BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 2594


                                                                    Page  1





          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING


          AB  
          2594 (Gordon)


          As Amended  March 17, 2016


          Majority vote


           ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
          |Committee       |Votes|Ayes                  |Noes                |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
          |Water           |10-3 |Levine, Dodd, Eggman, |Bigelow, Harper,    |
          |                |     |Cristina Garcia,      |Mathis              |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |Eduardo Garcia,       |                    |
          |                |     |Gomez, Lopez, Medina, |                    |
          |                |     |Salas, Williams       |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
          |Appropriations  |15-3 |Gonzalez, Bloom,      |Bigelow, Jones,     |
          |                |     |Bonilla, Bonta,       |Wagner              |
          |                |     |Calderon, McCarty,    |                    |
          |                |     |Eggman, Eduardo       |                    |
          |                |     |Garcia, Chau, Holden, |                    |
          |                |     |Obernolte, Quirk,     |                    |
          |                |     |Santiago, Weber, Wood |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
           ------------------------------------------------------------------ 








                                                                    AB 2594


                                                                    Page  2







          SUMMARY:  This bill allows a public entity to use captured  
          stormwater if the stormwater is captured before it reaches a  
          natural channel in accordance with the entity's stormwater  
          resources plan.


          EXISTING LAW:  


             1)   Authorizes local agencies to develop Stormwater Resource  
               Plans.  Requires Stormwater Resources Plans, to among other  
               things, be compliant with the California Environmental  
               Quality Act (CEQA)  


             2)   Requires the State Water Resources Control Board to  
               provide guidance for stormwater resource planning to  
               identify opportunities for stormwater capture.


          FISCAL EFFECT:  According to the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee, any additional state costs are absorbable within the  
          State Water Resources Control Board's existing resources.


          COMMENTS:  Stormwater infrastructure treats stormwater as a  
          nuisance to be disposed of rather than a natural resource that  
          can help mitigate drought.  Statewide, it has been estimated  
          that stormwater capture could produce 630,000 acre-feet of new  
          water.  It has been estimated that 30-45% of Los Angeles water  
          needs could be met through stormwater capture, producing over  
          250,000 acre-feet of new water.  Fifty percent of the rain  
          falling in the Los Angeles watershed flows to the ocean.


          The Stormwater Resources Planning Act encourages local  
          watersheds to develop plans to beneficially use stormwater.   








                                                                    AB 2594


                                                                    Page  3





          Compliance with a Stormwater Resource Plan does not entitle  
          public entities to use the stormwater or to use it for water  
          supply or water quality purposes.  This means that billions of  
          gallons of usable water flows into the ocean every year.  This  
          bill will make clear that public entities can capture stormwater  
          and can use it.  This will encourage more stormwater capture and  
          will provide additional options to finance stormwater systems.  




          Analysis Prepared by:                                             
          Ryan Ojakian / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096  FN: 0002960