BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 758
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Date of Hearing: August 19, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
SB 758
(Block) - As Amended August 17, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill establishes the Atmospheric Rivers Research,
Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting program at the Department of
Water Resources (DWR). Specifically, contingent upon special or
private funding, this bill requires DWR to:
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1) Conduct research relating to climate forecasting and the
causes and impacts of climate change has on atmospheric
rivers.
2) Take all actions within its existing authority to
operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood
protection.
3) Re-operate flood control and water storage facilities to
capture water generated by atmospheric rivers to increase
water supply and reliability and hydropower availability.
FISCAL EFFECT:
This bill creates the following special fund or private fund
cost pressures:
1) Approximately $3.5 million for additional sensors to
help monitor the formation of the Sierra Barrier Jet and
the dynamics of moisture flow up the Central Valley and
into the Burney Gap (includes operation and maintenance
costs of $500,000 per year).
2) Approximately $750,000 per year to continue operations
of the expanded extreme precipitation network.
3) Approximately $500,000 to improve predictability of the
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formation and strength of atmospheric rivers.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, California has the most
variable annual precipitation of any state ranging from severe
drought to major floods. This bill requires critical research
to ensure California accurately forecasts climate change
impacts to provide information to impact water management
decisions.
2)Background. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), atmospheric rivers are relatively
narrow regions in the atmosphere that are responsible for most
of the horizontal transport of water vapor outside of the
tropics. On the west coast, 30-50% of the annual precipitation
on average comes from a few atmospheric river events.
Under existing law, DWR is responsible for managing the
state's water resources. Within DWR is the Hydrology and Flood
Operations Office that is responsible for directing DWR's
flood and water supply forecasting operations, hydrology and
climatology studies, emergency flood operations, and flood
control project inspections and encroachment permitting. DWR
Research investments in atmospheric rivers over the last
decade include:
$11.5 million in the extreme precipitation monitoring
network.
$3 million in projects with the Center for Western
Weather and Water Extremes for decision support tools.
$4 million over five years with NOAA's Earth Systems
Research laboratory for work on a maintenance plan for the
extreme precipitation network.
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Three-year study to evaluate the current flood
systems/flows/capabilities based on an atmospheric river
storm.
DWR indicates, with sufficient funding, the Hydrology and
Flood Operations Office could accomplish the requirements of
this bill through existing programs.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081