Part 2.6Tijuana River Valley Watershed Action Plan

Section § 71107

Explanation

This law establishes that, with allocated funds, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Agency must work together to create a Tijuana River Valley Watershed Action Plan, drawing from U.S. and Mexican watershed planning efforts. The plan should be updated every three years and include identifying stakeholders, addressing issues, setting project goals, and restoring water quality.

Additionally, it aims to protect public health and ensure cross-border implementation. The agencies must consult with U.S. and Mexican governments and local entities to develop a cooperative watershed plan addressing water quality, habitat, stormwater management, and more. No state funding or specific project development is required without legislative appropriation.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 71107(a) Upon an appropriation of funds from the Legislature for this purpose, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Agency, including their subsidiary agencies, shall collaborate to create a Tijuana River Valley Watershed Action Plan, known as the Tijuana River Plan. The Tijuana River Plan shall be drawn from existing and ongoing watershed planning efforts in both the United States and Mexico. The Tijuana River Plan shall be reviewed and updated on a three-year cycle. The Tijuana River Plan shall include, to the extent practicable, all of the following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 71107(a)(1) Identification of key stakeholders and partnerships for data collection and information sharing.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 71107(a)(2) Identification of issues of concern and potential projects that may be implemented in the Tijuana River Valley watershed in both the United States and Mexico.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 71107(a)(3) Identification of short-term and long-term goals and targets for projects that may be implemented through the plan.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 71107(a)(4) Methods and strategies to restore water quality or water supply in degraded areas and to protect overall watershed health.
(5)CA Public Resources Code § 71107(a)(5) Methods and strategies to protect the public health and limit beach closures.
(6)CA Public Resources Code § 71107(a)(6) Methods and strategies, including target dates or milestones, interagency or public/private partnerships, and binational collaboration, to ensure implementation of the plan in Mexico and the United States, to the extent feasible.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 71107(b) Upon completion of the Tijuana River Plan described in subdivision (a), the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Agency shall consult with the governments for the United States, the County of San Diego, the City of San Diego, the City of Imperial Beach, Mexico, the State of Baja California, the City of Tijuana, and the City of Tecate to develop a common watershed action plan to address issues in the Tijuana River and its entire watershed, on both sides of the border, including, but not limited to, issues relating to water quality, wildlife and fishery habitat, stormwater management, riverside development and management, wastewater discharge, and water supply.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 71107(c) This section shall not require the expenditure of state funding or the development of any specific project without an appropriation from the Legislature.
Tijuana River Valley Watershed Action Plan Environmental Protection Natural Resources Stakeholder Identification Partnerships Water Quality Restoration Public Health Protection Binational Collaboration Stakeholder Consultation Legislative Appropriation San Diego Baja California Crossborder Implementation Watershed Health
(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 368, Sec. 1. (SB 1301) Effective January 1, 2021.)