BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2478
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2478 (Stone)
As Amended March 28, 2014
Majority vote
WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 11-0
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|Ayes:|Rendon, Bigelow, Dahle, | | |
| |Beth Gaines, Gatto, | | |
| |Gomez, Gonzalez, Gray, | | |
| |Patterson, Rodriguez, | | |
| |Yamada | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Allows state funding, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, to be used within the flood control project boundaries
of the San Lorenzo River for environmental studies, engineering
plans, and construction activities to mitigate the impacts of summer
low-flow water conditions at the river mouth.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Provides federal authority and funding for a flood control project
on the San Lorenzo River as described in the report of the Chief
of Engineers, dated June 30, 1994, and sets out estimated federal
costs and non-federal costs.
2)Provides state authority and funding for a flood control project
on the San Lorenzo River if it is adopted and authorized
substantially in accordance with the congressional approval of
that project at an estimated cost to the state of the sum that may
be appropriated for state cooperation by statute, upon the
recommendation and advice of the Department of Water Resources.
FISCAL EFFECT : None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : This bill seeks to provide explicit authority for funding
studies, engineering plans, and construction activities to address
the adverse water conditions that occur in the summer when the mouth
of the San Lorenzo River closes.
AB 2478
Page 2
When the San Lorenzo River is in a low summer flow condition a
sandbar or "shoal" builds up and blocks the water, which can then
migrate along the beach until it moves under the pilings of an older
portion of the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and floods the
lower ride support areas. In addition, when additional water
inundates the beach area it can make providing lifeguard coverage
challenging.
According to the author, the current City Flood Control Subventions
Authorization does not permit the initial environmental work that is
needed. This bill will allow initial environmental studies to
identify the most cost effective and environmentally sound flood
control solution to help the City of Santa Cruz deal with its
longstanding problem of summer shoaling at the mouth of the San
Lorenzo River.
There are no arguments on file in opposition to this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Tina Cannon Leahy / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096 FN: 0003248