BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1578
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 9, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                    AB 1578 (Logue) - As Amended:  April 17, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                              Local 
          GovernmentVote:9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill establishes the Indian Valley Watermaster, in Plumas 
          County, to resolve water rights disputes for which the court has 
          appointed the district as the watermaster. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor state costs, if any.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   The author contends transfer of watermaster 
            responsibilities from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) 
            to a local watermaster district will make watermaster services 
            more cost effective.  The author notes that, in 2011, the 
            Legislature eliminated General Fund support for DWR's 
            watermaster program and that Indian Valley watermaster fees 
            are five times higher than in 2010.

           2)Background.   The main purpose of the Watermaster Program is to 
            ensure water is allocated according to established water 
            rights as determined by court adjudications or agreements, 
            thereby minimizing court litigation. It also helps prevent the 
            waste or unreasonable use of water. According to DWR, there 
            are eight Northern District field watermasters working full 
            time during the irrigation season.

           3)Related Legislation.
                
              a)   Chapter 416, Statutes of 2007  (AB 1580 (La Malfa)), 
               established a watermaster district for Siskiyou County.








                                                                  AB 1578
                                                                  Page  2


              b)   Chapter 434, Statutes of 2007 (SB 516 (Aanestad))  , 
               established the Shasta-Tehama Watermaster District. 


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081