GOOD MORNING. WELCOME TO
ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE
THREE. TODAY WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
WATER BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF WATER RESOURCES AND A FEW
SPRING FINANCE LETTERS UNDER THE
NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY. WE
WILL VOTE ON 28 ITEMS THAT WERE
HEARD AT OUR APRIL 19TH MEETING
. WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS THAT ARE
PLANNED FOR DISCUSSION FOR EACH
PRESENTATION ITEM. I'LL ASK.
EACH OF THE WITNESSES IN THE
AGENDA TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
BEFORE THEY BEGIN THEIR
TESTIMONY. AT THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION ITEMS, MEMBERS OF
THIS SUBCOMMITTEE MAY ASK
QUESTIONS OR MAKE COMMENTS ON
ANY OF THE 27 NON PRESENTATION
ITEMS. AFTER ALL, THE ITEMS ARE
HEARD WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT
IN REGARDS TO THE DEPARTMENT'S
BEFORE US TODAY, FIRST IN THE
ROOM, FOLLOWED BY PHONE
TESTIMONY, EACH MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO
SPEAK. THE PHONE NUMBERS ON THE
COMMITTEE WEBSITE SHOULD ALSO BE
ON THE SCREEN. IF YOU'RE
WATCHING OVER THE INTERNET, THAT
NUMBER IS 877692. THE ACCESS
CODE IS 131 54 47. THE ENCOUNTER
ANY PROBLEMS? PLEASE CONTACT THE
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE AT
91631920. AND A STAFF MEMBER WHO
WILL ASSIST YOU. WE'LL TAKE TWO
MOTIONS FOR THE VOTE ONLY
CALENDAR. THE FIRST MOTION IS
GOING TO BE TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE
THROUGH 21 23 28, WHEN WE HAVE A
QUORUM HERE, WILL TAKE ROLE AND
TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, ETCETERA. UM AND WITH
THAT WE'RE UP TO ISSUE ONE. AND
IF ALL THE PANELISTS WOULD
PLEASE COME FORWARD.
LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU HERE
AND LET THE ADMINISTRATION
DECIDE WHAT ORDER YOU WANT TO
BEGIN. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING.
I THINK I AM GOING FIRST, AND
THEN I'LL PASS IT ON TO MY RIGHT
HERE. SO GOOD MORNING, CHAIR.
BENNETT MY NAME IS CINDY MESSER
AND I AM THE LEAD DEPUTY
DIRECTOR JUST FOR JUST FOR
EVERYBODY AND EVERYBODY'S GONNA
GIVE TESTIMONY. THOSE
MICROPHONES MOVE CLOSER. THEY
KEEP THEM TO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
LEAN, BUT IF YOU PULL THEM TO
YOU, THAT'S THE BEST THING TO
DO. BUT YOU DO NEED TO BE
RELATIVELY CLOSE. RIGHT? THANK
YOU. HOW'S THIS MUCH BETTER?
ALRIGHT THANK YOU. OKAY STARTING
OVER. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CINDY MESSER AND I AM THE LEAD
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO
PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW TO YOU OF
WRS EFFORTS OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS TO IMPLEMENT FUNDING
ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENT FROM
THE WATER RESILIENCE PACKAGE AS
WELL AS THE DROUGHT RESILIENCE
PACKAGE. SO IF IT'S OKAY, I'LL
RUN THROUGH SOME HIGH LEVEL
REPORT OUTS AND, YOU KNOW, PASS
IT ON FROM THERE. THANK YOU.
OKAY SO STARTING WITH FLOOD AND
DROUGHT, SORRY. FLOOD AND DAM
SAFETY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES, THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE GOVERNOR IN 2021 2022
INVESTED A TOTAL OF $638 MILLION
IN FLOOD FUNDING OVER MULTIPLE
YEARS. MUCH OF THIS FUNDING HAS
ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED,
INCLUDING 198 MILLION FOR THE
AMERICAN RIVER COMMONS FEATURE
PROJECT. THIS IS ONE THAT WE
SHARE RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE U
. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND
102 MILLION FOR THE DELTA LEVEE
SYSTEM INTEGRITY PROGRAM FOR
LEVEE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DELTA
REGION. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE
PROVIDED 18 GRANTS UNDER OUR
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PROTECTION
AND RISK AWARENESS PROGRAM TO
SUPPORT 18 PROJECTS THAT REDUCE
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH STORMWATER
FLASH FLOODING AND MUDSLIDES.
AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
FUNDING VARIOUS MULTI BENEFIT
PROJECTS IN THE YELLOW BYPASS
SACRAMENTO RIVER AND LOWER SAN
JOAQUIN RIVER THAT NOT ONLY
ADDRESS FLOOD CONTROL BUT ALSO
FISH PASSAGE. ANOTHER HABITAT
BENEFITS SO TOUCHING ON DAM
SAFETY. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A
COUPLE OR PROVIDE A COUPLE
HIGHLIGHTS FOR OUR DM SAFETY
LOCAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THE
2022 DROUGHT PACKAGE ALLOCATED
$100 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS FOR
THE FIRST STATEWIDE DM SAFETY
LOCAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED DAM
SAFETY AND FLOOD MANAGEMENT
GRANT PROGRAM TRAILER BILL. IT'S
A MOUTHFUL. IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE FIRST APPROPRIATION THAT
WILL COME IN 2023 24 WILL
PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK TO
ESTABLISH THIS PROGRAM. THE
PROGRAM WILL ASSIST LOCAL DAM
OWNERS WITH REPAIRS,
REHABILITATION AND ENHANCEMENTS
EXISTING STATE JURISDICTIONAL
DAMS THAT PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE
OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
BENEFITS, PROTECTION OF PUBLIC
SAFETY. RESTORATION OF WATER
STORAGE. FLOOD RISK REDUCTION
ENHANCEMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
RELIABILITY, ENHANCEMENT,
PROTECTION OR RESTORATION. OF
HABITAT FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE.
AND PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY.
SO MOVING ON TO WATER CONVEYANCE
PROGRAMS. THE $200 MILLION THAT
WAS ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF WATER RESOURCES FOR WATER
CONVEYANCE IN OUR WATER
CONVEYANCE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY
BEING UTILIZED TO COMPLETE
VARIOUS FEASIBILITY STUDIES DOES
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND IN ONE
CASE TO CONSTRUCT ESSENTIAL
RESTORATION AT ONE OF THE CANAL
SITES THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY
SUBSIDENCE. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES
ON SECTIONS OF FOUR CRITICAL
WATER CONVEYANCE CANALS WITHIN
THE STATES THAT HAVE ALL
EXPERIENCED SUBSIDENCE IMPACTS.
AND OF NOTE. OF THE OR TO PUT IT
IN CONTEXT. I SHOULD SAY THE
FOUR CANAL SECTIONS HAVE LOST UP
TO SOMEWHERE AROUND 60% OF THEIR
CONVEYANCE CAPACITY. REDUCING
THEIR ABILITY TO EFFICIENTLY
MOVE WATER AND PERIODS OF TIME
WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF WATER TO
MOVE AND TO MOVE THAT WATER INTO
AREAS OF THE STATE FOR STORAGE
FOR DRIER PERIODS. I WOULD ALSO
NOTE THAT THE RECIPIENTS OF THIS
FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL
ALSO BE USING FEDERAL FUNDING TO
PAY FOR A THIRD OF THE COST OF
THE PROJECTS. SO NEXT, I'LL
TOUCH ON SEVERAL KEY HABITAT AND
NATURE BASED ACTIVITIES THE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UNDERTAKING
FUNDING WAS PROVIDED FOR VARIOUS
HABITAT AND NATURE BASED
ACTIVITIES RELATED TO DROUGHT.
DWR PROVIDED FUNDING FOR FOUR
PILOT PROJECTS TO DEVELOP WATER
WATERSHED RESILIENCE PLANS.
WE'VE WORKED WITH THE CALIFORNIA
NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY TO
DEVELOP GRANT GUIDELINES FOR
WATER RESILIENCE PROJECTS. WE'VE
ALSO PROVIDED GRANTS TO SUPPORT
DROUGHT RESILIENCY AS IT RELATES
TO WILDLIFE. UM NAMELY, ONE
PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR
BIRDS MIGRATING ALONG THE
PACIFIC FLYWAY. WE'VE DONE THAT
A COUPLE OF YEARS IN SUCCESSION
, AND WE'VE ALSO CONTINUED OUR
RESTORATION EFFORTS AT THE
SALTON SEA. USING THESE FUNDS
PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT,
LASTLY AND IN ADDITION, $200
MILLION IN HABITAT FUNDING WAS
PROVIDED TO SUPPORT PRIORITY,
LARGE SCALE MULTI BENEFIT
HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS.
THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT
THE CENTRAL VALLEY. THESE
PROJECTS ALSO PROVIDE FLOOD
PROTECTION, PUBLIC ACCESS,
CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE. THESE
PROJECTS CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD TOWARDS CONSTRUCTION AND
A NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS WILL BE
EXECUTED THIS SPRING, MOVING
THESE PROJECTS INTO THEIR NEXT
PHASE. ALRIGHT SHIFTING GEARS,
UM, WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME
EFFORTS RELATED TO IMMEDIATE
DROUGHT RESPONSE. SO STARTING
WITH COMMUNITY DROUGHT RELIEF.
FUNDING HAS BEEN AWARDED VIA THE
GRANT PROGRAMS. SORRY PROGRAMS
FOR BOTH SMALL AND URBAN
COMMUNITIES TO THE TOTAL FUNDING
COMMITTED TO DATE IS $650
MILLION FOR ABOUT 300 PROJECTS.
THE SCHEDULE FOR THE REMAINING
FUNDING. APPROXIMATELY $150
MILLION WAS EXTENDED DUE TO THE
HIGH NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WE
RECEIVED IN OUR CURRENTLY
EVALUATING AND WE ANTICIPATE IN
AWARDING THE REMAINING FUNDING
BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FOR
DROUGHT FROM THE DROUGHT
CONTINGENCY FUND IN FISCAL YEAR
2021 22 DWR RECEIVED 13.5
MILLION OF THE $25 MILLION IN
THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY FUND.
