| Last Version Text |
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<ns0:MeasureDoc xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:ns0="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1#" xmlns:ns3="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1# xca.1.xsd">
<ns0:Description>
<ns0:Id>20250AB__092996AMD</ns0:Id>
<ns0:VersionNum>96</ns0:VersionNum>
<ns0:History>
<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-02-19</ns0:ActionDate>
</ns0:Action>
<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-03-24</ns0:ActionDate>
</ns0:Action>
<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-05-01</ns0:ActionDate>
</ns0:Action>
<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-06-26</ns0:ActionDate>
</ns0:Action>
</ns0:History>
<ns0:LegislativeInfo>
<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
<ns0:MeasureType>AB</ns0:MeasureType>
<ns0:MeasureNum>929</ns0:MeasureNum>
<ns0:MeasureState>AMD</ns0:MeasureState>
</ns0:LegislativeInfo>
<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Connolly</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Connolly</ns0:Name>
</ns0:Legislator>
</ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Title>An act to amend Section 10721 of, and to amend, repeal, and add Sections 10726.4, 10727.4, and 10730.2 of, the Water Code, relating to water.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>water</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Sustainable groundwater management: managed wetlands.</ns0:Subject>
</ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Existing law, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. Existing law defines various terms for purposes of the act.
</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would add various defined terms for purposes of the act, including the terms “managed wetland” and “small community water system.”</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Existing law authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin and imposes specified duties upon that agency or combination of agencies, as provided.
Existing law grants a groundwater sustainability agency specified authority and authorizes a groundwater sustainability agency to regulate groundwater extraction using that authority.
</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would prohibit a groundwater sustainability agency from using that authority regarding the establishment of groundwater extraction allocations for small community water systems serving disadvantaged communities from permitted public water supply wells and to managed wetland extractors, except as specified. The bill would repeal this provision on January 1, 2029.</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Existing law requires a groundwater sustainability plan, where appropriate and in collaboration with the appropriate local agencies, to contain certain information, including control of saline water intrusion, wellhead protection areas and recharge areas, a well abandonment and well destruction program, well construction policies, and impacts on
groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would additionally require the information regarding a groundwater sustainability plan to include, among other things, the plan’s water supply and economic impacts on managed wetlands, managed wetland extractors, and small community water systems serving disadvantaged communities. The bill would repeal this provision on January 1, 2029.</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Existing law authorizes a groundwater sustainability agency that adopts a groundwater sustainability plan to impose fees on the extraction of groundwater from the basin to fund costs of groundwater management, as specified.
</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would prohibit a groundwater sustainability agency from imposing a fee upon a small community water system serving a disadvantaged community or imposing a fee for managed wetland purposes, provided the water use for each user does not increase above
what was historically required to support the small community water system or the managed wetland. If a small community water system or a managed wetland extractor increases its extraction of groundwater above what was historically required to support the small community water system or annually flood the managed wetland, the bill would authorize a groundwater sustainability agency to impose a fee for the usage above the historical amount. The bill would repeal this provision on January 1, 2029.</html:p>
</ns0:DigestText>
<ns0:DigestKey>
<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
<ns0:LocalProgram>NO</ns0:LocalProgram>
</ns0:DigestKey>
<ns0:MeasureIndicators>
<ns0:ImmediateEffect>NO</ns0:ImmediateEffect>
<ns0:ImmediateEffectFlags>
<ns0:Urgency>NO</ns0:Urgency>
<ns0:TaxLevy>NO</ns0:TaxLevy>
<ns0:Election>NO</ns0:Election>
<ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>NO</ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>
<ns0:BudgetBill>NO</ns0:BudgetBill>
<ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>NO</ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>
</ns0:ImmediateEffectFlags>
</ns0:MeasureIndicators>
</ns0:Description>
<ns0:Bill id="bill">
<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_5C243B17-4B35-4EF5-8CEC-AB7EFC7D4161">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Legislature recognized the human right to water in 2012 with the passage of AB 685. A decade later, communities still struggle to access safe and affordable drinking water.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
More than 85 percent of California’s community water systems are dependent upon groundwater for drinking water and sanitation. For hundreds of small water systems, groundwater is their only water source.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Disadvantaged communities served by domestic wells and small community water systems are negatively and disproportionately impacted by unsustainable groundwater use
and resulting dry wells and worsening water quality.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Many groundwater sustainability plans fail to adequately consider or address the impacts of their plans on domestic well users and households served by small community water systems.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Managed wetlands are an important public trust resource and beneficial user of groundwater because they provide significant habitat for migratory waterfowl of the Pacific Flyway, for endangered species, and for many other resident wildlife and fish populations. Wetlands provide additional public benefits, including water quality improvement, groundwater recharge, flood protection, streambank stabilization, wildlife-dependent recreation, and opportunities for scientific research.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Approximately 5 percent of historic wetlands remain in California. Consistent with Executive
