BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2594
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
2594 (Gordon)
As Amended March 17, 2016
Majority vote
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|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 | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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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