BILL NUMBER: SB 834	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wolk
   (Coauthor: Senator Hancock)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bonilla, Buchanan, and Galgiani)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to amend Section 10540 of the Water Code, relating to
water.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 834, as introduced, Wolk. Integrated regional water management
plans: contents.
   The Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Act of 2002
authorizes a regional water management group, as defined, to prepare
and adopt an integrated regional water management plan. The act
requires an integrated regional water management plan to address
specified water quality and water supply matters.
   This bill would additionally require an integrated regional water
management plan to demonstrate the manner in which the plan complies
with a specified state policy concerning reducing reliance on the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for water supply and improving regional
self-reliance for water, if the region covered by the plan receives
water supply that originates in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, as
defined.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a critically important
natural resource for California and the nation.
   (b) The demand for water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to
supply other regions of the state is a significant stressor to the
Delta.
   (c) State and federal scientists have identified water diversions
from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a significant contributor to
the current crisis in the Delta.
   (d) In 2009, the Legislature adopted Section 85021 of the Water
Code to reduce reliance on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in
meeting California's future water supply needs through a statewide
strategy of investing in improved regional water supplies,
conservation, and water use efficiency.
   (e) Integrated regional water management plans supported by state
funds provide a mechanism for implementing Section 85021 of the Water
Code.
  SEC. 2.  Section 10540 of the Water Code is amended to read:
   10540.  (a) A regional water management group may prepare and
adopt an integrated regional water management plan in accordance with
this part.
   (b) A regional water management group may coordinate its planning
activities to address or incorporate all or part of any of the
following actions of its members into its plan:
   (1) Groundwater management planning pursuant to Part 2.75
(commencing with Section 10750) or other specific groundwater
management authority.
   (2) Urban water management planning pursuant to Part 2.6
(commencing with Section 10610).
   (3) The preparation of a water supply assessment required pursuant
to Part 2.10 (commencing with Section 10910).
   (4) Agricultural water management planning pursuant to Part 2.8
(commencing with Section 10800).
   (5) City and county general planning pursuant to Section 65350 of
the Government Code.
   (6) Stormwater resource planning that is undertaken pursuant to
Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 10560).
   (7) Other water resource management planning, including flood
protection, watershed management planning, and multipurpose program
planning.
   (c) At a minimum, all plans shall address all of the following:
   (1) Protection and improvement of water supply reliability,
including identification of feasible agricultural and urban water use
efficiency strategies.
   (2) Identification and consideration of the drinking water quality
of communities within the area of the plan.
   (3) Protection and improvement of water quality within the area of
the plan, consistent with the relevant basin plan.
   (4) Identification of any significant threats to groundwater
resources from overdrafting.
   (5) Protection, restoration, and improvement of stewardship of
aquatic, riparian, and watershed resources within the region.
   (6) Protection of groundwater resources from contamination.
   (7) Identification and consideration of the water-related needs of
disadvantaged communities in the area within the boundaries of the
plan. 
   (d) If the region covered by a plan receives water supply
originating in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, as defined in
Section 12220, the plan shall demonstrate the manner in which it
complies with Section 85021.  
   (d) 
    (e)  This section does not obligate a local agency to
fund the implementation of any project or program.