BILL NUMBER: AB 2480	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 1, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 13, 2016
	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 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 infrastructure. The bill would state the
particular importance to maintaining the reliability of California's
water supply  as climate change advances  of the source
watersheds that supply the  Shasta and Oroville reservoirs of the
 State Water  Project and the federal Central Valley
Project and, to the extent feasible,   Project. The bill
 would require the maintenance and repair of these watersheds
to receive financing consideration on the same basis  with
  as  other  State Water Project  water
collection and treatment  infrastructure,  
infrastructure  and would specify that the maintenance and
repair activities that are eligible are limited to  certain
  specified  forest ecosystem  management
  restoration and conservation  activities.
   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 infrastructure.
   (b)  (1)    The source watersheds that supply
the  state and federally operated systems,  
Shasta and Oroville reservoirs of  the State Water Project
 and the federal Central Valley Project, collectively provide
80 percent of state reservoir capacity and  are of
particular importance to maintaining the reliability of California's
water  supply. To the extent feasible, the  
supply as climate change advances. The  maintenance and repair
of these watersheds  and associated projects  shall
receive financing consideration on the same basis  with
  as  other  State Water Project  water
collection and treatment infrastructure. 
   (2) Nothing in this section is intended to modify existing grant
programs or guidelines or constrain financing for source watersheds
supplying local, state, or federal water systems. 
   (c) Eligible maintenance and repair activities pursuant to this
section are limited to the following forest ecosystem 
management   restoration and conservation 
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  land use 
conversion and  degradation,   improved land
management,  achieved  through   through,
and secured with,  conservation easements.
   (6) Other projects with a demonstrated likelihood of increasing
conditions for water and snow attraction, retention, and release
under changing climate conditions.