Chapter 3.5Marine Managed Areas Program

Section § 30920

Explanation

This law is about authorizing projects to improve water quality and protect marine areas that are environmentally significant in California. It emphasizes priority on projects dealing with current or potential waste discharges in special biological areas to ensure these places remain protected.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 30920(a) The purpose of this chapter is to provide authorization for projects that restore and protect the water quality and environment of marine managed areas, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 36602, including areas of special biological significance, as defined in the California Ocean Plan adopted pursuant to Section 13170.2 of the Water Code.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 30920(b) The board shall give priority to projects that treat or otherwise remove existing waste discharges, or prevent probable waste discharges, into areas of special biological significance.
marine managed areas water quality restoration environment protection special biological significance waste discharge removal environmental projects California Ocean Plan biological significance areas marine environment protection waste discharge prevention marine area restoration priority environmental projects California marine protection project authorization environmental conservation
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 714, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.)

Section § 30921

Explanation

This law explains how funds, once appropriated by the Legislature, can be used to grant up to $1 million per project to local agencies and nonprofits to enhance water quality or environmental restoration for a 20-year period. Recipients must follow specific guidelines and submit detailed plans identifying pollution sources, baseline environmental conditions, and methods for measuring project effectiveness. After project completion, recipients must report on their activities and outcomes to the board, which will make this information publicly available. Only 25% of grant money can be distributed before project expenditures begin, and projects must align with plans for protecting species like coho salmon and steelhead trout if such plans exist.

A task force comprising individuals from various coastal communities and groups will review grant proposals and can recommend them for funding. There is also an opportunity for public review and comments during the funding process.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(a) Upon appropriation by the Legislature for that purpose, funds may be expended by the board, in consultation with the State Coastal Conservancy, the California Coastal Commission, and, as appropriate, the Department of Fish and Game, to award grants, not to exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000) per project, to local public agencies and nonprofit organizations for the purposes of this chapter.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(b) The projects funded to carry out this chapter shall demonstrate the capability of contributing to sustained, long-term water quality or environmental restoration or protection benefits for a period of 20 years, address the causes of degradation rather than the symptoms, and be consistent with water quality control plans and resource protection plans prepared, implemented, or adopted by the board, the applicable regional board, the Department of Fish and Game, and the State Coastal Conservancy.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(c) An applicant for funds to carry out this chapter shall be required to submit to the board a monitoring and reporting plan that does all of the following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(c)(1) Identifies the sources of pollution to be prevented or reduced by the project.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(c)(2) Describes the baseline water quality or environmental quality to be addressed.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(c)(3) Describes the manner in which the project will be effective in preventing or reducing pollution and in demonstrating the desired environmental results.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(c)(4) Describes the monitoring program, including, but not limited to, the methodology, frequency, and duration of monitoring.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(d) Upon completion of the project, a recipient of funds to carry out this chapter shall submit a report to the board that summarizes the completed activities and indicates whether the purposes of the project have been met. The report shall include information collected by the recipient in accordance with the project monitoring and reporting plan, including a determination of the effectiveness of the project in preventing or reducing pollution, and the results of the monitoring program. The board shall make the report available to the public, watershed groups, and federal, state, and local agencies.
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(e) The board may not award more than 25 percent of a grant to carry out this chapter in advance of the expenditure of funds by a grantee.
(f)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(f) An applicant for funds to carry out this chapter shall inform the board of any necessary public agency approvals, entitlements, and permits that may be necessary to implement the project. The applicant shall certify to the board, at the appropriate time, that those approvals, entitlements, and permits have been granted.
(g)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(g) Where recovery plans for coho salmon, steelhead trout, or other threatened or endangered coastal and marine aquatic species exist, projects funded to carry out this chapter shall be consistent with those plans and, to the extent feasible, shall seek to implement actions specified in those plans.
(h)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(h) The board, in consultation with the California Coastal Commission, shall appoint a marine managed areas water quality task force comprised of individuals representing the breadth and diversity of coastal communities, interested nonprofit groups, and marine resource users. All proposals for grant funding to carry out this chapter shall be reviewed by the task force. The task force may recommend projects to the board for funding consideration.
(i)CA Public Resources Code § 30921(i) The board shall provide opportunity for public review and comment in awarding funds to carry out this chapter.
environmental restoration grants local public agencies nonprofit organizations water quality improvement pollution prevention monitoring and reporting plan coastal species recovery marine managed areas task force review public review and comment grant funding process project effectiveness measurement baseline environmental conditions project expenditure requirements species protection plans
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 714, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.)