AND THESE DOLLARS WERE DEDICATED
AND COMMITTED TO MEDIA BUYS AS
PART OF THE SAVE OUR WATER
CAMPAIGN THAT WAS ABOUT 825
MILLION AND WE ALSO APPLIED
FIVE. THE REMAINING FIVE MILLION
TO URGENT FORECASTING NEEDS
RELATED TO OUR AERIAL SNOW
SURVEYS. SO THAT, UH, THAT'S THE
CONTINGENCY FUNDING. UM AND THEN
SPEAKING OF FORECASTING SHIFTING
GEARS A LITTLE BIT HERE, UM THE
FUNDING THAT THE DEPARTMENT
RECEIVED, UH SINCE 2021 MOVING
FORWARD, HAS FOUR DATA
FORECASTING AND COMMUNICATIONS.
ALL OF THIS FUNDING HAS BEEN
COMMITTED, AND IT'S BEEN APPLIED
TO IMPORTANT HYDROLOGICAL
PROGRAMS, SEVERAL OF WHICH HAVE
BEEN EXTREMELY CRUCIAL DURING
THIS 2023 STORM SEASON. THESE
PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE AERIAL
REMOTE SENSING OF SNOW PROGRAM
AND THE FORECAST INFORMED
RESERVOIR OPERATIONS PROGRAM.
THE FUNDING HAS ALLOWED, FOR
EXAMPLE, AN INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF FLIGHTS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO DO AS PART OF THE
AERIAL SNOW SURVEY TO COLLECT
CRITICAL DATA ABOUT THE CURRENT
SNOWPACK. INFORMATION FROM THE
STATE CLIMATOLOGIST THAT HAS
COME OUT OF THESE PROGRAMS HAS
HELPED CALLOWAY YES, THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
SERVICES, THE NATIONAL GUARD,
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AND
OTHER STATE AGENCIES TO
PREPOSITION THINGS LIKE
HELICOPTERS, HIGH WATER VEHICLES
AND OTHER RESOURCES IN KEY
LOCATIONS DURING THE STORM
SEASON TO SAVE LIVES. DATA FROM
THESE VARIOUS HYDROLOGICAL
PROGRAMS HAS ALSO BEEN EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT IN HELPING INFORM OUR
MANAGEMENT AND OUR PARTNERS OF
THE SNOWPACK CONDITIONS AND
ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE CHANGING
, WITH TEMPERATURES RISING AND
AS WE MOVE LATER INTO THE SPRING
SEASON. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE
TO INCREASE OUR INFORMATION
ABOUT RUNOFF ASSOCIATED FROM
ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS AND THE SNOW
MELT. AND RESERVOIR RELEASES
DURING THESE CURRENT EMERGENCY
ACTIVATIONS. SO ALL OF THE DATA
THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT
FROM THESE PROGRAMS, THE
ADDITIONAL DATA WE'VE BEEN ABLE
TO REALLY PUT TO USE DURING THIS
EXTREMELY DYNAMIC WINTER SEASON.
SO UM, COMMUNICATIONS. I'D LIKE
TO JUST TOUCH ON THE SAVE OUR
WATER CAMPAIGN, SO I KNOW I'M
GOING BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE
BIT BETWEEN WET CONDITIONS AND
DROUGHT CONDITIONS. UM, SO SAVE
OUR WATER CAMPAIGN. MONEY SPENT
TODAY INCLUDES ACTIVITIES SUCH
AS MARKET RESEARCH. BRINGING ON
BOARD ADVERTISING AGENCIES AND
EXECUTING CONTRACTS WITH PUBLIC
RELATIONS AGENCIES, WITH THE
BULK OF THE FUNDING GOING
TOWARDS THE PRODUCTION OF
ADVERTISING ASSETS AND PAID
MEDIA TO GET THE WORD OUT FAR
AND WIDE. DWR IS CURRENTLY
WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS AS PART OF A
LARGER CBO EFFORT. DWR IS ALSO
LEVERAGING THIS FUNDING WITH
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO
STRETCH THE DOLLARS FURTHER. ONE
CONCERN IS THAT WITH A WET
WINTER, INDIVIDUALS MAY BECOME
COMPLACENT WITH WATER
CONSERVATION THIS COMING SUMMER
, DWR ANTICIPATES FOCUSING THE
REMAINING $12 MILLION FOR 22 23
FOR CONTINUED CAMPAIGN MEDIA
DURING THE HOTTEST AND DRIEST
PART OF THE YEAR, SO ESSENTIALLY
MAY THROUGH AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
AND 17 MILLION FOR 23 24 WILL GO
TOWARDS THE SAME EFFORT. AND
THIS LEADS ME TO MY FINAL AREA
THAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT,
WHICH IS WATER CONSERVATION IN
AGRICULTURE. SO APPROXIMATELY
$115 MILLION IN WATER
CONSERVATION GRANTS WILL BE
FULLY AWARDED TO URBAN
COMMUNITIES IN MAY. AN
ADDITIONAL 18 MILLION IS
COMMITTED FOR DIRECT CONTRACTS
FOR CONSERVATION FOR SMALL WATER
SUPPLIERS, AND SEVEN MILLION IN
BOND FUNDS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED
FOR AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION OR
WILL BE COMMITTED IN THIS NEXT
YEAR. THE $296 MILLION
APPROPRIATED FOR THE SUSTAINABLE
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT
IMPLEMENTATION IN 21 22 22 23
HAS BEEN ALLOCATED THROUGH THE
SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT GRANT PROGRAM. WITH
150 MILLION AWARDED AS LOCAL
ASSISTANCE GRANTS IN MAY 2022 AS
PART OF ROUND ONE ROUND TWO
APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING
EVALUATED AND DRAFT FUNDING
RECOGNITION RECOMMENDATIONS WILL
BE MADE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
THIS WILL AWARD THE REMAINING
FUNDS. THIS ALSO INCLUDES A
DIRECTED GRANT TO THE WATER
FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS
REQUIRED. BY FISCAL YEAR. 22 23
BUDGET, WHICH DIRECTED THE
DEPARTMENT TO MAKE 10 MILLION OF
THE 56 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR
SMALL FARMERS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE. AND WITH THAT, I
WOULD LIKE TO HAND THINGS OVER
TO MY COLLEAGUE. AND SHARE OF
THE WATERBOARD JOAQUIN THANK
YOU, MR MR GOOD MORNING CHAIR.
MY NAME IS WALKING GOOD MORNING
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOAQUIN
ESQUIVEL AND CHAIR OF THE STATE
WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH
YOU THIS MORNING. I JUST WANT TO
START OFF AND JUST THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR THEIR SUPPORT. WE
KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITIES
BETWEEN DROUGHT AND NOW HERE
FLOOD CONTINUE TO BEAR.
INCREDIBLE BRUNT'S, UH, DUE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE FUNDING
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DISPERSE.
BETWEEN THE REAL DWR AND
OURSELVES TO REALLY SUPPORT
ONGOING NEED, ESPECIALLY HERE. I
THINK OF IN THE CONTEXT OF DRY
WELLS THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE IS
REALLY APPRECIATED ON THAT WHEN
IT COMES TO THE BOARDS,
CONTINGENT QUICKLY JUST GO OVER
A BRIEF UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE
IN OUR VARIOUS POTS, AND WHEN IT
COMES TO OUR PREVIOUS ALLOCATED
DRUG CONTINGENCY FUNDS. UM WE
HAVE 50 MILLION THAT'S BEEN
COMMITTED. 42.9 MILLION OF THAT
OR SO AS HAS GONE TO SELF HELP
ENTERPRISES FOR THE WELLS AND
TANKS, PROGRAM AND WATER HAULING
PROGRAM. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO REMEMBER THAT THAT PROGRAM
WAS ACTUALLY DEVELOPED OUT OF AN
EMERGENCY NEED FROM THE PREVIOUS
DROP IN 2014 AND 2015. AND WHAT
WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE ABOUT
IS THE ABILITY TO SCALE TO THE
RESPONSE THAT WE NEEDED IN OUR
HARDEST IMPACTED COMMUNITIES BY
DROUGHT IN THE SAN JOAQUIN AND
OTHER PLACES IN THE STATE, AND
SO 42 MILLION HAS GONE TO SELF
HELP. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR INCREDIBLE
PARTNERSHIP AND AGAIN, WHAT
CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE WITH
DRY WELLS, EVEN AMONGST WET
CONDITIONS. NOW ANOTHER SEVEN
MILLION HAS GONE TO THE
COMMUNITY ARE RURAL COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE, CORPORATIONS
DRINKING WATER? WELL REPLACEMENT
PROGRAM AS WELL. SO THAT 50
MILLION IS BEING HERE WHILE YOU
èC ADDITIONALLY, THE BOARD OVER
THESE LAST BUDGET YEARS HAS
RECEIVED 1.3 BILLION TO SUPPORT
BOTH WASTEWATER AND DRINKING
WATER SYSTEMS. THESE ARE GRANTS
AND THESE ARE GRANTS. REALLY,
WE'RE LOOKING TO ENSURE WE
TARGET TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT
WE KNOW ARE HERE NEEDING IT MOST
, UM, LOANS ARE ANOTHER
COMPONENT OF THE FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE OF THE BOARD PROVIDES
BUT IT'S REALLY GRANTS THAT HELP
OFFSET AND HERE KEEP
AFFORDABILITY. SO FRIEND OF MINE
FOR US SO OF THAT 1.3 BILLION WE
HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED ABOUT 484
MILLION SPLIT BETWEEN 281
MILLION WITH TWO DRINKING WATER
PROJECTS. ANOTHER 300 MILLION TO
WASTEWATER PROJECTS. CURRENTLY,
WE HAVE PENDING GRANT ELIGIBLE
APPLICATIONS TOTALLING TOTALING
ABOUT A BILLION. FOR DRINKING
WATER. THAT'S 207 CONSTRUCTION
APPLICATIONS. UH AND THEN. ON
THE WASTEWATER SIDE. WE HAVE, UH
, A NEED OF ABOUT 1.3 BILLION
WITH 88 CONSTRUCTION
APPLICATIONS IN FOR ABOUT 1.6
BILLION AND THEN 34 PLANNING
APPLICATIONS FOR 41. SO WE HAVE
INCREDIBLE. CONTINUED NEED TO BE
INVESTING IN OUR WASTEWATER
SYSTEMS AND OUR DRINKING WATER
SYSTEMS. I THINK OF WASTEWATER
OFTEN RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE UNLIKE
OUR DRINKING WATER PROGRAMS, UM
WE DON'T HAVE IS SOMETIMES
ROBUST, THE SUPPORT OF WHAT IS
STILL VERY CRITICAL ACCESS TO
SANITATION, AND I THINK IT'S ONE
OF THE MORE EASIER THINGS TO
TAKE FOR GRANTED IN IN TODAY'S
TIME. UH AND CAN EASILY ERODE SO
MUCH PROGRESS THAT WE'VE HAD AND
SO JUST APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED
SUPPORT FOR THOSE THOSE FUNDS
AND THOSE PROGRAMS KNOWING THAT
THEY'RE DOING INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT WORK. THANK YOU. PAUSE
YOU TRYING TO CATCH A BREAK
THERE? UM BUSY. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
ARE TOUGH TO GET A HOLD OF AND
SO ON AND GRAB A QUORUM WHILE WE
HAVE IT AND TAKE A VOTE ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. THANK YOU.
