Bill Text: CA AB2849 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Sierra Nevada Conservancy: watershed improvement: tribal organization.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-18 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 499, Statutes of 2018. [AB2849 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB2849-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 19, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2849

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Introduced by Assembly Member Mark Stone

February 16, 2018

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An act to amend Section 9001 of add Section 33345.1 to the Public Resources Code, relating to resource conservation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2849, as amended, Mark Stone. Resource conservation districts. Sierra Nevada Conservancy: watershed improvement.

Existing law, the Laird-Leslie Sierra Nevada Conservancy Act, establishes the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to undertake various activities related to protection and conservation of the Sierra Nevada Region, as defined, and prescribes the management, powers, and duties of the conservancy.

This bill would establish the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program, to be administered by the conservancy, to restore the health and resilience of the watersheds and communities of the region, as prescribed.

Existing law authorizes the formation of resource conservation districts for the control of runoff, the prevention or control of soil erosion, the development and distribution of water, and the improvement of land capabilities. Existing law authorizes a resource conservation district to, among other things, facilitate coordinated resource management efforts for watershed restoration and enhancement, but prohibits a district from conserving water for power purposes and from producing or distributing power for its own use or for the use of others.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the latter provision.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 33345.1 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

33345.1.

 (a) The Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program is hereby established, to be administered by the conservancy, to restore the health and resilience of the watersheds and communities of the region. In implementing this program, the conservancy shall coordinate and collaborate with other state agencies, federal agencies, and local entities and stakeholders.

(b) The conservancy shall take all of the following actions to increase the pace and scale of scientifically based restoration activities:

(1) Increase investment in watershed restoration in all parts of the region.

(2) Address constraints affecting policy and processes that increase the cost and complexity of the restoration process.

(3) Support development of additional infrastructure to utilize material removed as part of restoration.

(c) In implementing the program, the conservancy may focus on a specific geographical area, which may be known and identified as the Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative Area, to test new ways of accomplishing the program objectives and goals described in subdivision (b). Notwithstanding Section 33341, the conservancy may test new funding, policy, planning, and implementation approaches within the area covered by the initiative with the intent of broadening the scope of the initiative to apply to the entire program area.

SECTION 1.Section 9001 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

9001.

(a)The Legislature hereby declares that resource conservation is of fundamental importance to the prosperity and welfare of the people of this state. The Legislature believes that the state must assume leadership in formulating and putting into effect a statewide program of soil and water conservation and related natural resource conservation and hereby declares that this division is enacted to accomplish the following purposes:

(1)To provide the means by which the state may cooperate with the United States and with resource conservation districts organized pursuant to this division in securing the adoption in this state of conservation practices, including, but not limited to, farm, range, open space, urban development, wildlife, recreation, watershed, water quality, and woodland, best adapted to save the basic resources, soil, water, and air of the state from unreasonable and economically preventable waste and destruction.

(2)To provide for the organization and operation of resource conservation districts for the purposes of soil and water conservation, the control of runoff, the prevention and control of soil erosion, and erosion stabilization, including, but not limited to, these purposes in open areas, agricultural areas, urban development, wildlife areas, recreational developments, watershed management, the protection of water quality and water reclamation, the development of storage and distribution of water, and the treatment of each acre of land according to its needs.

(b)A district, in addition to any other authority provided by law, may do all of the following:

(1)Ensure consistency with the authorities and policies of the United States, this state, counties, cities, public districts, other resource conservation districts, persons, associations, and corporations.

(2)With the consent of the owner, construct on privately or publicly owned lands any necessary works for the prevention and control of soil erosion and erosion stabilization.

(3)Facilitate coordinated resource management efforts for watershed restoration and enhancement.

(c)A district shall not conserve water for power purposes or produce or distribute power for its own use or for the use of others.