BILL ANALYSIS �
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Fran Pavley, Chair |
| 2013-2014 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: SB 1120 HEARING DATE: April 22, 2014
AUTHOR: Galgiani URGENCY: No
VERSION: February 19, 2014 CONSULTANT: Dennis O'Connor
DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: Local Water Supply Programs Or Projects: Funding.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
1.Current law establishes as the policy of the state that The
California Water Plan, as amended, is accepted as the master
plan which guides the orderly and coordinated development,
management, and efficient utilization of the water resources
of the state. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is
required to update the California Water Plan every 5 years.
As part of updating the California Water Plan, DWR is required
to conduct a study to determine the amount of water needed to
meet the state's future needs and to recommend programs,
policies, and facilities to meet those needs.
2.Each year, DWR is required to prepare and submit to the
chairpersons of the fiscal committees of the Legislature a
report with regard to the budget for the State Water Resources
Development System. The State Water Resources Development
System is more commonly known as the State Water Project.
3.On March 4, 2014, the California Water Commission
(Commission), Delta Stewardship Council (Council), DWR, and
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) announced a
survey "to collect updated information from local agencies
regarding potential water projects and programs that can add
new or expand existing surface or groundwater storage
capacity, improve water supply reliability and improve
operational efficiency."
The purpose of the survey is "to identify and compile a
comprehensive inventory of projects that includes existing
CALFED surface storage projects such as Sites Reservoir,
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Temperance Flat and the enlargement of Shasta Reservoir, in
addition to other local and regional projects that can
significantly improve storage capacity, flood protection,
water supply reliability, hydroelectric generation, ecosystem
health, water quality and recreation. Local public water
agencies have a wealth of knowledge and information about
near- and long-term opportunities that potentially could
provide local and/or statewide benefits."
The information collected through this survey is intended be
used "to help ongoing planning efforts, support integrated
water planning, inform actions by the State of California that
respond to current and future needs, and support the Brown
Administration's California Water Action Plan."
The survey has been concluded and ACWA will be presenting the
results of the survey to the Council on April 28, 2014.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would require DWR to conduct a statewide inventory of
local regional water supply projects and post the results of the
inventory on DWR's internet web site by July 1, 2015.
The inventory information would be required to include:
The projected date for a project to complete the permit
process and subsequently commence operations.
The cost of the project.
The projected additional acre feet of water realized on an
annual basis.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author, "It would be in the State's best
interest to know what regional water supply projects are
currently under development in order to capitalize on any
opportunities to bring additional supply faster and cheaper.
Currently, the Department of water Resources is required to
prepare and submit a report to the legislature with regard to
the budget for the State Water Resources Development system,
which includes an itemization of all contracts related to the
Bay-Delta Conservation Plan. However, it would be prudent to
know what regional water project choices currently exist."
"Senate Bill 1120 would require the Department of Water
Resources to conduct a statewide inventory of existing local
water supply projects and to post the results of the inventory
on their Web site by July 1, 2015. The inventory information
will include: the project date for the project to complete the
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permit process; the project's costs; and the projected
additional acre feet of water realized on and annual basis. It
is in the state's best interest to exactly know what regional
water supply projects are currently under development in order
to capitalize on any opportunities to bring additional supply
faster and cheaper."
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: None Received
COMMENTS
Is This Bill Necessary? Given that the Commission, Council,
DWR, and ACWA have already cooperatively executed such a survey
and are presenting the information in public, it is not clear
what added value this bill would provide.
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS: None
SUPPORT: None Received
OPPOSITION: None Received
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