CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2078Introduced by Assembly Member FloraFebruary 14, 2022 An act to amend the heading of Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 1 of, and to repeal and add Section 347 of, the Water Code, relating to atmospheric rivers. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2078, as introduced, Flora. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program.Existing law establishes the Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program in the Department of Water Resources. Existing law requires the department, upon an appropriation for purposes of the program, to research climate forecasting and the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection, and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers.This bill would rename that program the Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program. The bill would, upon the appropriation of $10,000,000 from the General Fund for these purposes, require the department to research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. The bill would also require the department to all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The heading of Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 1 of the Water Code is amended to read: Article 8. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO)SEC. 2. Section 347 of the Water Code is repealed.347.(a)The Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b)Upon appropriation of special fund moneys, including, but not limited to, private funds, for these purposes, the department shall conduct research relating to climate forecasting and the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, and shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state.SEC. 3. Section 347 is added to the Water Code, to read:347. (a) The Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b) (1) Upon the appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) from the General Fund for these purposes, the department shall research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration, and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. These advances underpin and potentially extend the viability of forecast-informed reservoir operations, enabling substantially greater water supply reliability and flood mitigation capacity across the state, at lead times ranging from hours to days, months, and seasons, and refines climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.(2) The department shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2078Introduced by Assembly Member FloraFebruary 14, 2022 An act to amend the heading of Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 1 of, and to repeal and add Section 347 of, the Water Code, relating to atmospheric rivers. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2078, as introduced, Flora. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program.Existing law establishes the Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program in the Department of Water Resources. Existing law requires the department, upon an appropriation for purposes of the program, to research climate forecasting and the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection, and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers.This bill would rename that program the Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program. The bill would, upon the appropriation of $10,000,000 from the General Fund for these purposes, require the department to research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. The bill would also require the department to all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2078
Introduced by Assembly Member FloraFebruary 14, 2022
Introduced by Assembly Member Flora
February 14, 2022
An act to amend the heading of Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 1 of, and to repeal and add Section 347 of, the Water Code, relating to atmospheric rivers.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2078, as introduced, Flora. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program.
Existing law establishes the Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program in the Department of Water Resources. Existing law requires the department, upon an appropriation for purposes of the program, to research climate forecasting and the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection, and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers.This bill would rename that program the Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program. The bill would, upon the appropriation of $10,000,000 from the General Fund for these purposes, require the department to research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. The bill would also require the department to all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.
Existing law establishes the Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program in the Department of Water Resources. Existing law requires the department, upon an appropriation for purposes of the program, to research climate forecasting and the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection, and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers.
This bill would rename that program the Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program. The bill would, upon the appropriation of $10,000,000 from the General Fund for these purposes, require the department to research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. The bill would also require the department to all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The heading of Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 1 of the Water Code is amended to read: Article 8. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO)SEC. 2. Section 347 of the Water Code is repealed.347.(a)The Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b)Upon appropriation of special fund moneys, including, but not limited to, private funds, for these purposes, the department shall conduct research relating to climate forecasting and the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, and shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state.SEC. 3. Section 347 is added to the Water Code, to read:347. (a) The Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b) (1) Upon the appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) from the General Fund for these purposes, the department shall research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration, and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. These advances underpin and potentially extend the viability of forecast-informed reservoir operations, enabling substantially greater water supply reliability and flood mitigation capacity across the state, at lead times ranging from hours to days, months, and seasons, and refines climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.(2) The department shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The heading of Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 1 of the Water Code is amended to read: Article 8. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO)
SECTION 1. The heading of Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 1 of the Water Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.
Article 8. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO)
Article 8. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO)
Article 8. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO)
Article 8. Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO)
SEC. 2. Section 347 of the Water Code is repealed.347.(a)The Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b)Upon appropriation of special fund moneys, including, but not limited to, private funds, for these purposes, the department shall conduct research relating to climate forecasting and the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, and shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state.
SEC. 2. Section 347 of the Water Code is repealed.
### SEC. 2.
347.(a)The Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b)Upon appropriation of special fund moneys, including, but not limited to, private funds, for these purposes, the department shall conduct research relating to climate forecasting and the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, and shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state.
(a)The Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.
(b)Upon appropriation of special fund moneys, including, but not limited to, private funds, for these purposes, the department shall conduct research relating to climate forecasting and the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, and shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state.
SEC. 3. Section 347 is added to the Water Code, to read:347. (a) The Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b) (1) Upon the appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) from the General Fund for these purposes, the department shall research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration, and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. These advances underpin and potentially extend the viability of forecast-informed reservoir operations, enabling substantially greater water supply reliability and flood mitigation capacity across the state, at lead times ranging from hours to days, months, and seasons, and refines climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.(2) The department shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.
SEC. 3. Section 347 is added to the Water Code, to read:
### SEC. 3.
347. (a) The Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b) (1) Upon the appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) from the General Fund for these purposes, the department shall research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration, and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. These advances underpin and potentially extend the viability of forecast-informed reservoir operations, enabling substantially greater water supply reliability and flood mitigation capacity across the state, at lead times ranging from hours to days, months, and seasons, and refines climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.(2) The department shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.
347. (a) The Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b) (1) Upon the appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) from the General Fund for these purposes, the department shall research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration, and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. These advances underpin and potentially extend the viability of forecast-informed reservoir operations, enabling substantially greater water supply reliability and flood mitigation capacity across the state, at lead times ranging from hours to days, months, and seasons, and refines climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.(2) The department shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.
347. (a) The Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.(b) (1) Upon the appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) from the General Fund for these purposes, the department shall research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration, and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. These advances underpin and potentially extend the viability of forecast-informed reservoir operations, enabling substantially greater water supply reliability and flood mitigation capacity across the state, at lead times ranging from hours to days, months, and seasons, and refines climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.(2) The department shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.
347. (a) The Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency (AR/FIRO) Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.
(b) (1) Upon the appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) from the General Fund for these purposes, the department shall research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems through science and technology advances, demonstration, and integration into department operations, to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. These advances underpin and potentially extend the viability of forecast-informed reservoir operations, enabling substantially greater water supply reliability and flood mitigation capacity across the state, at lead times ranging from hours to days, months, and seasons, and refines climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.
(2) The department shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply, hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state, and to consider refined climate projections of extreme weather and water events and changes in Sierra snow.