BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER Senator Fran Pavley, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Bill No: SB 1374 Hearing Date: April 12, 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Author: |Lara | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Version: |April 5, 2016 | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Consultant:|Katharine Moore | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy: stormwater capture projects BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW 1)Existing law provides for the protection, enhancement, and restoration of rivers in this state. 2)The San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) was created by the Legislature in 1999 (SB 216, Solis, c. 89 and AB 1355, Havice, c. 90, Statutes of 1999)(Public Resources Code §§32600 et seq.). The RMC's mission is, among other things, to preserve open space and habitat in order to provide for low-impact recreation and educational uses, wildlife habitat restoration and protection, and watershed improvements within its jurisdiction. It is one of ten conservancies located in the Natural Resources Agency. The RMC's territory includes the San Gabriel River and lower Los Angeles River watersheds. The lower Los Angeles River is that portion of the river downstream of the border between the Cities of Los Angeles and Vernon. 3)Existing law imposes certain limitations on the RMC with respect to actions that affect water or water management in the watersheds under its jurisdiction. 4)In the early 1990s, community activism over turning a railyard adjacent to the Los Angeles River into open space coincided with Los Angeles County beginning a process that - after considerable input from stakeholders and community outreach - SB 1374 (Lara) Page 2 of ? resulted in the County's Los Angeles River Master Plan (Master Plan) in 1996. The Master Plan described how economic growth could be spurred along the Los Angeles River in the County through zoning changes and the development of open space, recreational, cultural, artistic, educational and other opportunities. Ultimately over several decades, the Master Plan proposed that the Los Angeles River be returned to a less-polluted, functioning riparian environment in as many reaches as possible, while still controlling flooding and providing recreational opportunities. 5)The City of Los Angeles' Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan (Revitalization Master Plan) was released in 2007. Continuing the long-term goals of the County Master Plan for the reach of the Los Angeles River within the City's boundaries, the Revitalization Master Plan also promoted the revitalization of the Los Angeles River as a multi-benefit solution to addressing and enhancing water quality and flood control while enabling safe access to the river and restoring a functional river ecosystem. 6)Both plans contain a list of projects to be completed. Numerous Los Angeles River restoration projects have been undertaken since the release of the Master Plan and Revitalization Master Plan. These projects include the creation of habitat and pocket parks, among others. Many of these projects provide multi-benefit solutions such as providing for groundwater recharge from floodwaters. PROPOSED LAW This bill would require the RMC to identify projects, consistent with the Master Plan and existing requirements, that would maximize the capture of stormwater along the Lower Los Angeles River. ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT According to the author, "[w]hile the Lower Los Angeles River serves an important purpose as a flood protection and control channel, it also presents a unique opportunity for open space, urban greening, and as a water resource for the region. With numerous recent developments, including the creation of a Lower Los Angeles River Working Group to develop a revitalization plan, the City's Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, and multiple conversations about a new vision for the river, SB 1374 (Lara) Page 3 of ? there is a growing local interest in rejuvenation of the river." "The recently approved Proposition 1 included $200 million for multi-benefit stormwater management projects, including projects to promote green infrastructure. These projects can reduce the discharge of pollutants into storm drains and waterways, while also recharging groundwater aquifers, and providing outdoor recreational space." "The intent of this bill is to promote opportunities for stormwater projects on the Lower Los Angeles River by directing the [RMC] to identify projects that would maximize the capture of stormwater along the river." ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION None received COMMENTS Work-in-progress . Should the bill pass this Committee, the author may wish to consider: the best way to integrate the direction to the RMC with existing and/or planned activities underway to develop multi-benefit projects in the watershed, a role for public input in the identification of projects, appropriate timeliness of the identification, the potential for stormwater capture projects throughout all watersheds under the RMC's jurisdiction, and outreach and education following identification, among others. The Committee may re-hear the bill should there be later substantive changes to the content of the bill. Recent related legislation AB 530 (Rendon, c. 684, Statutes of 2015) established the Lower Los Angeles River Working Group to develop revitalization plans, as specified. SB 355 (Lara, c. 677, Statutes of 2015) modified the composition of the conservancy's board. SB 1374 (Lara) Page 4 of ? SB 485 (Hernandez, c. 678, Statutes of 2015) authorized the Los Angeles County Sanitation District to divert, manage, treat and discharge stormwater and dry weather runoff and make beneficial use of the water, as specified. SB 985 (Pavley, c. 555, Statutes of 2014) authorized the development of a stormwater resource plan to identify and prioritize stormwater and dry weather runoff capture projects for implementation, as specified, among other provisions. SUPPORT None Received OPPOSITION None Received -- END --