BILL NUMBER: AB 2480	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 31, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 5, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 17, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bloom

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to add Section 108.5  to, and to add Chapter 3.3
(commencing with Section 12835) to Part 6 of Division 6 of, 
 to  the Water Code, relating to water.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2480, as amended, Bloom. Source watersheds: financing.
   Existing law establishes various state water policies, including
the policy that the Legislature consider other works as may be
necessary to develop water to satisfy the requirements of the
watershed in which water originates whenever the Legislature
authorizes the construction or acquisition of a project that will
develop water for use outside that watershed, as specified.
   This bill would declare it to be state policy that source
watersheds are recognized and defined as integral components of
California's water system. The  bill would also declare that
their   bill, to the extent feasible, would require
source watershed  maintenance and repair  are eligible
for   to receive  financing  on an
equivalent   consideration on the same  basis with
other water collection and treatment infrastructure, and would
specify that the maintenance and repair activities that are eligible
are limited to certain forest ecosystem management activities.

   Under existing law, the United States Bureau of Reclamation
operates the federal Central Valley Project and the Department of
Water Resources operates the State Water Resources Development
System, known as the State Water Project, to supply water to persons
and entities in the state.  
   This bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board,
in consultation with the department, to develop investment plans that
prioritize actions for restoration and conservation to improve
watershed function in the watersheds that flow into the Shasta
Reservoir and the Oroville Reservoir. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 108.5 is added to the Water Code, to read:
   108.5.  (a) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of
the state that source watersheds are recognized and defined as
integral components of California's water system.  The
  To the extent feasible, the  maintenance and
repair of source watersheds  are eligible for financing on an
equivalent   and associated projects shall receive
financing consideration on the same  basis with other water
collection and treatment infrastructure.
   (b) Eligible maintenance and repair activities pursuant to this
section are limited to the following forest ecosystem management
activities:
   (1) Upland vegetation management to restore the watershed's
productivity and resiliency.
   (2) Wet and dry meadow restoration.
   (3) Road removal and repair.
   (4) Stream channel restoration.
   (5) Conservation of private forests to preserve watershed
integrity through permanent prevention of conversion and degradation,
achieved through conservation easements.
   (6) Other projects with a demonstrated likelihood of increasing
conditions for water and snow attraction, retention, and release
under changing climate conditions. 
  SEC. 2.    Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section
12835) is added to Part 6 of Division 6 of the Water Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 3.3.  WATERSHED INVESTMENT PLANS


   12835.  On or before December 31, 2017, the board, in consultation
with the department, shall develop investment plans that prioritize
actions for restoration and conservation to improve watershed
function in the watersheds that flow into the Shasta Reservoir and
the Oroville Reservoir.