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
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|Author: |Lara | | |
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|Version: |April 5, 2016 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Katharine Moore |
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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 -
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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,
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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.
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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
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