BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1905
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 30, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1905 (Alejo) - As Introduced: February 19, 2014
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 15-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill expands the ability to hold two water rights
registrations for the same water storage facility and adds fire
protection to the list of allowable uses for livestock
stockponds. Specifically, this bill:
1)Allows a small domestic use registration and a livestock
stockpond use registration to be in effect for the same water
storage facility if the total combined water use covered by
the registrations does not exceed 10 acre feet per year.
2)Allows a small irrigation registration and a small domestic
use registration or livestock stockpond registration to be in
effect for the same water storage facility if the total
combined water use covered by the registrations does not
exceed 20 acre feet per year.
3)Allows a person to obtain a right to appropriate water for
stockpond use (watering livestock) to include fire protection
as one of the permissible uses in addition to incidental
aesthetic, recreational or fish and wildlife purposes.
FISCAL EFFECT
Minor, absorbable costs to the SWRCB. The party seeking two
water right registrations for use at the same pond would still
be required to pay all applicable fees for each registration.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the author, under a small irrigation
AB 1905
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use permit, a farmer can use a portion of their water pond to
irrigate and protect crops from damage. However, a small
livestock stockpond registration does not allow any use for
crop irrigation, frost or fire protection. Prohibiting
farmers from using their water resources to protect crops
handcuffs our farmers and ranchers' ability to maximize their
production. The author further states that providing dual
registrations is both practical and useful.
2)Background . In order to obtain the right to appropriate water
for a small domestic, small irrigation, or livestock stockpond
use, a person must register the use and pay an annual fee to
the State Water Resources Control Board. The water use must
be reasonable and beneficial as defined by law.
Allowable livestock stockpond uses are for watering livestock
and incidental aesthetic, recreational, and fish and wildlife
uses. Small domestic uses are affiliated with a dwelling and
include aesthetic, fire protection, recreational, and fish and
wildlife purposes.
Domestic and livestock stockpond uses are limited to 4,500
gallons per day or diversion to storage of 10 acre feet per
year. Small irrigation use is limited to 42,000 gallons per
day, diversion to storage of a maximum of 20 acre feet per
year, and an overall limit for all water rights held by the
same registrant of 100 acre feet per year. Small irrigation
use registrations held for diversions or storage facilities
must not exceed the ratio of one per 20 irrigated acres. A
small domestic use registration and a small irrigation
registration may be in effect for the same facility if the
total combined water use does not exceed 20 acre feet per
year.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081