CHAIR. SECRETARY CALLING
BENNETT. CONNELLY. YOU SAY LEE?
FRIEDMAN. GARCIA. PATERSON RIVAS
FOR MR PRESIDENT. LIKE TO HAVE A
MOTION ON THE VOTE ONLY ITEMS
ISSUES ONE THROUGH 21 23 28.
MOVED AND SECONDED BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FRIEDMAN AND
SECONDED BY SEMI MEMBER REVIS.
COLORADO BENNET. AYE. CONNELLY.
YOU SAY LEAVE? FRIEDMAN. GARCIA.
PATERSON RIVAS. MEASURE PASTORS
NOW IF WE COULD GET A MOTION FOR
ITEMS 22 24 THROUGH 27. REMEMBER
EVA SECONDED BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
CONFLICT AND WE VOTE, PLEASE.
AYE, CONNOLLY. YOU SAY LEE?
FRIEDMAN. GARCIA. PATERSON
RIVAS. MEASUREMENT AND WE'LL
LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS AND PARDON THE
INTERRUPTION AND BACK TO, YOU
KNOW PART IN THE LEAST I
APPRECIATE A CHAIR. THANK YOU,
UM I THINK I WAS PRETTY WRAPPED
UP ON THE 1.3 BILLION AT THIS
POINT. WHAT I WOULD JUST
CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN IS
JUST HOW CRITICAL THESE FUNDS
ARE. AND JUST THE APPRECIATION.
UH NEXT, UH, I'LL MOVE ON TO
GROUNDWATER CLEANUP AND WATER
RECYCLING. SO THE WATER
RECYCLING FUNDS APPROPRIATED IN
2021 2022 ARE BEING ADMINISTERED
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CLEAN
WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND LOAN
PROGRAM TO FUND WATER RECYCLING
PROJECTS AND ARE CLEAN WATER SRF
PIPELINE. AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR
PROJECT SPECIFICALLY NAMED IN
THE BUDGETS AND THE BOARD'S
DETERMINATION OF GROUNDWATER
VERSUS WATER RECYCLING SPLIT.
WE'VE APPROXIMATELY HAVE 275
MILLION IN STATE FUNDS HAVE BEEN
APPROPRIATED TO DATE FOR WATER
RECYCLING PROJECTS GENERALLY,
UM, APPROXIMATELY 35 MILLION HAS
BEEN ENCUMBERED ANOTHER 560
MILLION AND WATER RECYCLING
PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER
REVIEW. AND EXPECTED TO BE
FUNDED IN 2020 THEORY, AND
ANOTHER 105 MILLION IN PROJECTS
CAN BE ADDED TO THE LIST. SO
ABOUT 21 IN TOTAL, BASED ON THE
CURRENT 15 MILLION MAXIMUM GRANT
THAT THESE PROJECTS CAN QUALIFY
FOR, UH, WE HAVE 290 MILLION
GRANT FUNDS, THE WATERBOARD
CONTINUES TO PROVIDE THE WATER
RECYCLING FUNDS. AND X IS
EXPECTED TO RECEIVE NEW WATER
RECYCLING APPROPRIATIONS
REGULARLY AS IT HISTORICALLY HAS
THE 75 71.5 MILLION IN FUNDING
FOR GROUNDWATER CLEANUP IS BEING
ADMINISTERED CONSISTENT WITH THE
SITE CLEANUP ACCOUNT SUB ACCOUNT
PROGRAM ON JUST RECENTLY ON
APRIL 18TH. THE STATE BOARD
ACTUALLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION
FOR THE CLEANUP SUB ACCOUNT
PROGRAM THAT'S ACTUALLY
PRIORITIZING FUNDING FOR
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMUNITIES. THESE FUNDS WILL BE
ENCUMBERED AND FY 23 24. AND
SUPPORT CLEANUP OF AT LEAST 30
ADDITIONAL CONTAMINATION SITES.
UH MOVING ON TO OUR FAST DOLLARS
. ONE OF OUR KEY INITIAL EFFORTS
IS IMPLEMENTING THE BUDGET CARVE
OUT FOR 15 MILLION OF THE 22 23
P FAST ALLOCATION. THIS IS FOR
SAMPLING RELATED WORK, INCLUDING
DEVELOPING STANDARDS, OPERATING
PROCEDURES AND FOR VALIDATION OF
BROAD SPECTRUM TESTING FOR
PREFACE AND DEVELOPING A
TREATMENT BASED REGULATION FOR
PFS. WE CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS
TO INCORPORATE ABOUT 15 MILLION
INTO EXISTING STATEWIDE CONTRACT
TO COMPLETE THAT NECESSARY
ANALYTICAL WORK. WE ARE
ADDITIONALLY, WORKING ON A
TECHNICAL ASSISTANT AGREEMENT TO
AT AROUND 10 MILLION THAT WILL
PROVIDE PEOPLE PASS SAMPLING
SERVICES FOR DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES AND SYSTEMS
STATEWIDE. PARTICULARLY MANY OF
THESE SYSTEMS DON'T KNOW IF FAST
IS PRESIDENT OF DRINKING WATER.
SO THE SAMPLING WORK, IT'S GOING
TO BE REALLY CRITICAL TO,
ACTUALLY, UH, FIGURING OUT HOW
MUCH OF A NEED THERE IS WHEN IT
COMES TO ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THE
PROBLEM. WE'RE PROPOSING A TOTAL
OF ABOUT 500 MILLION AND PENDING
P PASS RELATED FUNDING REQUESTS
. UM AS THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE
COMPLETED, THERE WILL BE
CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING OUT OF
SOME COMBINATION OF BOTH STATE
GRANT MONEY AND OR FEDERAL, UM,
MONIES. WE HAVE EMERGING
CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERNS DOLLARS
FROM THE FEDS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO
USE. UM WITH THAT I'LL STOP
THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
NEXT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
ADMINISTRATION BEFORE WE GO TO
L. A L RE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESENT ON THE WATER AND
SHOUT RESILIENCE. GENERAL FUND
SOLUTIONS, THE 2021 2022 BUDGET
ACTS COMMITTED $8.7 BILLION FOR
WATER AND DROUGHT, RESILIENCE,
INVESTMENTS AND THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET MAINTAINS $8.6 BILLION,
OR 98% OF THIS FUNDING. AND THE
ADMINISTRATION'S GENERAL
APPROACH TO NATURAL RESOURCES
AND CLIMATE GENERAL FUND
SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN
PREVIOUS HEARINGS, BUT I DID
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW
PERTINENT CONSIDERATIONS RELATED
TO WATER AND DROUGHT
INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING
PROTECTING THE MAJORITY OF
FUNDING FOR MOST PROGRAMS,
MINIMIZING DISRUPTIONS FOR
PROGRAMS ALREADY UNDERWAY,
PROTECTING FUNDING FOR THE MOST
IMMEDIATE CLIMATE RISK SO WATER
AND WILDFIRE THE POTENTIAL THAT
POTENTIAL AVAILABILITY OF
FEDERAL FUNDS AND THE POTENTIAL
TO SHIFT PROGRAMS TO OTHER FUNDS
AND THE AVAILABILITY OF PROGRAM
FUNDING BY FISCAL YEAR GIVEN THE
MULTIYEAR NATURE OF THE RECENT
CLIMATE INVESTMENTS AND THE NEED
TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE THAT THE
BUDGET GAP WITHIN THE BUDGET
WINDOW, SO SOME OF THE SPECIFIC
REDUCTIONS AND DELAYS IN THIS
AREA INCLUDE P. FOSS CLEANUP
REDUCTION OF 75 MILLION IN 23 24
. A DELAY OF 30 MILLION TO 24 25
. THIS MAINTAINS APPROXIMATELY
$130 MILLION, OR 65% OF THE FOX
CLEAR RESOURCES. FOR THE WATER
RECYCLING PROGRAMS OR REDUCTION
OF 40 MILLION IN 23 24. THIS
MAINTAINS 760 MILLION, OR 95% OF
FUNDING TO SUPPORT WATER
RECYCLING AND GROUNDWATER
CLEANUP. FOR AQUEDUCTS, SOLAR
PANELS OR REDUCTION OF 15
MILLION AND 21 22. THIS
MAINTAINS $20 MILLION OR ABOUT
57% OF FUNDING FOR THIS PURPOSE,
AND FINALLY, THE WATER REFILLING
STATIONS AT SCHOOLS A REDUCTION
OF FIVE MILLION AND 22 23, WHICH
ELIMINATES FUNDING FOR THIS
PURPOSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR READING
THOSE INTO THE RECORD FOR US.
LEO THANK YOU. SONYA PADDOCK
WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S
OFFICE. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR
NAME SONIA PADDOCK. OKAY I
THOUGHT THAT WAS YOUR NAME. AND
I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, RIGHT? YEAH I SHOULD
SPEAK UP. OKAY THANK YOU. JUST
PULL THAT MICROPHONE. NICE AND
CLOSE AND HELPS, RIGHT? OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM OUR
OFFICE WOULD NOTE THAT YOU KNOW
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, THE
PROPOSED APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE
BUDGET PROBLEM. UM IN THE WATER
AND DROUGHT AREA. UH, THE
GOVERNOR PROPOSES TO MAINTAIN
NEARLY ALL OF THE FUNDING, AS
MENTIONED BY MISSOURI. UM, IT
WOULD ACHIEVE GENERAL FUND
SAVINGS IN THE BUDGET YEAR. 23
24 OF NEARLY $5 MILLION BY
CUTTING 200 MILLION ABOUT $200
MILLION AND THEN DELAYING
ANOTHER 300 MILLION UNTIL 24 25
. WE NOTE THAT IT DOES KEEP
FUNDING FOR MANY OF THE CRITICAL
ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PROVIDING
EMERGENCY DRINKING WATER
SUPPLIES. OUR OFFICE. THANKS.