Order No. W-59-93, in 2024, the Legislature recognized with the passage of AB 2875 that it is the policy of the state to ensure no net loss and long-term gain in the quantity, quality, and permanence of wetlands acreage and values in California. Accordingly, it is the policy of the state to ensure that no net loss of managed wetland acreage or habitat values results from implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Populations of migratory ducks, geese, shorebirds, and other migratory birds have significantly declined since 1850 due to loss of habitat, including wetland habitat. Continued loss of wetland and managed wetland habitats in California will contribute to continuing declines in some migratory bird populations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Protecting managed wetlands that are subject to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act will avoid a net loss of wetlands and allow
groundwater sustainability agencies to prioritize groundwater sustainability for agricultural, municipal, and industrial water users.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_5976A7BF-B9E9-4F57-8972-3C5501C1D1C6">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:WAT:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'6.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.74.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'10721.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
Section 10721 of the
<ns0:DocName>Water Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_BB0D38A2-C095-47F6-A512-FE3827636BDE">
<ns0:Num>10721.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_84FA5C8B-2306-48A1-AB78-B24E3715FE9E">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this part:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Adjudication action” means an action filed in the superior or federal district court to determine the rights to extract groundwater from a basin or store water within a basin, including, but not limited to, actions to quiet title respecting rights to extract or store groundwater or an action brought to impose a physical solution on a basin.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Basin” means a groundwater basin or subbasin identified and defined in Bulletin 118 or as modified pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10722).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Bulletin 118” means the department’s report entitled
“California’s Groundwater: Bulletin 118” updated in 2003, as it may be subsequently updated or revised in accordance with Section 12924.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Coordination agreement” means a legal agreement adopted between two or more groundwater sustainability agencies that provides the basis for coordinating multiple agencies or groundwater sustainability plans within a basin pursuant to this part.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“De minimis extractor” means a person who extracts, for domestic purposes, two acre-feet or less per year.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Disadvantaged community” has the same meaning as defined in Section 79505.5.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Governing body” means the legislative body of a groundwater sustainability agency.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Groundwater” means water
beneath the surface of the earth within the zone below the water table in which the soil is completely saturated with water, but does not include water that flows in known and definite channels unless included pursuant to Section 10722.5.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Groundwater extraction facility” means a device or method for extracting groundwater from within a basin.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(j)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Groundwater recharge” or “recharge” means the augmentation of groundwater, by natural or artificial means.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(k)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Groundwater sustainability agency” means one or more local agencies that implement the provisions of this part. For purposes of imposing fees pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 10730) or taking action to enforce a groundwater sustainability plan, “groundwater sustainability agency” also means each local agency comprising the groundwater
sustainability agency if the plan authorizes separate agency action.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(l)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Groundwater sustainability plan” or “plan” means a plan of a groundwater sustainability agency proposed or adopted pursuant to this part.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(m)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Groundwater sustainability program” means a coordinated and ongoing activity undertaken to benefit a basin, pursuant to a groundwater sustainability plan.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(n)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“In-lieu use” means the use of surface water by persons that could otherwise extract groundwater in order to leave groundwater in the basin.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(o)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Local agency” means a local public agency that has water supply, water management, or land use responsibilities within a groundwater basin.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(p)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Managed wetland” means the portion of a publicly or privately owned property that receives seasonal, semipermanent, or permanent flooding that is supplemental to natural rainfall or runoff to simulate natural processes that promote food production, habitat for the benefit of wetland-dependent species, and is designated as, or administered as, any of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
State wildlife area or ecological reserve.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
