Protection Of Rivers, Lakes And Streams - - CA Public Resources

Section § 75050

This section outlines a budget of $928 million dedicated to various environmental and conservation projects in California. The funds are earmarked for protecting and restoring rivers, lakes, streams, and their surrounding environments. Some key allocations include $180 million for Bay-Delta and coastal fishery restoration, $90 million for Colorado River projects, and $72 million each for projects along the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers.

Additional funds are set aside for the development and public access related to water resources, urban streams restoration, and river parkway projects. Specific amounts are allocated to conservancies, such as the Sierra Nevada and California Tahoe Conservancy. Funding also supports stormwater contamination prevention and the restoration of salmon populations in the San Joaquin River.

The sum of nine hundred twenty eight million dollars ($928,000,000) shall be available for the protection and restoration of rivers, lakes and streams, their watersheds and associated land, water, and other natural resources in accordance with the following schedule:

(a) The sum of one hundred eighty million dollars ($180,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Fish and Game, in consultation with the department, for Bay-Delta and coastal fishery restoration projects. Of the funds provided in this section, up to $20,000,000 shall be available for the development of a natural community conservation plan for the CALFED Bay-Delta Program and up to $45,000,000 shall be available for coastal salmon and steelhead fishery restoration projects that support the development and implementation of species recovery plans and strategies for salmonid species listed as threatened or endangered under state or federal law.

(b) The sum of ninety million dollars ($90,000,000) shall be available for projects related to the Colorado River in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) Not more than $36,000,000 shall be available to the department for water conservation projects that implement the Allocation Agreement as defined in the Quantification Settlement Agreement.

(2) Not more than $7,000,000 shall be available to the Department of Fish and Game for projects to implement the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan.

(3) $47,000,000 shall be available for deposit into the Salton Sea Restoration Fund.

(c) The sum of fifty four million dollars ($54,000,000) shall be available to the department for development, rehabilitation, acquisition, and restoration costs related to providing public access to recreation and fish and wildlife resources in connection with state water project obligations pursuant to Water Code Section 11912.

(d) The sum of seventy two million dollars ($72,000,000) shall be available to the secretary for projects in accordance with the California River Parkways Act of 2004 Chapter 3.8 (commencing with Section 5750) of Division 5. Up to $10,000,000 may be transferred to the Department of Conservation for the Watershed Coordinator Grant Program.

(e) The sum of eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000) shall be available to the department for the Urban Streams Restoration Program pursuant to Water Code Section 7048.

(f) The sum of thirty six million dollars ($36,000,000) shall be available for river parkway projects to the San Joaquin River Conservancy.

(g) The sum of seventy two million dollars ($72,000,000) shall be available for projects within the watersheds of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers according to the following schedule:

(1) $36,000,000 to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy pursuant to Division 22.8 (commencing with Section 32600).

(2) $36,000,000 to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for implementation of watershed protection activities throughout the watershed of the Upper Los Angeles River pursuant to Section 79508 of the Water Code.

(h) The sum of thirty six million dollars ($36,000,000) shall be available for the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy.

(i) The sum of forty five million dollars ($45,000,000) shall be available for projects to expand and improve the Santa Ana River Parkway. Project funding shall be appropriated to the State Coastal Conservancy for projects developed in consultation with local government agencies participating in the development of the Santa Ana River Parkway. Of the amount provided in this paragraph the sum of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall be equally divided between projects in Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

(j) The sum of fifty four million dollars ($54,000,000) shall be available for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

(k) The sum of thirty six million dollars ($36,000,000) shall be available for the California Tahoe Conservancy.

(l) The sum of forty five million dollars ($45,000,000) shall be available to the California Conservation Corps for resource conservation and restoration projects and for facilities acquisition, development, restoration, and rehabilitation and for grants and state administrative costs, in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) The sum of twenty five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be available for projects to improve public safety and improve and restore watersheds including regional and community fuel load reduction projects on public lands, and stream and river restoration projects. Not less than 50% of these funds shall be in the form of grants to local conservation corps.

(2) The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be available for grants to local conservation corps for acquisition and development of facilities to support local conservation corps programs, and for local resource conservation activities.

(m) The sum of ninety million dollars ($90,000,000) to the state board for matching grants to local public agencies for the reduction and prevention of stormwater contamination of rivers, lakes, and streams. The Legislature may enact legislation to implement this subdivision.