THESE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
GENERALLY SEEM REASONABLE. FOR
EXAMPLE, AMONG THE PROPOSED
REDUCTIONS AFFECTING THE
DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE UNDER
DISCUSSION TODAY. UM, IT WOULD.
THE GOVERNOR'S APPROACH WOULD
CUT A SMALL AMOUNT FROM WATER
RECYCLING AND HAS ALREADY BEEN
NOTED THERE IS SOME FEDERAL
FUNDING. AVAILABLE FOR THIS
PURPOSE MORE NOR FEDERAL FUNDING
THAN IS TYPICAL. THANKS TO THE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND
JOBS ACT. IN ADDITION, ANOTHER
PROPOSED REDUCTION IS TO THE
AQUEDUCT SOLAR PANELS, PILOT
STUDIES. SO THIS WOULD REDUCE
THE TOTAL FROM 35 MILLION TO 20
MILLION. WE JUST NOTE HERE THAT
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES ALREADY DID AWARD THE
$20 MILLION TO THE TURLOCK
IRRIGATION DISTRICT TO START THE
PILOT PROJECT ON SOME OF THEIR,
UM, PORTIONS OF THE AQUEDUCT?
AND WE THINK THAT OVERALL THIS
REDUCTION MAKES SENSE BECAUSE
THE STAKING SORT OF WAIT TO SEE
HOW SUCCESSFUL THIS UM THIS
INITIAL PILOT IS BEFORE DECIDING
WHETHER TO FUND ADDITIONAL PILOT
STUDIES OR OR EVEN TO EXPAND THE
USE OF SOLAR PANELS OVER OVER
AQUEDUCTS IN THE FUTURE. EXCUSE
ME. I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU
FOR A SECOND SO THAT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GARCIA CAN ADD
ON QUICKLY. WE CAN GET HIM. IN
AND OUT IF HE NEEDS TO THE FIRST
MOTION WAS VOTES ONE THROUGH 21
23 28. HI. AND THEN MOTION TO IS
20 TO 24 THROUGH 27 GARCIA.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES AS SO
WE WERE. I WAS JUST MENTIONING
THAT OUR OFFICE DOES FIND THESE
PROPOSED REDUCTIONS TO BE
GENERALLY REASONABLE, BUT WE DO
WANT TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT POINT.
THE GOVERNOR'S APPROACH IS JUST
THAT IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S
PREFERRED APPROACH. AND THE
LEGISLATURE, OF COURSE, CAN CAN
, UM, CRAFT ITS OWN APPROACH TO
SOLVE THE BUDGET PROBLEM. UH
SOLUTION THAT YOU KNOW REFLECTS
ITS PRIORITIES. IN ADDITION, I
WOULD MENTION THAT WE WERE MOST
ASSUREDLY DEALING WITH A LARGER
BUDGET PROBLEM THAN WAS
ESTIMATED IN JANUARY. AS NOTED
IN THE AGENDA. OUR OFFICE DOES
OFFER SOME OPTIONS FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER. SO
FIRST, THE LEGISLATURE COULD
CONSIDER CONVERTING SOME OF THE
PROPOSED DELAYS INTO REDUCTIONS.
BY DOING SO, THIS WOULD THE
LEGISLATURE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE
THE OPTION TO COME BACK AND FUND
THESE PROJECTS WHEN WE ARE WHEN
THE BUDGET IS IN A BETTER
CONDITION BY MAKING THESE
REDUCTIONS RATHER THAN DELAYS.
IT DOESN'T LOCK IN THE
LEGISLATURE TO, UM THIS FUNDING
, ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE LOOKING
AT MORE THAN ONE YEAR OF DEFICIT
CONDITIONS. UM. THE LEGISLATURE
. SECOND THE LEGISLATURE COULD
ALSO CONSIDER REDUCING STATE
FUNDING WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF
FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT FUNDING
AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. UM THIS
MEANS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
LEGISLATURE COULD CONSIDER
REDUCING MORE. FROM THE WATER
RECYCLING PROGRAMS, AND THIS IS
CERTAINLY NOT A COMMENTARY ON
THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE PROJECTS
, BUT RATHER LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
SORT OF ADDRESS THE STATE BUDGET
PROBLEM WHERE THERE IS AVAILABLE
. FEDERAL FUNDING. UM THE
LEGISLATURE COULD ALSO LOOK AT
THE FUNDING. THAT'S THE STATE
FUNDING FOR DRINKING WATER AND
WASTEWATER PROJECTS, AS THERE IS
ALSO A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDING
AVAILABLE FOR SUCH PROJECTS
RIGHT NOW. THIRD THE LEGISLATURE
COULD CONSIDER MAKING REDUCTIONS
TO SOME PROGRAMS THAT ARE NEW.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM THERE WERE
SOME AUGMENTATIONS MADE IN THE
21 22 BUDGET FOR PROGRAMS THAT
WERE JUST STARTING UP. THE
LEGISLATURE COULD CONSIDER
REDUCING PLANNED FUNDING IN 23
24. INSTEAD REQUESTS THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION PROVIDES SOME
KIND OF EVALUATION OR STATUS
UPDATE ON HOW THOSE NEW PROGRAMS
ARE GOING TO SEE IF THEY'RE AT
LEAST BEGINNING TO SHOW UM. YOU
KNOW, SHOW THE RESULTS THAT THE
STATE HAD HOPED FOR. UM AND THEN
THIS WOULD OBVIOUSLY INFORMED
FUTURE FUNDING DECISIONS BY THE
LEGISLATURE. AND THEN FOURTH. WE
SUGGEST THAT THE LEGISLATURE
COULD CONSIDER TAKING A
COORDINATED APPROACH AND SEEKING
REDUCTIONS TO PROGRAMS THAT HAVE
, UM SIMILAR OR COMPLEMENTARY
GOALS. SO FOR EXAMPLE, HAS SHOWN
ON PAGES 38 39 OF THE AGENDA. WE
NOTE THAT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF
AUGMENTATIONS FOR HABITAT
PROGRAMS. WHILE EACH PROGRAM IS
UNIQUE, AND DOES, UM, YOU KNOW,
SERVE IMPORTANT PURPOSES. UM
SEVERAL OF THESE PROGRAMS HAVE
SIMILAR GOALS, AND THE
LEGISLATURE COULD TAKE SORT OF A
HOLISTIC LOOK AT THESE
AUGMENTATIONS AND MAKE TARGETED
REDUCTIONS WHILE MAINTAINING
SOME OF THE COMPLEMENTARY GOALS
. SO BOTTOM LINE FROM OUR OFFICE
. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, ARE
SUGGESTED OUR SUGGESTIONS ARE
NOT A COMMENTARY ON THE MERITS
OF ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS. BUT
RATHER AN ATTEMPT TO HELP THE
LEGISLATURE MAKE SOME TOUGH
CHOICES. UM THIS YEAR AS WE FACE
A SIZABLE AND WORSENING BUDGET
DEFICIT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE
PANELIST? ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT
TO ADD MEMBERS? DO WE HAVE
QUESTIONS? SHIP.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RIVAS.
MCCONNELL. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE. THANKS FOR
YOUR PRESENTATIONS. I WANTED TO
FOLLOW UP WITH THE FEW QUESTIONS
, UM, WITH THE RECENT FLOODING
IN PLACES LIKE MY DISTRICT,
WHICH IS THE NORTH BAY MARINE
AND SONOMA. BUT ALSO THE
CATASTROPHIC SITUATIONS WE ARE
SEEING IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND
TULARE COUNTY. UM WHERE THERE'S
A IMMINENT RISK. HAS THE
ADMINISTRATION REASSESS THE NEED
FOR REDIRECTING ANY OF THE
PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED DIRECT
DROUGHT RESPONSE DOLLARS TO HELP
THESE COMMUNITIES. GOOD MORNING
. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. UM
MY NAME IS CINDY MESSER. WE W
OKAY. JUST MAKE SURE UM SO I'LL
TAKE A FIRST CRACK AT THAT AND
OTHERS CAN DEFINITELY WAY IN. UM
SO I THINK YOU KIND OF HIT IT.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT OUT OF
DROUGHT BECAUSE OF ONE VERY WET
WINTER, ALBEIT SO THERE ARE
DEFINITELY STILL AREAS AS YOU'VE
MENTIONED THAT ARE FEELING THE
IMPACTS OF THE LAST THREE YEARS
, CENTRAL VALLEY BEING OF
PARTICULAR INTEREST COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE VERY DEPENDENT ON
GROUNDWATER. OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW,
IT WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR THOSE
BASINS TO RECHARGE, WILL NEED
SEVERAL MORE REALLY GOOD YEARS
TO KIND OF GET THOSE MOVING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT I HAD MENTIONED
IN JUST KIND OF RUNNING QUICKLY
THROUGH HOW THE DEPARTMENT IS
IMPLEMENTED. FUNDING OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS IS WE DID RECEIVE
QUITE A FEW. YOU KNOW A LARGE
AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR IMMEDIATE
DROUGHT RELIEF AND WE HAVE
ACTUALLY COMMITTED A LOT OF THAT
FUNDING, SO GIVEN THE IMMEDIATE,
IMMEDIATE NEED FROM DROUGHT
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS.
WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE A LOT OF
THOSE DOLLARS QUICKLY OUT, AND I
WOULD SAY YOU KNOW, THERE WAS
DEFINITELY A NEED TO HELP
ADDRESS EMERGENCY SITUATIONS,
BUT A LOT OF THE OR SOME OF THE
PROJECTS THAT WE FUNDED ALSO
KIND OF LOOKED TOWARDS
RESILIENCY, SO HELPING
COMMUNITIES KIND OF BUILDING
ASKED YOU ABOUT THAT IN
PARTICULARLY TOWARD FLOODING AS
WELL. SO IF YOU SO RECHARGE
PROJECTS, OR ONE AREA THAT WE
HAVE OF LATE BEEN VERY, AND I
KNOW WE'LL TALK. PROBABLY A LOT
MORE ABOUT RECHARGE AS WE GO
THROUGH THE MORNING. BUT THAT IS
ONE AREA THAT WE HAD REALLY KIND
OF HAD AN EYE TOWARDS FOR
DROUGHT. UM YOU KNOW, TRYING TO
MOVE WATERS INTO AREAS TO HELP
REPLENISH GROUNDWATER BASINS.
