Bill Text: CA SB307 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: Water conveyance: use of facility with unused capacity.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-07-31 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 169, Statutes of 2019. [SB307 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB307-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Senate  April 23, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 307

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Introduced by Senator Roth
(Principal coauthor: Senator Portantino)
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Friedman)
(Coauthor: Senator Allen)

February 15, 2019

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An act to add Section 1815 to the Water Code, relating to water.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 307, as amended, Roth. Water conveyance: use of facility with unused capacity.

Existing law prohibits the state or a regional or local public agency from denying a bona fide transferor of water from using a water conveyance facility that has unused capacity for the period of time for which that capacity is available, if fair compensation is paid for that use and other requirements are met.

This bill would, notwithstanding that provision, prohibit a transferor of water from using a water conveyance facility that has unused capacity to transfer water from a groundwater basin underlying desert lands, as defined, that is in the vicinity of specified federal lands or state lands to outside of the groundwater basin unless the State Lands Commission, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, finds that the transfer of the water will not adversely affect the natural or cultural resources of those federal and or state lands.

Digest Key

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

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 1815 is added to the Water Code, to read:

1815.

 (a) Notwithstanding Section 1810, a transferor of water shall not use a water conveyance facility that has unused capacity to transfer water from a groundwater basin underlying desert lands that is in the vicinity of a national monument, a national preserve, a national park, a state or federal wilderness area, or state lands to outside of the groundwater basin unless the State Lands Commission, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, finds that the transfer of the water will not adversely affect the natural or cultural resources, including groundwater resources or habitat, of those federal and or state lands.

(b) For purposes of this section, “desert lands” means the portion of California located within the following area:

Beginning at Interstate 15 and the intersection of the range line between Ranges 5 and 6 East, Township 11 North, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian, southerly along those range lines to the intersection with Interstate 40 in Township 8 North, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian;

Thence easterly along Interstate 40 to the intersection of Interstate 40 and the range lines between Ranges 12 and 13 East, Township 7 North, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian;

Thence southerly along the range lines between Ranges 12 and 13 East to the intersection with State Highway Route 62 in Township 1 South, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian;

Thence easterly along State Highway Route 62 to the intersection with United States Highway 95;

Thence northerly along United States Highway 95 to the California-Nevada boundary;

Thence northerly along the California-Nevada boundary to Interstate 15;

Thence westerly along Interstate 15 to the point of beginning.