National wildlife refuge.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Central Valley Project Improvement Act wetland habitat area.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Conservation easement held by a federal or state resource agency, a local agency whose primary function is managing land or water for wetland habitat purposes, or a nongovernmental conservation organization.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(E)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Wildlife habitat contract or other conservation agreement of no less than 10 years in duration administered by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Board, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or Natural Resources Conservation Service.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The term “managed wetland” does not include land managed for commercial crop production, or an artificial wetland constructed primarily as a groundwater bank or recharge basin, tailwater recirculation or sedimentation pond, evaporation pond, irrigation or stock watering pond, area that filters urban or industrial stormwater runoff, or wastewater treatment pond, even if the land is part of a conservation easement, or any federally reserved water rights.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(q)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Managed wetland extractor” means a person who extracts groundwater for managed wetland purposes.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(r)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Operator” means a person operating a groundwater extraction facility. The owner of a groundwater extraction facility shall be conclusively presumed to be the operator unless a satisfactory showing is made to the governing body of the groundwater sustainability agency that the groundwater extraction facility actually is operated by some other person.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(s)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Owner” means a person owning a groundwater extraction facility or an interest in a groundwater extraction facility other than a lien to secure the payment of a debt or other obligation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(t)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Personal information” has the same meaning as defined in Section 1798.3 of the Civil Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(u)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Planning and implementation horizon” means a 50-year time period over which a groundwater sustainability agency
determines that plans and measures will be implemented in a basin to ensure that the basin is operated within its sustainable yield.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(v)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Public water system” has the same meaning as defined in Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(w)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Recharge area” means the area that supplies water to an aquifer in a groundwater basin.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(x)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Small community water system” means a community water system, as defined in Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code, that serves no more than 3,300 connections or a yearlong population of no more than 10,000 persons.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(y)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Sustainability goal” means the existence and implementation of one or more groundwater sustainability plans that achieve sustainable groundwater management by identifying and causing the
implementation of measures targeted to ensure that the applicable basin is operated within its sustainable yield.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(z)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Sustainable groundwater management” means the management and use of groundwater in a manner that can be maintained during the planning and implementation horizon without causing undesirable results.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(aa)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Sustainable yield” means the maximum quantity of water, calculated over a base period representative of long-term conditions in the basin and including any temporary surplus, that can be withdrawn annually from a groundwater supply without causing an undesirable result.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ab)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Undesirable result” means one or more of the following effects caused by groundwater conditions occurring throughout the basin:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Chronic lowering of
groundwater levels indicating a significant and unreasonable depletion of supply if continued over the planning and implementation horizon. Overdraft during a period of drought is not sufficient to establish a chronic lowering of groundwater levels if extractions and groundwater recharge are managed as necessary to ensure that reductions in groundwater levels or storage during a period of drought are offset by increases in groundwater levels or storage during other periods.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Significant and unreasonable reduction of groundwater storage.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Significant and unreasonable seawater intrusion.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Significant and unreasonable degraded water quality, including the migration of contaminant plumes that impair water supplies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Significant and unreasonable
land subsidence that substantially interferes with surface land uses.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Depletions of interconnected surface water that have significant and unreasonable adverse impacts on beneficial uses of the surface water.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ac)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Water budget” means an accounting of the total groundwater and surface water entering and leaving a basin including the changes in the amount of water stored.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ad)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Watermaster” means a watermaster appointed by a court or pursuant to other law.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ae)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Water year” means the period from October 1 through the following September 30, inclusive.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(af)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Wellhead protection area” means the surface and subsurface area surrounding a water well or well field that supplies a public water
system through which contaminants are reasonably likely to migrate toward the water well or well field.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
</ns0:Fragment>
</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_CB44F7F8-204E-4373-90FB-C66BEF6AE85A">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:WAT:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'6.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.74.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'5.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'10726.4.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
Section 10726.4 of the
<ns0:DocName>Water Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_64CC98C9-04E4-4CEA-881E-8BEB326D7BC6">