BUT AS WE'RE FINDING, IT
ACTUALLY HAS MULTI BENEFITS SO
BEING ABLE TO DIVERT WATER WILL
TALK ABOUT A TEMPORARY PUMP
PROGRAM THAT WE JUST STARTED UP
. IT JUST FIRED UP OUR FIRST
PUMPS YESTERDAY, WORKING WITH,
UM FRESNO IRRIGATION DISTRICT
DOWN IN TILLERY AREA. SO YOU
KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS
WAYS TO KIND OF DO DUAL. UM YOU
KNOW, ASSISTANCE IF YOU WILL,
WITH SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT
WE'VE STARTED, SO THAT'S JUST
ONE EXAMPLE OF BEING ABLE TO
TAKE FLOODWATERS RECHARGE
FIELDS. WE'RE LOOKING FOR AREAS
WHERE THERE ALSO MAY BE DRY,
WELL ISSUES SO WE CAN KIND OF
GET THE DOUBLE BENEFIT OF THAT.
UM SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT NO
AND VERY GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE
RECHARGE ISSUE AS WELL. THAT'S
ON MY LIST. SO UNLESS ANYONE
ELSE WANTS TO CHIME IN JUST A
COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS, UM WHEN
DO YOU EXPECT ALL THE FUNDING
FOR THE DRINKING WATER
WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM TO BE COMMITTED. AS OF
JANUARY, THERE WAS STILL A
BILLION DOLLARS AND COMMITTED.
AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS A
DEMAND FOR THIS PROGRAM? YEAH I
WENT OVER. THE DEMAND ON THE
DRINKING WATER SIDE ALONE IS A
BILLION AND ON THE CLEAN WATER
SIDE, LET ME MAKE SURE I
REFERENCED THIS RIGHT FOR YOU,
UM IT WAS, UH. I WILL. INSTEAD
OF TRYING TO PICK THROUGH THIS,
I WILL MAKE SURE WE GET IT BACK
TO IT IS SIGNIFICANT. I KNOW ON
THE STATE REVOLVING FUND, UH,
SIDE, NOT THIS GRANT PROGRAM,
BUT SAY ON ON THE LOAN
COMPONENT, THERE'S WELL OVER
THREE BILLION WORTH OF LOANS IN
THE CLEAN WATER. SRF SO THE
DEMAND CERTAINLY OUTSTRIPS IT,
UH, WHEN WE WOULD BE FULLY
COMMITTED IN IN THIS FUNDING, I
WOULD SAY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS BUT THAT WOULD BE
TAKING A GUEST AND I WOULD NEED
TO REFER BACK TO OUR DIVISION OF
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. BUT AT
THIS POINT WE'VE COMMITTED 498.
SO ABOUT 500 MILLION WITHIN THIS
, YOU KNOW, FIRST YEAR AND A
HALF OR TWO, AND SO YOU KNOW, AT
THAT PACE WITHIN A COUPLE OF
YEARS GREAT. ARE THERE ANY
FEDERAL PROGRAMS OR FINDING
SOURCES THAT YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED
THAT CAN OFFSET SOME OF THE
CARDS PROPOSED HERE TODAY. YEAH
WHAT? WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE FOR
US. WE DO HAVE THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, WHICH WAS
PASSED. THERE WAS ALSO AN
INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, WHICH
HAD A FEW DOLLARS MORE GOING, I
THINK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR. SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS
ARE THROUGH FORMULAS SO THINGS
LIKE THE STATE REVOLVING FUND,
WHICH THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW LARGELY, UM,
THE BENEFITS OF THE WATER
COMPONENT, WHICH WAS ONLY ABOUT
15% OF THE BILL. WHEN THROUGH
THE STATE REVOLVING FUNDS, SO
THOSE ARE ALL FORMULAIC. I THINK
THAT I WOULD I WOULD KNOW AND
HAVE A NOTE OF CAUTION IS THAT
THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE
LAW WAS SUPPOSED TO WRITE ON TOP
OF OUR BASE FUNDING FOR THE
STATE REVOLVING FUND AND AGAIN.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL
PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN AROUND THAT
WE SPENT THE SUPPORTS WASTEWATER
AND DRINKING WATER LOANS,
LARGELY BUT ALSO LOAN
FORGIVENESS AND GRANTS. SO, UH
WITH YOUR MARKS BEING
REINTRODUCED INTO DC THOSE THAT
HAVE BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE
BASELINE PROGRAM, SO WE'RE
ACTUALLY RECEIVING ABOUT 50%
PERCENT LESS. FROM THE STATE
REVOLVING FUND BASELINE. WHAT WE
HAVE IS A BY PERSON
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, WHICH IS
KIND OF FILLING THAT GAP RIGHT
NOW, SO WE'RE WE'RE GETTING A
BIT MORE, ESPECIALLY IN LOAN
FORGIVENESS, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY
RECEIVING LESS THAN WE HAD
HISTORICALLY ON THE BASELINE, SO
IT COMPLICATES THIS, UM
EVALUATION OF HOW WE REALLY SEE
THESE FEDERAL FUNDS COMING DOWN
TO US, BUT THEY ARE THERE AND
THERE ARE SOME THAT CAN OFFSET.
THERE ARE EMERGING CONTAMINANTS
OF CONCERN, DOLLARS AS WELL.
THAT HELPS OFFSET THE FAST HIT
THAT, UH, IS BEING PROPOSED AND
ON WATER RECYCLING. UM THERE, I
WOULD JUST NOTE THAT IT REALLY
COMPETES WITH THE STATE
REVOLVING FOR THE CLEAN WATER
STATE REVOLVING FUND WITH
WASTEWATER PROJECTS GENERALLY.
SO YOU KNOW, GETTING A
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
UPGRADED, STOPPING AND
PREVENTING FAILURES, WHICH WE
CONTINUE TO SEE AS AN EVEN
LARGER PLANTS NOW IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND SO THE BALANCE
THERE IS, YOU KNOW IF YOU TRY TO
LEAN A LITTLE MORE ON THE CLEAN
WATER SRF FOR WATER RECYCLING
WITHOUT HAVING A MORE DEDICATED
POT, YOU PUT PRESSURE ON THE
WASTEWATER SIDE OF THINGS SO THE
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. YES WE
DO HAVE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL
DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING DOWN.
THAT AUGMENT AND HELP OUR STATE
COFFERS. BUT I WOULD I WOULD
CAUTION ON THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW. IT'S A BIT
OF A COMPLICATED STORY TO TELL.
BECAUSE OF THE EROSION OF YOU
KNOW, 54% YOU KNOW, NEARLY LESS
THAN WE WERE RECEIVING ON THE
STATE REVOLVING FUND GENERALLY
BECAUSE OF YOUR REMARKS. GREAT
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, IN
ADDITION TO KIND OF THE OTHER
STRATEGIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THIS MORNING CONSERVATION
RECYCLING RECHARGE. WHAT FUNDING
HAS BEEN PROVIDED AND WHAT
EFFORTS HAS A STATE UNDERTAKEN
TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY FOR
WATER STORAGE? THAT STORAGE
QUESTION I MIGHT LOOK MORE TO
DWR, BUT I WOULD JUST DONE OUR
PART KNOW THAT THE BOARD HAS
PENDING FOR IT BEFORE IT WHAT
WATER RIGHTS PERMIT FOR THE
SITES RESERVOIR AND THERE IS
SIMILAR PERMITTING ACTIVITIES
GOING ON THAT THESE LARGE
STORAGE PROJECTS AND STORAGE
PROJECTS GENERALLY OUT THERE
REQUIRE OFTENTIMES WATER RIGHT
OR OTHERWISE, WE'RE DOING OUR
PART TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING
VERY COMMUNICATIVE. TO PROJECT
PROPONENTS, HELPING TO PREPARE
EVERYONE AND SET EVERYONE ELSE.
EVERYONE UP FOR A COGENT AND AS
QUICK AS WE CAN PROCESS BEFORE
THE BOARD, BUT THESE ARE NOT
UNCOMPLICATED PROJECTS. BUT HERE
WE'RE FULLY COMMITTED TO DO OUR
PART TO HELP PROJECT PROPONENTS
ALONG AND HAVE THEIR THEIR THEIR
BEST HEARING WHICH WE CAN'T
PREDETERMINED AT THE BOARD,
ESPECIALLY ON WATER RIGHTS. UM
AND IMPORTANTLY, JUST NEED TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE A FAIR EVALUATION.
BUT ON THE FUNDING SIDE, OR
MAYBE LOOK TO, UM OTHER, UH,
FINANCE OR OR PART WATER
RESOURCES. SURGERY DEPARTMENT
FINANCE IN TERMS OF WATER
STORAGE, SO AS PART OF PROP. ONE
WAS ABOUT $2.7 BILLION THAT WAS
ALLOCATED FOR WATER STORAGE AND
THAT FUNDING IF THEY'RE BEING
IMPLEMENTED. IN ADDITION, LAST
YEAR THE WATER FUNDING THOSE
$500 MILLION THAT WOULD APPROVE
FOR WATER STORAGE AND THE OUT
HERE AND THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
MAINTAINS THAT $500 MILLION, SO
THAT'S NOT PART OF THE REDUCTION
. THE RESOLUTIONS ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT WATER STORAGE IS ONE OF THE
IMPORTANT COMPONENTS FOR OVERALL
WATER RESILIENCE. STRATEGY. SO
THAT 500 MILLION IS MAINTAINED
AS PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET. ANY OTHER MEMBER
QUESTIONS. COMMENTS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REVIS. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. I DON'T HAVE A
QUESTION, BUT JUST TO COMMENT TO
THE WATER BOARD, I KNOW THAT THE
STATE IS, UM, IMPLEMENTING THE
FEDERAL BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW FOR SAFE
DRINKING WATER. AND YOU KNOW, I
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE.
