BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 834|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 834
Author: Wolk (D), et al.
Amended: 5/4/11
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.
Senate Floor Amendments of 5/4/11 delete two findings that
suggest that water diversions from the Delta are a
significant stressor to the Delta, and make another minor
clarification.
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
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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.
This bill 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.
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 5/4/11)
Planning and Conservation League
Sierra Club California
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
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
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receiving water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to
demonstrate how their Integrated Regional Water Management
Plans reduce reliance on the Delta."
CTW:mw 5/5/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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