(n) The sum of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available to the secretary for the purpose of implementing a court settlement to restore flows and naturally-reproducing and self-sustaining populations of salmon to the San Joaquin River between Friant Dam and the Merced River. These funds shall be available for channel and structural improvements, and related research pursuant to the court settlement. The secretary is authorized to enter into a cost-sharing agreement with the United States Secretary of the Interior and other parties, as necessary, to implement this provision.

environmental protection funding river restoration lake restoration watershed protection fishery restoration Bay-Delta conservation CALFED Bay-Delta Program Colorado River projects Salton Sea Restoration Sierra Nevada Conservancy California Tahoe Conservancy Los Angeles River projects San Joaquin River settlement stormwater contamination prevention Santa Ana River Parkway

(Added November 7, 2006, by initiative Proposition 84.)

Section § 75050.2

This law outlines how the state board allocates funds, up to $5 million per project, to local agencies for specific environmental projects. These projects aim to manage stormwater and improve water quality, such as complying with Clean Water Act standards, implementing low-impact development, treating and recycling stormwater, and enhancing municipal sewer systems. The law requires careful assessment and reporting of each project's effectiveness in improving water quality.

The state board prioritizes projects that offer long-term water quality improvements and are aligned with regional water management plans. All fund allocations must adhere to existing water quality control plans.

(a) The state board shall develop project selection and evaluation guidelines for the allocation of funds made available pursuant to subdivision (m) of Section 75050. Upon appropriation, the funds shall be available for matching grants to local public agencies, not to exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000) per project, for projects to achieve any of the following purposes in accordance with the requirements of that subdivision:

(1) Complying with total maximum daily load requirements established pursuant to Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1313(d)) and this division where pollutant loads have been allocated to stormwater, including, but not limited to, metals, pathogens, and trash pollutants.

(2) Assistance in implementing low-impact development and other onsite and regional practices, on public and private lands, that seek to maintain predevelopment hydrology for existing and new development and redevelopment projects. Projects funded pursuant to this paragraph shall be designed to infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, or retain runoff in close proximity to the source of water.

(3) Implementing treatment and source control practices to meet design and performance standard requirements for new development.

(4) Treating and recycling stormwater discharge.

(5) Implementing improvements to combined municipal sewer and stormwater systems.

(6) Implementing best management practices, and other measures, required by municipal stormwater permits issued by a California regional water quality control board or the state board.

(7) Assessing project effectiveness, including, but not limited to, monitoring receiving water quality, determining pollutant load reductions, and assessing improvements in stormwater discharge water quality.

(b)

(1) For the purpose of implementing subdivision (a), the state board shall give preference to a project that does one or more of the following:

(A) Supports sustained, long-term water quality improvements.

(B) Is coordinated or consistent with any applicable integrated regional water management plan.

(2) The allocation of funds pursuant to this section shall be consistent with water quality control plans and Section 75072.

(c) The state board shall require grant recipients for projects described in subdivision (a) to assess and report on project effectiveness, which may include monitoring receiving water quality, determining pollutant load reductions, and assessing improvements in stormwater discharge water quality resulting from project implementation.

stormwater management matching grants pollutant load reduction water quality improvement low-impact development stormwater treatment Clean Water Act compliance municipal sewer improvements best management practices project effectiveness assessment runoff infiltration stringent water requirements recycling stormwater regional water management state board project guidelines

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 610, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2008.)

Section § 75050.4

This section mandates that the state board and the department work together when creating guidelines for choosing and assessing projects funded by certain financial aid programs focused on municipal stormwater management. This collaboration aims to avoid redundant efforts and enhance the quality of water by ensuring effective use of resources.

The state board and the department shall consult with each other, as necessary, with regard to the development of project selection and evaluation guidelines for the following financial assistance programs that are directed, in whole or in part, for municipal stormwater management, to avoid duplication and maximize water quality benefits:

(a) Section 5096.827.

(b) Subdivision (a) of Section 75026.

(d) Subdivision (a) of Section 75060.

municipal stormwater management project selection guidelines evaluation guidelines financial assistance programs collaboration consultation water quality benefits duplication avoidance resource optimization Section 5096.827 Section 75026 Section 75050 Section 75060

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 610, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2008.)