<ns0:Num>10726.4.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_7C0E067A-5F1C-4D71-8442-25B16BD75AB4">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A groundwater sustainability agency shall have the following additional authority and may regulate groundwater extraction using that authority:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To impose spacing requirements on new groundwater well construction to minimize well interference and impose reasonable operating regulations on existing groundwater wells to minimize well interference, including requiring extractors to operate on a rotation basis.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To control groundwater extractions by regulating, limiting, or suspending extractions from individual groundwater wells or extractions from groundwater wells in the aggregate, construction of new groundwater wells, enlargement of existing groundwater wells, or reactivation of abandoned
groundwater wells, or otherwise establishing groundwater extraction allocations. Those actions shall be consistent with the applicable elements of the city or county general plan, unless there is insufficient sustainable yield in the basin to serve a land use designated in the city or county general plan. A limitation on extractions by a groundwater sustainability agency shall not be construed to be a final determination of rights to extract groundwater from the basin or any portion of the basin.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To authorize temporary and permanent transfers of groundwater extraction allocations within the agency’s boundaries, if the total quantity of groundwater extracted in any water year is consistent with the provisions of the groundwater sustainability plan. The transfer is subject to applicable city and county ordinances.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To establish accounting rules to allow unused groundwater
extraction allocations issued by the agency to be carried over from one year to another and voluntarily transferred, if the total quantity of groundwater extracted in any five-year period is consistent with the provisions of the groundwater sustainability plan.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall not apply to the establishment of groundwater extraction allocations for small community water systems serving disadvantaged communities from permitted public water supply wells and shall not apply to managed wetland extractors. If a small community water system or a managed wetland extractor increases its extraction of groundwater above what was historically required to support the small community water system or annually flood the managed wetland, a groundwater sustainability agency shall have the authority to regulate usage above that amount. The groundwater sustainability agency may require the small community water system or managed wetland
extractor to demonstrate historic usage. This subdivision does not prevent a small community water system or managed wetland extractor from receiving a groundwater recharge credit, as may be determined by the groundwater sustainability agency.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If a groundwater sustainability agency reasonably determines that groundwater extractions for managed wetlands are directly causing undesirable results, including land subsidence or degradation of groundwater quality, a groundwater sustainability agency may use the authority described in subdivision (a) to develop and implement corrective actions, in cooperation with the affected managed wetland extractor.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If a person is both a managed wetland extractor and a groundwater extractor for other purposes, any exemptions that apply to a managed wetland extractor shall apply only for groundwater extracted solely for managed wetland
purposes.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section does not authorize a groundwater sustainability agency to issue permits for the construction, modification, or abandonment of groundwater wells, except as authorized by a county with authority to issue those permits. A groundwater sustainability agency may request of the county, and the county shall consider, that the county forward permit requests for the construction of new groundwater wells, the enlarging of existing groundwater wells, and the reactivation of abandoned groundwater wells to the groundwater sustainability agency before permit approval.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
</ns0:Fragment>
</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_066A8198-47A0-4507-9F01-4703A1451E50">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 4.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:WAT:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'6.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.74.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'5.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'10726.4.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
Section 10726.4 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Water Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_5D89A537-5F7B-423A-9062-6E23778897E8">
<ns0:Num>10726.4.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_E6A892FB-B263-44EC-BEA9-CC2609551B98">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A groundwater sustainability agency shall have the following additional authority and may regulate groundwater extraction using that authority:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To impose spacing requirements on new groundwater well construction to minimize well interference and impose reasonable operating regulations on existing groundwater wells to minimize well interference, including requiring extractors to operate on a rotation basis.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To control groundwater extractions by regulating, limiting, or suspending extractions from individual groundwater wells or extractions from groundwater wells in the aggregate, construction of new groundwater wells, enlargement of existing groundwater wells, or reactivation of abandoned
groundwater wells, or otherwise establishing groundwater extraction allocations. Those actions shall be consistent with the applicable elements of the city or county general plan, unless there is insufficient sustainable yield in the basin to serve a land use designated in the city or county general plan. A limitation on extractions by a groundwater sustainability agency shall not be construed to be a final determination of rights to extract groundwater from the basin or any portion of the basin.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To authorize temporary and permanent transfers of groundwater extraction allocations within the agency’s boundaries, if the total quantity of groundwater extracted in any water year is consistent with the provisions of the groundwater sustainability plan. The transfer is subject to applicable city and county ordinances.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To establish accounting rules to allow unused groundwater
