BILL ANALYSIS
SB 790
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 790 (Pavley)
As Amended September 1, 2009
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :21-12
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 5-2
APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Ayes:|Chesbro, Davis, Feuer, |Ayes:|De Leon, Ammiano, |
| |Monning, Ruskin | |Charles Calderon, Coto, |
| | | |Davis, Fuentes, Hall, |
| | | |John A. Perez, Skinner, |
| | | |Solorio, Torlakson, Hill |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Miller, Smyth |Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller, |
| | | |Nielsen, Audra Strickland |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY : Establishes grant criteria for stromwater funding
through the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood
Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006
(Proposition 84) and develops a local stormwater planning
process for grants to public agencies and non-profit
organizations for low-impact development (LID) projects for
stormwater runoff.
Specifically, this bill :
1) Authorizes grants to implement or promote LID that will
contribute to improving water quality or reducing stormwater
runoff, and to implement stormwater control and use in
planning.
2) Authorizes a regional water management group to coordinate
local government planning activities to also incorporate
stormwater management planning.
3) Enacts the Stormwater Resources Planning Act to:
a) Authorize a city, county, or special district to develop
a stormwater resources plan that meets certain requirements
SB 790
Page 2
(e.g., be developed on a watershed basin, provide for
community participation, and assist in compliance with
Total Daily Maximum Load (TMDL) implementation plans and
applicable National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permits); and,
b) Provides that a stormwater resources plan must be
designed to augment local water supply through groundwater
recharge or storage for beneficial reuse of stormwater;
prioritize source control, onsite and local infiltration,
and reuse of stormwater; reestablish natural water drainage
treatment and infiltration systems; and include
requirements for new and upgraded infrastructure and
development to meet design criteria and best management
practices to prevent stormwater pollution and increase
effective stormwater management.
4)Defines LID as those practices in new or existing projects
that reduce the flow of stormwater off the project site,
increase the on-site or groundwater retention of the
stormwater and improve the quality of stormwater runoff.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, this bill will have negligible state costs, but may
create cost pressure, potentially in the millions of dollars, to
the extent that projects authorized by this bill displace
projects that otherwise would have received funding from
Proposition 84.
COMMENTS :
1)Stormwater run-off . According to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, stormwater discharge is generated by runoff
from land and impervious areas such as paved streets, parking
lots, and building rooftops during rainfall and snow events.
Stormwater discharge often contains pollutants in quantities
that can adversely affect water quality. Most stormwater
discharges are considered point sources and require coverage
by an NPDES permit. The primary method to control stormwater
discharges is through the use of best management practices.
2)Proposition 84 - Stormwater Grants . In 2006, voters approved
Proposition 84 authorizing the issuance of bonds to fund a
variety of water quality improvement projects, including $90
million for matching grants to assist local public agencies to
SB 790
Page 3
reduce and prevent storm water contamination of rivers, lakes,
and streams.
3)Low Impact Development . According to the State Water
Resources Control Board LID is a sustainable practice that
benefits water supply and contributes to water quality
protection. Unlike traditional storm water management, which
collects and conveys storm water runoff through storm drains,
pipes, or other conveyances to a centralized storm water
facility, LID relies on site design and storm water management
to maintain the site's pre-development runoff rates and
volumes. The goal of LID is to mimic a site's predevelopment
hydrology by using design techniques that infiltrate, filter,
store, evaporate, and detain runoff close to the source of
rainfall. LID is seen in California as an alternative to
conventional storm water management.
Analysis Prepared by : Bob Fredenburg / E.S. & T.M. / (916)
319-3965
FN: 0002738