UM AND THE ADVOCATES, UM,
WORKING WITH ADVOCATES ON THIS
ISSUE IS PARTICULAR LEAD SERVICE
LINES AND WE'VE MET ABOUT THIS
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE
CHAIR, UM FOR HIS EFFORTS AND
WORKING WITH THE ADVOCATES, UM,
AND TO HELP ADDRESS THEIR
CONCERNS, I ALSO WANT ENCOURAGED
THE BOARD TO CONTINUE ENGAGING
WITH ADVOCATES AND TO KEEP INTO
CONSIDERATION WHEN IMPLEMENTING
, YOU KNOW THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW. THE HEALTH
PROTECTIONS ON THE CUSTOMER
SIDE, AND I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE
HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND JUST
WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT
LEADERSHIP. I KNOW LEAD,
ESPECIALLY EXPOSURE TO CHILDREN
, AND I HAVE APPRECIATED THEM
INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
AROUND SCHOOL TESTING AND IN
ENSURING THAT WE GET LET OUT OF
COMMUNITIES AND I WOULD JUST
NOTE UM, WE KNOW THAT YOU KNOW,
WE DON'T HAVE THE REAL MAINLINE
ISSUES WITH LEAD THAT ARE BACK
EAST. UM, BUT NONETHELESS WE
HAVE LED CHALLENGES HERE, UM,
THAT ARE MORE ASSOCIATED WITH
FIXTURES AND LIKE TYPES OF PARTS
OF FITTING GOOSE NECKS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH
SOMETIMES ARE A LITTLE HARDER TO
REALLY GET TO, BUT WE'RE
COMPLETELY COMPLETELY COMMITTED
AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE
LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE HAD ON
ALL THIS. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S. S¼ LEE. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. UM I'M FASCINATED
WITH THE FAST IT'S A SOMETHING
HAD NEVER HEARD ABOUT MET WITH
MY WATER AGENCIES. IT'S A IT'S
AN ISSUE OF GROWING CONCERN. MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE. THE
ACCEPTABLE LEVELS HAVE RECENTLY
BEEN. THE STANDARD HAS BEEN
INCREASED. IF YOU WILL, THE
ACCEPTABLE LEVELS HAVE BEEN
LOWERED. UM STATEWIDE. IS THAT
ACCURATE? WE HAVEN'T RECENTLY
LOWERED ANY. I KNOW THERE HAVE
BEEN RECENTLY WITHIN THE LAST
YEAR, PERHAPS YEAR AND A HALF OR
SO. ADOPTION OF NEW NOTIFICATION
LIMITS FOR NEW TYPES OF FAST WE
KNOW THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF, UM
POLYCHLORINATED ALKALI SUBSTANCE
COMPONENTS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S DIFFERENT, UM, CHAINS
AND VERSIONS OF THEM. AND SO
WE'RE KIND OF TRYING TO AT THIS
POINT, JUST BEST SUCCESS. WHAT'S
OUT THERE SO THAT WE CAN EVEN
UNDERSTAND? WELL, WHAT DO WE
NEED TO POTENTIALLY THINK ABOUT
REGULATING DOWN THE LINE? UM AND
SO THERE HAVEN'T BEEN AGAIN ANY
AND WE TO BE CLEAR AT THE STATE
HAVE NOT ADOPTED YET. MAXIMUM
CONTAMINANT LIMITS. WE DON'T
HAVE ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS FOR
PREFACE. WHAT WE HAVE OUR
NOTIFICATION LEVELS. UM AND
RESPONSE LEVELS THAT AGENCIES
ARE STILL ARE STILL OPERATING,
TOO, SO I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH
THAT. IN FACT, PEOPLE ARE
ACTUALLY ADDRESSING AND
OPERATING TO IT. UM, WHAT YOU
MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT IS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECENTLY
ADOPTING OR OR HERE. BEGINNING
THEIR REGULATORY PROCESS TO
ADOPT A MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT
LIMIT. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
WE'RE VERY BLESSED HERE IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND HAVING A
DIVISION OF DRINKING WATER THAT
IS ABLE TO AND HAS BEEN ADOPTING
MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LIMITS THESE
LAST DECADES WHERE THE E P A.
HAS IT. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME
SINCE THEY'VE ADOPTED ONE. AND
SO, UM, WE REALLY APPLAUD THE
EPA FOR MOVING FORWARD. UM IT
HELPS. YOU KNOW LESSON IF YOU
WILL, SOMETIMES THE BURDEN ON
WHAT WE WILL THEN BE ADDRESSING
BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER THINGS
LIKE MICROPLASTICS OUT THERE. UM
THERE'S OTHER EMERGING
CONTAMINANTS THAT WILL, YOU
KNOW, POTENTIALLY NEED TO
ADDRESS. UM AND SO HOPEFULLY
THAT'S HELPFUL. YEAH, THERE'S A
FEDERAL MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT
LIMIT THAT STARTED A PROCESS AND
THAT'S I THINK A BIT LOWER THAN
WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR
NOTIFICATION LEVELS AT OKAY. I
HEARD FROM SOME AGENCIES. THEY
WERE CONCERNED THAT, UM AND I
DON'T KNOW IF THESE WERE
PROPOSED LIMITS OR LIMITS MIGHT
IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY
DELIVER DRINKING WATER BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE THE FILTERS IN
PLACE TO REMOVE THE PEACE ASKED
APPARENTLY, IT'S A VERY
DIFFICULT CHEMICAL TO DETECT AND
REMOVE, UM SO I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THESE FUNDING
CUTS WELL, NUMBER ONE. DID THE
DEPARTMENT CONSIDERED FAST TO BE
A CARCINOGENIC? YEAH I MEAN,
THAT IS THE YES, THAT IS OUR
OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
HAZARD IS THE AGENCY THAT DOES
THE HUMAN HEALTH ASSESSMENTS AND
YES, THAT'S THE, UM I THINK IT'S
A IT'S THE END ROUTE IS, UM,
LONG TERM. WE'RE TALKING LIKE
ERIN BROCKOVICH DAYS LIKE PEOPLE
ARE GETTING CANCER FROM THIS
STUFF. YEAH THAT THAT IS REALLY
THE CONCERN. I'LL NOTE FOLKS
THAT ARE FOR FOLKS THAT ARE
LISTENING WHEN IT COMES TO THE
FAST CONTAMINATION WE HAVE IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. IT'S
NOT, UM AS AS AS SORT OF A
CRITICAL SITUATION IS
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HAD IT
MANUFACTURED WHERE YOU HAVE
REALLY HIGH LEVELS. REALLY, YOU
KNOW, CONCERNING UM, IMPACTS.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS REGRETTABLY
THAT THE IMPACT OF USAGE OF
THESE PRODUCTS SO UBIQUITOUSLY
AND IN OUR DAILY LIVES FOR
DECADES WHERE IT'S ACCUMULATED
IN GROUNDWATER ACCUMULATED IN
PLACES WHERE IT'S BEEN
DISCHARGED LIKE WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANTS, BUT IT'S STILL
IMPORTANTLY, NOT NECESSARILY THE
LEVELS OF PLACES WHERE IT'S BEEN
MANUFACTURED. IT'S STILL AN
ISSUE HERE, AND IT'S ONE THAT WE
ARE TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY. BUT
FOR THOSE THAT YOU KNOW, ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR DRINKING
WATER SOURCES CONCERNED, I, YOU
KNOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO PUT IN CONTEXT THAT
THERE ARE THINGS LIKE ARSENIC
AND REAL, UM THINGS THAT HAVE
ACUTE HUMAN IMPACTS IN THE
IMMEDIATE THAT ARE OUT THERE
STILL TOO, BUT IT IS A
CONCERNING THING AND HERE WHEN
IT COMES TO IMPACT ON DRINKING
WATER SYSTEMS, THEY'RE ALREADY
SYSTEMS THAT HAVE HAVE STOPPED
PUMPING GROUNDWATER THERE. THERE
HAVE BEEN IMPACTS IN ORANGE
COUNTY, PARTICULARLY, I KNOW AND
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, BUT I KNOW
ANAHEIM, YORBA LINDA. OTHERS HAD
TO CEASE THEIR GROUNDWATER USAGE
BECAUSE OF THE CONTAMINATION
THERE AND HAVE PUT IN TREATMENT
ALREADY. RESIDENTS CHANGE THEIR
SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AND SO I
THINK THERE'S I FEEL THE URGENCY
AND THE TENSION AROUND NEEDING
TO START TO RECOUP THESE DOLLARS
BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S
COMMUNITIES, RATEPAYERS THAT END
UP PAYING FOR THE COST OF
REMEDIATION OF AN ISSUE THAT
RIGHT THEY DIDN'T CAUSE CAUSE
EXACTLY SO. I APPRECIATE THOSE
ANSWERS. I JUST ENCOURAGED THAT
THIS REMAINS A PRIORITY. I SEE
THAT PROPOSALS TO CUT $70
MILLION I APPRECIATE THAT
SOMETHING THAT'S CAUSING CANCER
. I THINK THAT THE COMFORT YES.
I APPRECIATE THAT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S I THINK THE
COMFORT COMES IN SO FAR AS THERE
ARE ADDITIONAL EMERGING
CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN DOLLARS
FROM THE FEDERAL SIDE THAT WILL
DRAW DOWN TO REPLACE THAT 70,
BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO. YOU KNOW,
THE WE'RE NOT DONE WILL WILL
CONTINUE TO SPEAK A LOT FURTHER
ON THE NEED TO REMEDIATE THE
COST. AND ULTIMATELY THERE ARE
RESPONSIBLE PARTIES OUT THERE.
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR
THIS DEAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE LINE
OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING
FROM OUR COLLEAGUE HERE. I UM
I'M WORKING ON A CLIMATE
RESILIENCY BOND, AND THERE IS A
LARGE SECTION AS IT RELATES TO
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE WE'RE
ACTUALLY INCLUDING FUNDING,
ANTICIPATING THESE REDUCTIONS,
AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE HER
COLLEAGUE AND COLLEAGUES TO KIND
OF KEEP AN EYE ON THE LANGUAGE
THERE BECAUSE IF THESE, UM
BUDGET REDUCTIONS OR PAUSE
BUTTONS ARE HIT, WE HAVE
OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY BACKFILL
BUT ALSO INCREASED POTENTIAL
FUNDING TO HELP ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES, AND THEY ARE IN SPECIFIC
COMMUNITIES OF CALIFORNIA. THIS
IS IN A STATE WIDE ISSUE. SO UM
WE'RE BEING VERY INTENTIONAL
WITH THE LANGUAGE AND THE BOND,
AND THEY JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE
OUR COLLEAGUE AND FRIENDS HERE
TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THAT. SO
WE'RE LOOKING AT LOOKING OUT FOR
THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT AREA
WITH FUNDING AS WELL. THANK YOU.
