California Senate Bill SB834 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 834AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Senator Wolk (Coauthor: Senator Hancock) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bonilla, Buchanan, and Galgiani) FEBRUARY 18, 2011 An act to amend Section 10540 of the Water Code, relating to water. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 834, as amended, Wolk. Integrated regional water management plans: contents. The Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Act of 2002 authorizes a regional water management group, as defined, to prepare and adopt an integrated regional water management plan. The act requires an integrated regional water management plan to address specified water quality and water supply matters. This bill would additionally require an integrated regional water management plan to demonstrate the manner in which the plan complies with a specified state policy concerning reducing reliance on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for water supply and improving regional self-reliance for water, if the region covered by the plan receives water  supply that originates in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, as defined   from the Delta watershed  . Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a critically important natural resource for California and the nation. (b) The demand for water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to supply other regions of the state is a significant stressor to the Delta. (c) State and federal scientists have identified water diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a significant contributor to the current crisis in the Delta. (d) In 2009, the Legislature adopted Section 85021 of the Water Code to reduce reliance on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in meeting California's future water supply needs through a statewide strategy of investing in improved regional water supplies, conservation, and water use efficiency. (e) Integrated regional water management plans supported by state funds provide a mechanism for implementing Section 85021 of the Water Code. SEC. 2. Section 10540 of the Water Code is amended to read: 10540. (a) A regional water management group may prepare and adopt an integrated regional water management plan in accordance with this part. (b) A regional water management group may coordinate its planning activities to address or incorporate all or part of any of the following actions of its members into its plan: (1) Groundwater management planning pursuant to Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750) or other specific groundwater management authority. (2) Urban water management planning pursuant to Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610). (3) The preparation of a water supply assessment required pursuant to Part 2.10 (commencing with Section 10910). (4) Agricultural water management planning pursuant to Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 10800). (5) City and county general planning pursuant to Section 65350 of the Government Code. (6) Stormwater resource planning that is undertaken pursuant to Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 10560). (7) Other water resource management planning, including flood protection, watershed management planning, and multipurpose program planning. (c) At a minimum, all plans shall address all of the following: (1) Protection and improvement of water supply reliability, including identification of feasible agricultural and urban water use efficiency strategies. (2) Identification and consideration of the drinking water quality of communities within the area of the plan. (3) Protection and improvement of water quality within the area of the plan, consistent with the relevant basin plan. (4) Identification of any significant threats to groundwater resources from overdrafting. (5) Protection, restoration, and improvement of stewardship of aquatic, riparian, and watershed resources within the region. (6) Protection of groundwater resources from contamination. (7) Identification and consideration of the water-related needs of disadvantaged communities in the area within the boundaries of the plan. (d) If the region covered by a plan receives water  supply originating in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, as defined in Section 12220   from the Delta watershed, as defined in Section 85060  , the plan shall demonstrate the manner in which it complies with Section 85021. (e) This section does not obligate a local agency to fund the implementation of any project or program.