BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 758 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 19, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair SB 758 (Block) - As Amended August 17, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Water, Parks and Wildlife |Vote:|12 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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: SB 758 Page 2 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 SB 758 Page 3 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. SB 758 Page 4 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