BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 834
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 834 (Wolk)
As Amended August 25, 2011
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :24-14
WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 9-3
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|Ayes:|Huffman, Blumenfield, | | |
| |Campos, Fong, Gatto, | | |
| |Roger Hern�ndez, Hueso, | | |
| |Lara, Yamada | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Halderman, Jones, Olsen | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires that an Integrated Regional Water Management
Plan (IRWMP) that is voluntarily drafted so as to meet certain
minimum requirements in order to be eligible for state funding
must, for a region that depends on water from the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta (Delta), also include an identification of the way
the IRWMP will further the statewide policy of reducing reliance
on the Delta through investments in regional self-reliance.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Makes legislative findings restating provisions of the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009 (Delta Reform
Act), including that:
a) There are coequal goals for the Delta of increased water
supply reliability and enhanced ecosystem protection and
restoration;
b) It is the policy of the state to reduce reliance on the
Delta in meeting California's future water needs through a
statewide strategy of investing in improved regional
supplies, conservation, and water use efficiency; and,
c) No provision of the Delta Reform Act diminishes,
impairs, or otherwise affects water rights protections
provided under the law.
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2)Specifies that the minimum content of an IRWMP eligible for
state funding, for a region that depends on water from the
Delta, must also include an identification of the way the
IRWMP will further the policy of reducing reliance on the
Delta by utilizing the approaches specified in the Delta
Reform Act.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Adopts coequal goals for the Delta of providing a more
reliable water supply and protecting, restoring, and enhancing
the Delta ecosystem and that those coequal goals shall be
achieved in a way that respects the unique cultural,
recreational, natural resource and agricultural values of the
Delta.
2)States it is the policy of California 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. States that
regional self-reliance shall be improved through investments
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.
3)Requires that IRWMPs must address the following, at a minimum,
in order to be eligible for
state funding for water projects and programs that implement the
IRWMP:
a) Protection and improvement of water supply reliability,
including agricultural and urban water use efficiency;
b) Identification and consideration of drinking water
quality;
c) Protection and improvement of water quality;
d) Identification of any significant threats to
groundwater;
e) Protection, restoration, and improvement of stewardship
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of aquatic, riparian, and watershed resources;
f) Protection of groundwater resources from contamination;
and,
g) Identification and consideration of disadvantaged
communities' water needs.
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative
Counsel.
COMMENTS: 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.
However, past bond propositions, such as Proposition 50 in 2002
and Proposition 84 in 2006, have included sections that made
funding for water projects and programs contingent on
consistency with an IRWMP.
In November of 2009, the Legislature convened during the Seventh
Extraordinary Session and enacted a comprehensive package of
legislation to address pressing California water issues,
including the continuing crisis in the Delta related to
oversubscription of Delta water supplies, crashing populations
of native fish species, and the unreliability of the state's
Delta exports. SB 1 X7(Simitian) Chapter 5, Statutes of 2009-10
Seventh Extraordinary Session, included the Delta Reform Act and
was part of the five-bill package that resulted. The package
also included SB 8 X7 (Steinberg) Chapter 2, Statutes of 2009-10
Seventh Extraordinary Session, relating to water diversions and
use and budget. Among its provisions, SB 8 X7 specified that
$250 million of Proposition 84 funding for integrated regional
water management grants and expenditures was for programs and
projects to help reduce dependence on the Delta for water
supply.
As stated by the author, this bill ensures that IRWMPs that
receive state funding identify which strategic investments in
regional water supply reliability further the statewide policy
of reducing reliance on the Delta in meeting California's water
needs. Supporters point out that while Water Code Section 85021
sets forth a policy of reduced Delta reliance and improved
regional self-sufficiency, current law does not specifically
require any actions to be taken to support this policy and there
is no mechanism requiring any region to report on its progress
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towards meeting that goal.
All opposition to this bill was removed in response to the
author's most recent amendments. There is no known opposition.
Analysis Prepared by : Tina Cannon Leahy / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN:
0002244