BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2373
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Date of Hearing: March 29, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE
Marc Levine, Chair
AB 2373
(Gray) - As Introduced February 18, 2016
SUBJECT: Merced Irrigation District
SUMMARY: Appropriates $45,000 from the General Fund to the
Merced Irrigation District for specified irrigation and water
use efficiency. Specifically, this bill: directs the Merced
Irrigation District to implement irrigation and water use
efficiency strategies for small communal farms in Merced County
EXISTING LAW:
1)Appropriates $35 million to the Department of Water Resources
for agricultural water efficiency programs.
2)Requires agricultural water suppliers to develop water
management plans and implement efficient water management
practices.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but appropriates $45,000 from the
General Fund.
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COMMENTS: Appropriates $45,000 from the General Fund to the
Merced Irrigation District for communal farm irrigation and
water use efficiency.
1)Author's Statement: In Merced county dozens of Hmong refugee
families have come together to share the cost and labor of
farming. Unfortunately these families lack capital to invest
in their farms. Water pumps are in disrepair, which hinders
the efficiency and energy use of irrigation. The modest sum
appropriated in this bill will provide significant reductions
in energy, fuel, and water use.
2)Background: The 2015-16 proposed budget for Merced Irrigation
District was $78 million with $86 million in revenue. Merced
Irrigation District encompasses 164,000 gross acres. Total
irrigable lands in the Merced Irrigation District are 138,000
acres. In 2007 88,000 acres of land were supplied with water
from Merced Irrigation District.
Typically appropriations are made through the budget process.
This bill declares that a special law is necessary to
implement irrigation and water use efficiency strategies for
small communal farms in Merced County, and that irrigation and
water use efficiency will benefit the public as a whole.
The 2015-16 budget appropriated $35 million to the Department
of Water Resources to implement agricultural water efficiency
programs. The Department of Water Resources has made $30
million available through competitive grants. The guidelines
for these grants were completed January 27, 2016 and
applications are due by March 30, 2016. Irrigation districts
are among the eligible applicants for these grants.
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Project types to be funded are those that will produce
potential benefits to the State including: technical
assistance, training, education and public outreach.
The Office of Sustainable Water Solutions within the State
Water Resources Control Board provides technical assistance to
parties that are in need of aid with funding applications,
among other things. Groundwater sustainability is an area in
which the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions will be
playing a technical assistance role. While the Office of
Sustainable Water Solutions' primary objective is to promote
sustainable safe, affordable, and reliable drink water they
can provide technical assistance for additional projects.
Non-profits and public agencies are eligible for assistance
from the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions.
While the Department of Water Resources does not have an arm
analogous to the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions to aid
disadvantaged communities, grant program managers will assist
potential applicants with technical questions.
It is not clear if the communal farms that this bill would
provide funding for would win an agricultural water use
efficiency grant. However, Merced Irrigation District is in a
position to apply for a grant, appears to have the resources
to apply, and if not could request assistance if needed to aid
with the grant.
Additionally if there is concern that a grant application
focused solely on communal farms would not receive funding the
potential exists for Merced Irrigation District to build a
larger application. A larger application could include
communal farms and additional efficiencies such as addressing
the 75% of the 825 miles of water distribution facilities that
Merced Irrigation District operates that are earthen lined
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channels.
3)Prior and Related Legislation:
a) AB 1471 (Rendon), Chapter 188, Statutes of 2014
placed Proposition 1, a $7.545 billion general obligation
bond for water-related projects and programs on the
November 4, 2014 ballot where it passed with 67% of the
vote.
4)Supporting Arguments:
Merced Irrigation District states that the dedication of
funding to assist in water-use efficiency strategies for small
communal farms could be a valuable tool in pursuing
groundwater sustainability objectives in the region.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Merced Irrigation District
Opposition
None on file
AB 2373
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Analysis Prepared by:Ryan Ojakian / W., P., & W. / (916)
319-2096