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