BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 834
Author: Wolk (D), et al.
Amended: 4/13/11
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE : 5-3, 4/12/11
AYES: Pavley, Evans, Kehoe, Padilla, Wolk
NOES: La Malfa, Cannella, Fuller
NO VOTE RECORDED: Simitian
SUBJECT : Integrated regional water management plans
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires an integrated regional water
management planning (IRWMP) for any region that receives
water from the Delta watershed, to demonstrate how the
IRWMP complies with the new state policy to reduce
dependence upon the Delta.
ANALYSIS : Under the Integrated Regional Water Management
Planning Act of 2002, a regional water management group is
authorized, but not required, to prepare and adopt an
IRWMP. The Act defined a "regional water management group"
as three or more local agencies, at least two of which have
statutory authority over water supply or water management,
plus those other persons who may be necessary to develop
and implement an IRWMP. Much, but not all, of the state is
covered by one or more IRWMPs.
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This bill:
1. Requires an IRWMP for any region that receives water
from the Delta watershed, to demonstrate how the IRWMP
complies with the new state
policy to reduce dependence upon the Delta.
2. Makes findings and declarations stating, among other
things, that demand for Delta water and Delta diversions
are a significant stressor to the Delta and a
significant contributor to the current crisis in the
Delta.
Background
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009 (Delta
Act), among other things, added Water Code Section 85021.
That section established that "�t]he policy of the State of
California is to reduce reliance on the Delta in meeting
California's future water supply needs through a statewide
strategy of investing in improved regional supplies,
conservation, and water use efficiency. Each region that
depends on water from the Delta watershed shall improve its
regional self-reliance for water through investment in
water use efficiency, water recycling, advanced water
technologies, local and regional water supply projects, and
improved regional coordination of local and regional water
supply efforts."
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/13/11)
Planning and Conservation League
Sierra Club California
OPPOSITION : (Verified 4/13/11)
Association of California Water Agencies
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the Sierra Club,
"California Water Code section 85021 ? sets forth that the
policy of the state is to reduce reliance on the
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Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in meeting the state's future
water supply needs ? However, current law does not
specifically require any actions to be taken to support
this policy. Also, there is no mechanism requiring any
region to report on their progress made towards meeting
this goal of reducing reliance on Delta water supplies. SB
834 would remedy this deficiency by requiring regions
receiving water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to
demonstrate how their Integrated Regional Water Management
Plans reduce reliance on the Delta."
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : The Association of California
Water Agencies writes: "the bill would focus on the
reduced reliance policy I California Water Code Section
85021, one of many provision�s] of the Delta water package
of 2009 and would ignore the fundamental elements of that
package - the co-equal goals of ecosystem restoration and
water supply reliability. At this stage, a focus on how
regions are working to address the co-equal goals would be
more appropriate."
CTW:mw 4/13/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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