BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1390
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Date of Hearing: June 23, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Wesley Chesbro, Chair
SB 1390 (Correa) - As Amended: June 12, 2014
SUBJECT : Santa Ana River Conservancy Program
SUMMARY : Creates the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program
(SARCP) to be administered by the State Coastal Conservancy
(SCC) to address the resources and recreational goals of the
Santa Ana River region, as specified.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the SCC (within the Natural Resources Agency
(NRA)) for the purpose of implementing a program of
agricultural protection, area restoration, and resource
enhancement in the coastal zone within the policies and
guidelines established in the California Coastal Act.
2)Requires SCC to consist of seven members: the chairperson of
the Coastal Commission; the Secretary of NRA; the Director of
Finance (Finance); four members of the public, of which two
shall be appointed by the Governor, one by the Senate, and one
by the Assembly. Requires three appointed state
legislators-three from the senate and three from the
assembly-to meet with the SCC and participate in its
activities to the extent that such participation is not
incompatible with their respective positions as legislators.
3)Establishes the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program
(SFBACP) to be administered by the SCC to undertake and award
grants to public access and environmental projects in the nine
counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
4)Establishes nine other state conservancies that are
independent of the SCC: Baldwin Hills Conservancy; California
Tahoe Conservancy; Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy;
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy; San Diego River
Conservancy; San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers &
Mountains Conservancy; San Joaquin River Conservancy; Santa
Monica Mountains Conservancy; Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
THIS BILL :
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1)Creates the SARCP to be administered by the SCC to address the
resources and recreational goals of the Santa Ana River
region.
2)Defines the "Santa Ana River region" as those lands that are
located within one-half mile on either side of the Santa Ana
River, or any tributaries, from its headwaters near the San
Gorgonio Wilderness Area to the Pacific Ocean at the Santa Ana
River Mouth Beach in Huntington Beach and adjacent watersheds
and lands.
3)Authorizes the SCC to undertake projects and award grants and
loans to public agencies and nonprofit organizations to help
achieve all of the following goals of the SARCP:
a) Recreational opportunities, open space, trails, wildlife
habitat and species restoration, enhancement, and
protection, wetland restoration and protection,
agricultural land restoration and protection, protection
and maintenance of the quality of the waters in the Santa
Ana River for all beneficial uses, related educational use,
and natural floodwater conveyance.
b) Public access and enjoyment, and enhancement of
recreational and educational experience on SARCP lands in a
manner consistent with the protection of land and natural
resources, and economic resources in the area.
4)In administering the SARCP, requires the SCC to do all of the
following:
a) Create an advisory group to offer advice, expertise,
support, or service to the SCC, without compensation.
b) Prepare a Santa Ana River Parkway and Open Space Plan
that shall, at minimum, do all of the following:
i) Determine the policies and priorities for conserving
the Santa Ana River and its watershed.
ii) Identify underused, existing public open spaces and
recommend ways to provide better public use and enjoyment
in those areas.
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iii) Identify and prioritize additional low-impact
recreational and open-space needs, including additional
or upgraded facilities and parks that may be necessary or
desirable.
iv) Give priority to river-related projects that create
expanded opportunities for recreation, greening,
aesthetic improvement, and wildlife habitat along the
corridor of the river and in parts of the river channel
that can be improved without infringing on water quality,
water supply, and necessary flood control.
v) Implement the SARCP in conformance with all related
general and specific plans and zoning regulations of
local agencies within the Santa Ana River region.
c) Provide for SARCP lands and facilities to be operated
and maintained in accordance this bill.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee:
1)One-time costs of up to $100,000 from the Proposition 84
(General Fund) to the SCC to develop a Santa Ana River Parkway
and Open Space Plan.
2)Ongoing cost pressures in the millions of dollars to existing
and future bond and General Fund monies for projects under the
SARCP.
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of the bill . According to the author:
The Santa Ana River is an extraordinary natural
resource of statewide significance. Unfortunately,
many communities in the Santa Ana River Watershed have
poor access to park space and the river faces a number
of water management issues. The watershed has been
subject to intense development and is in need of
restoration, conservation, and enhancement.
SB 1390 would establish the Santa Ana River
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Conservancy Program within the State Coastal
Conservancy, which will help develop open space and
recreational opportunities; restore and preserve
wildlife habitat and natural resources; and enhance
conservation efforts.
2)The Santa Ana River . One of the largest river systems in
Southern California, the Santa Ana River has largely been
channelized, diverted, and urbanized to the point that most of
it is unrecognizable as a river. However, the upper
headwaters of the river in the San Bernardino Mountains still
retain a free flowing character and outstanding natural
values.
The headwaters of the Santa Ana River begin just north of the
San Gorgonio Wilderness on the San Benardino National Forest.
The Santa Ana flows westerly through more than 20 miles of
public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Once beyond
the mountains and the National Forest boundary, the river
flows first between levees and then through concrete channels
on its nearly 100 mile trek through the Southern California
urban landscape to the Pacific Ocean.
As stated in this bill, the Santa Ana River is an
extraordinary natural resource of statewide significance. The
river has been subject to intense development and is in need
of restoration, conservation, and enhancement.
3)Background on Conservancies . California has created several
state conservancies ranging from the very large (SCC, Sierra
Nevada, and Santa Monica Mountains) to smaller conservancies
such as the Baldwin Hills Conservancy and the San Diego River
Conservancy. The other conservancies include the Coachella
Valley Mountains Conservancy, Tahoe Conservancy, Sacramento
San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, San Gabriel and Lower Los
Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, and the San Joaquin
River Conservancy (which deals with 22 miles of that river).
These conservancies have different missions, but common themes
are to enhance and restore important habitat lands, provide
for public recreation, educational opportunities, and
undertake watershed restoration activities. Conservancies
frequently enter into voluntary real estate transactions with
landowners, and leverage their investments with other public
agencies on lands either owned outright by the conservancy or
on which easements are purchased.
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Except as noted below, all conservancies have a board of
directors, usually with representatives of specifically
designated interests of the State of California. Typically,
these slots are for NRA, Finance, or another state agency. In
addition, for most conservancies, the governor names public
voting members who, together with the designated officials,
comprise a majority. It has long been the policy of the state
to have a voting majority of each conservancy board comprised
of statewide appointees. A minority of each board is typically
comprised of local elected officials, special district
representatives, nonprofit organizations, and legislative
representatives appointed by the Assembly Speaker and Senate
Rules Committee. There are often additional legislative ex
officio members.
All but one conservancy has its own board of directors and
staff. That exception is the SFBACP, which is housed within
the SCC. Similar to the SFBACP, this bill creates the SARCP,
which is to be housed within the SCC. As stated in the bill,
the goal of the SARCP is to provide the state with the
necessary structure to plan and implement restoration and
preservation projects and recreation opportunities, and
enhance the overall condition of the Santa Ana River.
4)Suggested Amendments . The author and the committee may wish
to consider minor, cleanup amendments that address the
concerns and comments of various water districts and agencies
that have an interest in the bill. Committee staff will
provide these proposed amendments at the committee hearing.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Amigos de Bolsa Chica
Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway Partnership
Tri-County Conservation League, Inc.
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Mario DeBernardo / NAT. RES. / (916)
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319-2092