extraction allocations issued by the agency to be carried over from one year to another and voluntarily transferred, if the total quantity of groundwater extracted in any five-year period is consistent with the provisions of the groundwater sustainability plan.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section does not authorize a groundwater sustainability agency to issue permits for the construction, modification, or abandonment of groundwater wells, except as authorized by a county with authority to issue those permits. A groundwater sustainability agency may request of the county, and the county shall consider, that the county forward permit requests for the construction of new groundwater wells, the enlarging of existing groundwater wells, and the reactivation of abandoned groundwater wells to the groundwater sustainability agency before permit approval.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall become operative on January 1,
2029.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
</ns0:Fragment>
</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_F2CB72D1-828D-429F-ADF5-E8A7100EAA9F">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 5.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:WAT:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'6.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.74.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'6.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'10727.4.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
Section 10727.4 of the
<ns0:DocName>Water Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_5DD4C28F-E9A6-435F-87D7-7B44C10C5BEF">
<ns0:Num>10727.4.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_8F564F6B-0F9E-4B58-BED2-028F0D349DC8">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>In addition to the requirements of Section 10727.2, a groundwater sustainability plan shall include, where appropriate and in collaboration with the appropriate local agencies, all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Control of saline water intrusion.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Wellhead protection areas and recharge areas.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Migration of contaminated groundwater.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A well abandonment and well destruction program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Replenishment of groundwater extractions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Activities implementing,
opportunities for, and removing impediments to, conjunctive use or underground storage.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Well construction policies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Measures addressing groundwater contamination cleanup, groundwater recharge, in-lieu use, diversions to storage, conservation, water recycling, conveyance, and extraction projects.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Efficient water management practices, as defined in Section 10902, for the delivery of water and water conservation methods to improve the efficiency of water use.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(j)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Efforts to develop relationships with state and federal regulatory agencies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(k)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Processes to review land use plans and efforts to coordinate with land use planning agencies to assess activities that potentially create
risks to groundwater quality or quantity.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(
<html:i>l</html:i>
)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Impacts on groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(m)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The plan’s impacts on, but not limited to, both of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Water supply and economic impacts on managed wetlands and managed wetland extractors.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Water supply and economic impacts on small community water systems serving disadvantaged communities.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(n)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A list of small community water systems that serve disadvantaged communities and extract water from the basin, the estimated population served by each of those systems, and the water consumption of each of those systems.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(o)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A list of managed wetlands subject to
the plan, the acreage of each of the wetlands, and water consumption of each wetland area.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(p)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
</ns0:Fragment>
</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_65FEA06B-13BE-4058-8AC3-21F20D16CCCF">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 6.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:WAT:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'6.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.74.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'6.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'10727.4.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
Section 10727.4 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Water Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_0DAFA654-E4EA-48EB-B9A9-E6A80F073C24">
<ns0:Num>10727.4.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_24816652-CA4B-479F-AE5C-92304942CF92">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>In addition to the requirements of Section 10727.2, a groundwater sustainability plan shall include, where appropriate and in collaboration with the appropriate local agencies, all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Control of saline water intrusion.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Wellhead protection areas and recharge areas.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Migration of contaminated groundwater.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A well abandonment and well destruction program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Replenishment of groundwater extractions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Activities implementing,
opportunities for, and removing impediments to, conjunctive use, or underground storage.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Well construction policies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Measures addressing groundwater contamination cleanup, groundwater recharge, in-lieu use, diversions to storage, conservation, water recycling, conveyance, and extraction projects.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Efficient water management practices, as defined in Section 10902, for the delivery of water and water conservation methods to improve the efficiency of water use.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(j)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Efforts to develop relationships with state and federal regulatory agencies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(k)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Processes to review land use plans and efforts to coordinate with land use planning agencies to assess activities that potentially create risks to groundwater quality or quantity.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(
