Water Legislation
The California State legislature has reconvened for the 2010 session. Listed here are some of the more significant bills dealing with water during current legislative session.
WATER BILLS IN THE SENATE:
Senate Bill No. 918 (SB 918) (Senator Fran Pavley) re: Water Recycling
SB 918 requires the State Department of Public Health to develop and adopt uniform recycling criteria for indirect potable water reuse, and investigate the feasibility of developing uniform water recycling criteria for direct potable reuse.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply.
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0901-0950/sb_918_bill_20100317_amended_sen_v98.html
Senate Bill No. 1173 (SB 1173) (Senator Lois Wolk) re: Recycled Water
SB 1173 declares that the use of non-recycled water for nonpotable municipal or industrial uses is a waste or unreasonable use of water if recycled water is available. Prohibits a person or public agency from using non-recycled water that is suitable for nonpotable municipal or industrial uses if suitable recycled water is available.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_1151-1200/sb_1173_bill_20100218_introduced.html
Senate Bill No. 1234 (SB 1234) (Senator Christine Kehoe) re: Unreasonable Use of Water
SB 1234 requires the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt regulations to identify unreasonable uses of water during various periods of water shortage and set forth related legislative findings and declarations.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_1201-1250/sb_1234_bill_20100219_introduced.html
WATER BILLS IN THE ASSEMBLY:
Assembly Bill No. 1594 (AB 1594) (Assemblywoman Alyson Huber) re: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; Peripheral Canal
AB 1584 prohibits the construction of a peripheral canal that conveys water from a diversion point in the Sacramento River to a location south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, unless expressly authorized by the Legislature. The legislation also requires the Analyst's office to complete an economic feasibility analysis prior to the enactment of a statute authorizing the construction of the peripheral canal.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1551-1600/ab_1594_bill_20100104_introduced.html
Assembly Bill No. 1704 (AB 1704) (Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries) re: Environment: CEQA: Exemption
AB 1704 exempts a project under the California Environmental Quality Act for the installation of a pipeline for the distribution of recycled water within an improved public street, highway or right-of-way.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1701-1750/ab_1704_bill_20100201_introduced.html
Assembly Bill No. 1774 (AB 1774) (Assemblywoman Lori Saldana) re: Recycled Water: State Agency Landscape Irrigation
AB 1774 states that the use of potable domestic water for the irrigation of landscaping generally is a waste of an unreasonable use of water if recycled water is available for such use. The legislation authorizes a public agency, including local public agencies to require the use of recycled water for irrigation landscaping by a state agency if certain requirements are met.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1751-1800/ab_1774_bill_20100316_amended_asm_v98.html
Assembly Bill No. 1975 (AB 1975) (Assemblyman Paul Fong) re: Water Charges and Meters: Multiunit Residential
AB 1975 requires that every water purveyor who provides water service to a person residing in a multi-unit residential structure require the installation of meters or sub meters on each individual rental unit as a condition of new water service to that property. This legislation authorizes the owner or operator to charge tenants based on the actual volume of water delivered as measured by the water meter.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1951-2000/ab_1975_bill_20100217_introduced.html
Assembly Bill No. 2092 (AB 2092) (Assemblyman Jared Huffman) re: Delta Stewardship Council: Planning and Administration
AB 2092 requires the Delta Stewardship Council to adopt a fee on water supply contractors of the State Water Project and the Federal Central Valley Project to fund a portion of the administrative costs of the council. The legislation provides that the fee would be based on a reasonable estimate of the benefits received by the contractors of the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project from the council's planning and administrative activities.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2051-2100/ab_2092_bill_20100218_introduced.html
Assembly Bill No. 2049 (AB 2049) (Assemblyman Brian Nestande) re: Water Conservation in Landscaping
AB 2049 requires any model ordinance and any ordinance adopted pursuant to the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act to exclude from the definition of the term water feature, swimming pools and spas.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2401-2450/ab_2409_bill_20100219_introduced.html
Assembly Bill No. 2579 (AB 2579) (Assemblywoman Noreen Evans) re: Master Plan for Infrastructure Financing
AB 2579 creates the Master Plan for Infrastructure Financing and Development Commission to develop a plan for building and maintaining the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of residents from the present to the year 2050, the availability of private and public funds and the future revenues for infrastructure including water, transportation and schools.
Specifically, this bill:
- Creates the Delta Stewardship Council, consisting of seven members with diverse expertise providing a broad statewide perspective. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
- Ensures that the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board identify the water supply needs of the Delta estuary for use in determining the appropriate water diversion amounts associated with BDCP
- Establishes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy to implement ecosystem restoration activities within the Delta
- Restructures the current Delta Protection Commission (DPC), reducing the membership from 23 to 15 members, and outlines the duties of the DPC
- Appropriates funding from Proposition 84 to fund the Two-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Program, a project in the central Delta which will utilize operable gates for protection of sensitive species and management of water supply
On-line at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2551-2600/ab_2579_bill_20100219_introduced.html
THE SAFE, CLEAN AND RELIABLE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY ACT OF 2010
The Act calls for an $11.14 billion general obligation bond measure to be placed on the November 2010 ballot.
Comprehensive information regarding the Act HERE
Water Quality & 
