The person who the LSAA was issued to will need to submit an amendment request** to transfer the LSAA.
LSAA Change in project specifics You will need to submit an amendment request** to incorporate any project changes into the LSAA.
LSAA with a Water Diversion Expired You will need to submit a new notification and obtain a new LSAA if you continue to divert water.
LSAA with a Water Diversion Not expired You will need an LSAA if you continue to divert water. Submit an extension request* prior to your LSAA expiration.
OpLaw Letter Expired or Not Expired
  • If you need more time to complete some or all of the project activities authorized by your OpLaw Letter, you will need to submit a new notification and obtain a new LSAA to finish the work.
  • If your OpLaw Letter authorized a water diversion, you will need to submit a new notification and receive a new LSAA to continue diverting water.
  • If you have completed all project activities authorized by the OpLaw Letter, please reach out to your LSA Regional Contact for next steps.
OpLaw Letter Issued to someone else OpLaw Letters cannot be amended or transferred. You will need to submit a new notification for the project activities.
NNR, NAN, & Self-Certification Letters No Expiration Once issued, these letters do not expire. If the information provided in the original notification is still accurate, you can continue to use these letters for license renewal purposes. You must submit a new notification if any changes are made to the project activities described in the original notification. No amendments can be made.

Documentation Tool

Please visit the CDFW website for a tool developed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to help cannabis cultivators obtain the appropriate Lake or Streambed Alteration (LSAA) documentation for their cultivation operation.

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