Existing law, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009, provides that it is the policy of the state to, among other things, 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 supplies, conservation, and water use efficiency. Existing law establishes the Delta Stewardship Council, which is required to develop, adopt, and commence implementation of a comprehensive management plan, known as the Delta Plan, for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The act requires, among other things, a state or local public agency that proposes to undertake a covered action, before initiating the implementation of that covered action, to prepare a written certification of consistency with detailed findings as to whether the covered action is consistent with the Delta Plan and to submit that certification to the council, as provided.

This bill would exempt from CEQA actions taken by a state agency, or by a local agency if the state agency with primary responsibility for the implementation of directives addressing impacts of drought concurs that local action is required, and permits that are necessary to carry out those actions, to accelerate approvals for projects that enhance the ability of a local or state agency to capture high precipitation events for local storage or recharge, consistent with water right priorities and protections for fish and wildlife. The bill would exempt the above-described actions and permits from the requirement to prepare a written certification of consistency with detailed findings as to whether the covered action or permit is consistent with the Delta Plan and to submit that certification to the council. The bill would also exempt from CEQA a recharge project under the Department of Water Resources’ Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program and flood-managed aquifer recharge projects, occurring on open and working lands to replenish and store water in groundwater basins that will help mitigate groundwater conditions impacted by drought, as specified. The bill would require state and local agencies to maintain on their internet websites a list of all activities or approvals to which these exemptions apply.

To the extent that the bill would impose additional duties on local entities related to their implementation of CEQA and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.