BILL NUMBER: AB 1405	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wolk

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2003

   An act to add Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 5808) to
Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, relating to watersheds.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1405, as introduced, Wolk.  California Watershed Protection and
Restoration Act.
   Existing law provides for a watershed protection program, and
provides funds to assist in implementing watershed plans to reduce
flooding, control erosion, improve water quality, and improve aquatic
and terrestrial species habitats, to restore natural systems of
groundwater recharge, native vegetation, waterflows, and riparian
zones, to restore the beneficial uses of waters of the state in
watersheds, and to provide matching funds for federal grant programs.

   This bill would enact the California Watershed Protection and
Restoration Act.  The act would state the policy of the state to
endorse local, collaborative watershed partnerships as being in the
state's interest in terms of effectiveness, citizen involvement, and
community responsibility.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 5808) is added to
Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 6.5.  CALIFORNIA WATERSHED PROTECTION AND RESTORATION
ACT

   5808.  This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the
California Watershed Protection and Restoration Act.
   5808.1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

   (a) Efforts to conserve, maintain, restore, protect, enhance, and
utilize California's rivers and streams for habitat, recreation,
water supply, public health, economic development, and other purposes
are most successful when governments, including federal and tribal
governments, work in partnership with citizens in an effort to
combine community resources, local initiative, and state agency
support.
   (b) The Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 2117 of the 1999-2000
Regular Session (Ch. 735, Stats. 2000) which required the California
Environmental Protection Agency and the Resources Agency to evaluate
how effective voluntary, community-based, collaborative watershed
efforts or partnerships are in contributing to the protection and
enhancement of California's natural resources, and what the state can
do to assist them.
   (c) The agencies produced a Report to the Legislature:  Addressing
the Need to Protect California's Watersheds--Working with Local
Partnerships, April 2002.
   (d) The recommendations of that report form the basis and factual
support for the need for a statewide watershed policy that promotes
local partnerships in watershed restoration, protection, and
management.
   (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that this act will bring
more understanding to government agencies of the nature, scope, and
complexity of working on a watershed basis at the local and regional
level.
   (f) The California Environmental Protection Agency and the
Resources Agency are encouraged to provide assistance and grants
under this chapter in a uniform and predictable manner to those who
choose to participate in the important work of watershed restoration
and enhancement pursuant to this chapter.
   (g) The state hereby adopts a formal statewide watershed policy to
guide the acts of the state's agencies in promoting, participating
in, and implementing the restoration, protection, and maintenance of
the state's watersheds.
   5808.2.  (a) It is the policy of the state to endorse local,
collaborative watershed partnerships as being in the state's interest
in terms of effectiveness, citizen involvement, and community
responsibility.
   (b) The state recognizes that reconfiguring state watershed
programs and organizations that use watershed management as an
organizing principle is a more efficient and effective delivery of
existing programs.
   (c) The state recognizes that flexible guidelines for watershed
management are key to effective implementation.  The state recommends
that participation in local watershed partnerships by local
governments and special districts is the most efficient and provides
the most long-lasting effectiveness for watershed restoration and
management programs.
   (d) The state recognizes and encourages technical assistance from
the state to watershed management partnerships through technical
training, advice and manuals describing acceptable assessments,
plans, and monitoring activities.
   (e) The foregoing is the policy of the state for watershed
programs funded by general funds, bond funds, or combinations of
local, private, federal, or specific watershed funds of the various
state agencies and departments.