<html:i>l</html:i>
)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Impacts on groundwater dependent ecosystems.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(m)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall become operative on January 1, 2029.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
</ns0:Fragment>
</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_36A19F28-21A9-463A-A8A4-1DFD80F993A1">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 7.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:WAT:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'6.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.74.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'8.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'10730.2.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
Section 10730.2 of the
<ns0:DocName>Water Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_72F61DB3-DF91-49F9-87A8-3A67C38FDA96">
<ns0:Num>10730.2.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_E2BAA19C-973A-44F3-A6A4-25A66D3E6A11">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A groundwater sustainability agency that adopts a groundwater sustainability plan pursuant to this part may impose fees on the extraction of groundwater from the basin to fund costs of groundwater management, including, but not limited to, the costs of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Administration, operation, and maintenance, including a prudent reserve.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Acquisition of lands or other property, facilities, and services.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Supply, production, treatment, or distribution of water.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Other activities necessary or convenient to implement the plan.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Until a groundwater sustainability plan is adopted pursuant to this part, a local agency may impose fees in accordance with the procedures provided in this section for the purposes of Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750) as long as a groundwater management plan adopted before January 1, 2015, is in effect.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Fees imposed pursuant to this section shall be adopted in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 6 of Article XIII D of the California Constitution.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Fees imposed pursuant to this section may include fixed fees and fees charged on a volumetric basis, including, but not limited to, fees that increase based on the quantity of groundwater produced annually, the year in which the production of groundwater commenced from a groundwater extraction facility, and impacts to the basin.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A groundwater sustainability agency shall not impose a fee upon a small community water system serving a disadvantaged community or impose a fee for managed wetland purposes, provided the water use for each user does not increase above what was historically required to support the small community water system or the managed wetland.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If a small community water system or a managed wetland extractor increases its extraction of groundwater above what was historically required to support the small community water system or annually flood the managed wetland, a groundwater sustainability agency shall have the authority to impose a fee for the usage above that
amount.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The power granted by this section is in addition to any powers a groundwater sustainability agency has under any other law.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
</ns0:Fragment>
</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_14FF067B-27C7-4E7E-A9EF-7D895A8E81A8">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 8.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:WAT:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'6.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.74.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'8.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'10730.2.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
Section 10730.2 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Water Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_32909E89-688B-434C-AE46-EC04A8C1A899">
<ns0:Num>10730.2.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_D7AD8963-8667-4D2F-87FB-2FE63636E020">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A groundwater sustainability agency that adopts a groundwater sustainability plan pursuant to this part may impose fees on the extraction of groundwater from the basin to fund costs of groundwater management, including, but not limited to, the costs of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Administration, operation, and maintenance, including a prudent reserve.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Acquisition of lands or other property, facilities, and services.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Supply, production, treatment, or distribution of water.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Other activities necessary or convenient to implement the plan.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Until a groundwater sustainability plan is adopted pursuant to this part, a local agency may impose fees in accordance with the procedures provided in this section for the purposes of Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750) as long as a groundwater management plan adopted before January 1, 2015, is in effect.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Fees imposed pursuant to this section shall be adopted in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 6 of Article XIII D of the California Constitution.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Fees imposed pursuant to this section may include fixed fees and fees charged on a volumetric basis, including, but not limited to, fees that increase based on the quantity of groundwater produced annually, the year in which the production of groundwater commenced from a groundwater extraction facility, and impacts to the basin.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The power granted by this section is in addition to any powers a groundwater sustainability agency has under any other law.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall become operative on January 1, 2029.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
</ns0:Fragment>
</ns0:BillSection>
</ns0:Bill>
</ns0:MeasureDoc>
|