NO OTHER QUESTIONS. I'LL JUMP
INTO MY COMMENTS FIRST OVERALL,
UM I THINK THAT THERE'S GENERAL
ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE
ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH AND
WHAT I THINK I PERCEIVE AS
LEGISLATURES VIEWS ABOUT THIS
PARTIALLY BECAUSE THERE AREN'T
MAJOR CUTS IN YEAH, THESE AREAS
BECAUSE I THINK YOU RIGHTFULLY
IN L A, I THINK AGREES. YOU'RE
IDENTIFYING. THESE ARE THE MOST
ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON. SO I WOULD
. OVERALL I GUESS I WOULD WANT
TO JUST MAKE THIS COMMENT, AND
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
UM, IF YOU WANT TO WORK IN WATER
IN CALIFORNIA. UM THE PUBLIC AS
IMPORTANT AS WATER IS FOR THE
GENERAL PUBLIC. THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND ANYTHING EXCEPT
TURNED THE TAP. I SHOULDN'T SAY
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING,
BUT THEY GENERALLY THEY TURNED
THE TAP. THEY EXPECT THE WATER
TO COME OUT AND THE
COMPLICATIONS OF HAVING THAT BE
. THE CASE IN A STATE LIKE
CALIFORNIA ARE SIGNIFICANT. I
MEAN, WE HAVE THE CANAL THAT
BRINGS WATER. YOU KNOW ALL THE
WAY FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH,
AND IT'S JUST NOT LIKE THE OLD
DAYS AND IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S AN
UNCOMPLICATED SYSTEM. UM AND SO,
UH, VIEW ALL HAVE A REALLY
IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY, UM, TO
MEET THAT NEED FOR EVERYBODY AND
DEAL THE PUBLIC COUNCIL ON YOU
AND US TO FIGURE OUT THE
COMPLICATED ASPECTS OF IT AND
CREATE THE RELIABILITY THAT'S
JUST ESSENTIAL. AND WHEN YOU SEE
THAT BREAK DOWN, YOU SEE HOW
TRAGIC IT CAN BE. AND WHEN WE
SEE THOSE UM LOW INCOME FARM
WORKER COMMUNITIES IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY. UM AND YOU READ
THE RECENT ARTICLES THAT HAVE
RECENTLY COME OUT. BLOOMBERG
NEWS THE L A TIMES BOTH HAD, YOU
KNOW, HEARTBREAKING ARTICLES
ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE
YOUR WELL GO DRY. UM, AND THAT
IT'S GOING TO BE MORE TALKED
ABOUT IN OUR SECOND THE ISSUE
ITEM HERE WHEN WE GET MORE
SPECIFIC ABOUT GROUNDWATER IT IT
REMINDS US OF JUST HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT
WHEN IT COMES TO WATER. THANK
YOU. SO, UM MOST OF WHAT WE HAVE
SET UP HERE BECAUSE THERE IS
GENERAL ALIGNMENT IS THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET
INFORMATION, SPECIFIC
INFORMATION IN MY MIND SO WE CAN
ANSWER QUESTIONS SO WE CAN BE
MORE INFORMED AS POLICYMAKERS
ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
HOW ARE WE IMPLEMENTING? WHAT
ARE THE ISSUES AND THAT'S PART
OF WHY WE SEPARATED THIS? WE HAD
ALL THE OTHER WATER. AGENCY
ISSUES IN PREVIOUS HEARINGS WE
CARVED OUT, YOU KNOW DWR AND THE
STATE WATER BOARD SPECIFICALLY
SO THAT WE COULD ASK THESE
QUESTIONS, SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE WE TRIED TO GET THESE
QUESTIONS TO YOU IN ADVANCE. I
HAVE COME UP WITH A FEW OTHERS
THAT I DIDN'T GET TO YOU IN
ADVANCE. SO MY APOLOGIES FOR
THAT, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU'RE
PREPARED FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT
WE HAVE AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE.
I ALREADY ASKED A NUMBER OF THE
QUESTIONS IN IN THIS PARTICULAR
CATEGORY. UM PHILOSOPHICALLY.
I'D LIKE TO GET BOTH THE
ADMINISTRATION IN LAO TO WEIGH
IN. WE HAVE THIS INTERESTING
THING GOING ON IN THE BUDGET
WHERE THERE WERE CUTS THAT ARE.
POTENTIALLY NOT THAT POPULAR OF
CUTS. WE OFTENTIMES SEE THE
STATEMENT WHAT WILL MAKE THESE
TRIGGERS IF WE HIT A CERTAIN
TRIGGER. IF WE HAVE THE MONEY
WILL RESTORE THE FUNDING. ON THE
OTHER HAND, WE HAVE A SUGGESTION
THAT WE, UM THAT WE DELAY
EXPENDITURES. ALRIGHT UH AND WE
HAVE AN LAO SUGGESTION OF
INSTEAD OF DELAYING. WHY DON'T
YOU JUST CUT ALL OF THESE ARE
SORT OF LIKE, UM, DISTINCTIONS
WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE IN MY MIND
TO SOME EXTENT, IF WE HAVE THE
MONEY, WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT IT
INTO A TRIGGER WHERE WE'RE
ALREADY COMMITTED. UM SO BECAUSE
WE COULD WE COULD PUT THAT BACK
IN AS L. A O HAS POINTED OUT A
NUMBER OF TIMES ON THE OTHER
HAND, UM, IF IT IS LEFT IN THE
BUDGET, BUT DELAYED, UM WE COULD
ALWAYS CUT IT OUT LATER. SO I
CAN'T HAVE REALLY LIKE TO HAVE
YOU BOTH WEIGH IN, PARTICULARLY
ON THIS ONE. WHAT'S WHAT WOULD
BE THE DIFFERENCE FOR US? BUDGET
WISE? IF WE INSTEAD OF DELAYING
THIS FUNDING, JUST CUT IT AND
THEN RE EVALUATED LATER AND I'M
GONNA START WITH LAOS AND YOU'RE
THE ONES THAT ARE SORT OF
SUGGESTING THAT AS AN OPTION,
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU'RE
SAYING WE CAN DO THAT. YOU'RE
JUST TRYING TO CRAFT OPTIONS,
AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT
OPTION A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN
I DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME. YOU
KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. SONIA PADDOCK FROM THE
L A. OH, ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH
THE PROPOSED DELAYS IS THAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT SORT OF A BUDGET
PROBLEM OVER A MULTIYEAR PERIOD
. AND SO THERE'S NO GUARANTEE
THAT, UM COME 24 25. WE'RE GOING
TO BE IN A POSITION TO
ACCOMMODATE THAT, UM, SPENDING
COMING BACK. BY MAKING IT A CUT
AND THEN CONSIDERING IT LATER,
WHEN BUDGET CONDITIONS ARE
BETTER. IT MEANS WE'RE NOT SORT
OF LOCKED IN. AND I GUESS ONE
POINT I'D MAKE HERE IS THAT WHEN
BUDGET CONDITIONS ARE BETTER,
AND WE DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW, IF
THAT'S GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR, IF
THAT'S GOING TO BE SEVERAL YEARS
DOWN, THE ROAD PRIORITIES MAY
HAVE SHIFTED SOMEWHAT, AND WE
DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE GOING TO
BE THE MOST PRESSING. ISSUES AND
ITEMS AND PROGRAMS TO FUND AT
THAT POINT. IF THEY ARE YOU CAN
CERTAINLY YOU CERTAINLY HAVE THE
CHOICE TO, UM, RESTORE FUNDING
THAT YOU CUT PREVIOUSLY. UM SO
THAT'S SORT OF WHERE WE'RE
COMING FROM. I APPRECIATE THAT,
BUT BUT THE SAME THING IS TRUE
AND THAT WE COULD CUT THOSE
PROGRAMS. WE COULD CUT THOSE
PROGRAMS LATER. ALSO DOES IT
CHANGE? BUT DOES IT? DOES IT
CHANGE ANY BUDGETING? ACTION I
MEAN, IF WE LEAVE IT TO MAKE YOU
KNOW, WE LEAVE A BILLION DOLLARS
IN, YOU KNOW, FOR THE 25 26
BUDGET. LET'S SAY YOU'RE 24 25
BUDGET. THIS IS 24 25 BUDGET.
DOES THAT CHANGE ANYTHING?
WHETHER WE LEFT IT IN OR WE
DIDN'T WHEN WE GET TO 24 25. WE
DO THE BUDGET EXCEPT THE FACT
THAT IT'S ALREADY IN AND SO NOW
YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO
CUT IT OR NOT. IS IT THAT? DOES
IT HIGHLIGHT? THE ONLY THING I
CAN SEE IS THAT HIGHLIGHTS IT
MORE THAT IT'S EITHER BEEN
REMOVED OR NOT. COULD YOU HELP
ME? I THINK A COUPLE, YOU KNOW,
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
QUESTION. I'D MAKE A COUPLE OF
POINTS THERE. ONE IS THAT BOTH
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
OUR OFFICE, THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE. LOOK AT TRYING
TO BALANCE THE BUDGET OVER THE
MULTI YEAR PERIOD, SO MAKING
THOSE CUTS ACTUALLY WOULD HELP
BALANCE THE BUDGET OVER THE
MULTI YEAR PERIOD BECAUSE THE
BUDGET PROBLEM THAT WAS
ESTIMATED IN JANUARY HAS ALREADY
WORSENED. AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT, UM NOT JUST 23 24, BUT
SEVERAL YEARS, UM SEVERAL YEARS
BEYOND THAT, AS WELL. AND THEN
THE SECOND POINT THAT I WOULD
MAKE ABOUT, UM THE IDEA OF SORT
OF KEEPING, KEEPING THE FUNDING
IN AND DELAYING IT AND BRINGING
IT BACK LIKE, COULDN'T YOU JUST
CUT THAT FUNDING IN A FUTURE
YEAR? I GUESS. UM I GUESS WE
WOULD JUST SAY THAT THAT'S
CERTAINLY AN OPTION. IT'S UM
IT'S A HARD CHOICE TO COME BACK
AND HAVE TO CUT IT AGAIN. UH,
YOU KNOW, SO IT'S WHETHER OR NOT
YOU WANT TO. KEEP COMING BACK
EACH YEAR AND SAYING, LIKE, CAN
WE REALLY AFFORD IT THIS YEAR,
AS OPPOSED, AS OPPOSED TO SORT
OF CUTTING IT NOW? AND THEN
REVISITING THE ISSUE WHEN WE
HAVE BETTER BUDGET THAT'S
HELPFUL. THANK YOU. ANYTHING THE
ADMINISTRATION WANT TO ADD TO
THAT, SO MAYBE I'LL TALK A
LITTLE ABOUT THIS SURGERY
DEPARTMENT FINANCE SO MAYBE JUST
TAKING A STEP BACK IN TERMS OF
THE OVERALL BUDGET FRAMEWORK OF
THE BUDGET ARCHITECTURE, SO AS
PART OF THE OVERALL BUDGET
FRAMEWORK TO TRY TO SOLVE FOR
THE $22.5 BILLION BUDGET GAP,
THE ADMINISTRATION DID TAKE A
BALANCED APPROACH AT LOOKING AT
THESE VARIOUS CATEGORIES AND HOW
HOW MUCH OF THE REDUCTION WE
PLACED WITHIN THESE CATEGORIES.
WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
FUNDING DELAYS. WHETHER WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT REDUCTION THAT
PULLBACKS WHICH ARE ARE TRUE
TROOP REDUCTIONS, WHETHER WE'RE
LOOKING AT FUND SHIFTS TRIGGERED
REDUCTIONS OR LIMITED BORROWING
, SO WE TRIED TO TAKE A BALANCED
APPROACH WITHIN EACH OF THOSE
CATEGORIES WHEN TALKING ABOUT
TRIGGERS AND DELAYS, UM, YOU
KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE TRIGGER AH
, AS WE HAD PROPOSED IT ONE OF
THE BENEFITS OF THE TRIGGER.
AND, UM IS NOT NEEDING TO WAIT
FOR ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE
ACTION TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMS. SO
THESE PROGRAMS ARE OUR PROGRAMS
AND FUNDING THAT THE LEGISLATURE
ADMINISTRATION PREVIOUSLY AGREED
TO. SO BY PUTTING IN THE TRIGGER
. AH YOU KNOW, STARRING JULIA
JANUARY NEXT YEAR IF THE
PHYSICAL CONDITION IMPROVES,
THOSE PROGRAMS AUTOMATICALLY
COME BACK ON AND THE DEPARTMENT
COULD CONTINUE IMPLEMENTING THEM
WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAYS. NOW
IF WE IF WE WOULDN'T DO THAT,
THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE BACK,
WHICH WILL THEN CAUSE THEM SOME
DELAYS IN IMPLEMENTING THE
PROGRAM. SO THAT'S YOU KNOW, ONE
OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE THOUGHT
OF THE TRIGGER. AND AGAIN, IT
REALLY IS CONTINUING THE SAME
PROGRAMS AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS
PREVIOUSLY AGREED TO, SO THERE'S
NO CHANGE IN AND YOU KNOW
PURPOSE AND THEN IN TERMS OF
LOOKING AT YOU KNOW WHETHER WE
DO A DELAY VERSUS REDUCTION, I
THINK, UH, MY COLLEAGUE'S POINT
FROM FROM THE ELIO IS CAPTURING
IT WITHIN THE MULTI YEAR BECAUSE
WE ALSO DO A MULTIYEAR BUDGET TO
HAVE YOU KNOW OUT HERE? FOUR
CASTLES IN THE REVENUE
ACKNOWLEDGING THESE ARE SOME,
YOU KNOW, PRIORITY PROGRAM THAT
WE DO WANT TO MAINTAIN. WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE COSTS
ARE ACCOUNTED FOR WITHIN THE
MULTI YEAR AND IT DOESN'T SHOW
THAT THERE'S MONEY YOU KNOW,
POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE FOR OTHER
THINGS. WE WANT TO COMMIT THIS
FUNDING FOR THESE PRIORITY
PROGRAMS. AND SO THAT IS ONE OF
THE BENEFITS OF, UH FOR CERTAIN
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING DELAYS SO
THAT THEY COULD STILL BE
CAPTURED WITHIN THE OVERALL
BUDGET, MULTIYEAR. GREAT THANK
YOU. THIS IS A QUESTION. I
DIDN'T GIVE YOU AN ADVANCE
NOTICE ON SO IF YOU WANT TO GET
BACK TO ME LATER ON IT, BUT, UM,
DO YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN AND
TERMS OF THE YOU KNOW THE GRANT
FUNDING THAT WE GET OUT THERE,
ETCETERA FOR, UM, SEWAGE
TREATMENT PLANTS AND WATER
PROJECTS. BREAKDOWN IN TERMS OF
THE INCOME LEVELS OF THE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GETTING
THOSE GRANTS. HOW MUCH IS GOING
TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES?
HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CHALLENGED
VERSUS COMMUNITIES BECAUSE RAPE
PAIRS AS AS THIS POINTED OUT IN
THIS REPORT, YOU KNOW, PAYING
THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALL OF
THESE PROJECTS AND REPAIRS IN
SOME COMMUNITIES, MUCH LESS
ABILITY. SO I'D LOVE TO HAVE
THAT THOSE STATISTICS IF YOU IF
YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT FOR US,
UM, AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE
WILL GO ON TO, UH, I ISSUE ITEMS
TO, UM WHICH IS SOME OTHER ITEMS
. UM BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO
ISSUE ITEM TO I DO WANT TO ASK A
QUESTION THAT'S UNRELATED BUT IS
TIMELY IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT
THIS AFTERNOON UM THE. THE
ENERGY COMMITTEE IS HAS A ENERGY
TRAILER BILL. UM AND THE
ADMINISTRATION. WE WERE ASKED,
PARTICULARLY DWR AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. UH, WILL
THEY BE THERE THIS AFTERNOON AND
THE ENERGY COMMITTEE TO DEFEND,
UH TO THE FEND THEIR PROPOSAL?
UM, IS QUESTION I'VE I WONDER IF
YOU GUYS KNOW THE ANSWER TO
WHETHER DWR AND DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. I'M GOING TO LOOK TO
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES BACK HERE
AT A DOUBLE CHECK OF WEED AND
PART OF WHY MATCHING THAT NOW IS
MAYBE SOMEBODY CAN CHECK AND
WHILE WE'RE STILL IN THE
HEARING, BUT SUDDENLY MEMBER
GARCIA ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD
ON THIS. THANK YOU FOR ASKING
THE QUESTION WE DO HAVE. WHAT
WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE TAKEN THE
BUDGET. PROPOSAL BY THE
ADMINISTRATION PUT IT INTO A
POLICY VEHICLE. WANTING TO HAVE
A KIND OF THOROUGH. POLICY
DELIBERATION ON THE MATTER, AND
WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION WOULD PARTICIPATE
IN THAT CONVERSATION. I THINK IT
COULD BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL. UM
AS WE EITHER LAND, AND, UM, THIS
SPACE WHERE IT WILL BE A BUDGET.
UH POLICY, YOU KNOW, UM,
ADOPTION THAT IS CONSIDERED OR
THE BILL MOVE ALL THE WAY
THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT WE
CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS
MATTER. POSSIBLE. WE DON'T HAVE
OUR ENERGY TEAMS HERE AND SO I'M
NOT SPECIFICALLY SURE IF THERE'S
AN INTENT TO ATTEND, BUT WE
COULD WE COULD FOLLOW UP AND ASK
THE ENERGY TEAMS WERE
EFFECTIVELY AT FINANCE AT DWR TO
SEE IF THERE'S ANY PLANS. IF YOU
GET THE ANSWER WHILE WE'RE IN
SESSION, AND YOU WANT TO MAKE
YOUR RESPONSE PUBLIC, I'M SURE
SADLY, MEMBER GARCIA WOULD
APPRECIATE THAT. AND IF NOT
CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND. UM
ALRIGHTY. THANK YOU. UM SO WE'RE
GOING TO THIS IS THE SORT OF
CATCH ALL CATEGORY ISSUE ISSUE
ITEM TOO. BUT THIS IS SORT OF
WHERE THE DETAILS ARE THAT I WAS
REFERRING TO THAT WE HAVE, I
THINK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WE'D
LIKE TO ASK SO AGAIN. WE, UH
WHOEVER WHAT'S TO SERVE ON THE
PANEL FOR ISSUE ITEM TO IF YOU
APPROACH SWITCH FOLKS OUT HERE.
THAT'S SO.
MR LEAF. AGAIN YEAH, WHOEVER IS
GOING TO BEGIN FOR YOU GUYS.
GREAT. UM THANK YOU CHAIR. UH
CHIP IN IT. COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'M PAUL GOSLIN I'M DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES OVER THE
SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT OFFICE. WHAT I WANT
TO DO IS BEGIN LITTLE BACKGROUND
AND UPDATE IS TO WHERE WE'RE AT
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT ACT. UM THE LAW CALLS
FOR LOCAL AGENCIES TO FORM AS
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY
AGENCIES, WHICH ALSO KNOWN AS
SOUS AND WORK WITH LOCAL
GROUNDWATER USERS, DEVELOP AND
IMPLEMENT GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY PLANS TO ACHIEVE
THE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS OF
GROUNDWATER BASINS OVER A 20
YEAR PERIOD. I'VE BEEN RECENTLY
QUOTING WINSTON CHURCHILL, UM,
SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS
LIKE WE'VE BEEN AT THIS A LONG
TIME, BUT REALLY, JUST NEARING
THE END OF THE BEGINNING. OF
THAT JOURNEY TOWARDS GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY. UM AND WITH THAT
, YOU KNOW THE ACTED PUT IN A
NUMBER OF STRICT DEADLINES. UM
AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT
TO DATE, THE DEPARTMENT AND
LOCAL AGENCIES HAVE MET EVERY
DEADLINE. UM AND FOR THE
DEPARTMENT, WE PLAY A DUAL ROLE
OF PROVIDING LOCAL ASSISTANCE
AND CONDUCTING COMPLIANCE
OVERSIGHT. IT'S REALLY IN OUR UM
DNA IF YOU WILL TO REALLY ENSURE
THAT GROUNDWATER BECOMES
SUSTAINABLE, UM IN THE STATE, UM
AND THROUGH OUR DATA ACQUISITION
, ISSUANCE OF GUIDANCE
FACILITATION AND TECHNICAL
SUPPORT IS CRITICAL TO THE
SUCCESS OF GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY. NOW LET ME
DESCRIBE THE PLANS AND THE
STATUS OF OUR VIEWS OF THESE
PLANS. UM EVERY BASIN SUBJECT TO
THE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT ACT. HAS ADOPTED A
PLAN. UM WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE ONCE LOCAL AGENCIES
ADOPT A PLAN THEY BEGIN
IMPLEMENTING, UM YOU KNOW, UPON
ADOPTION, SO IT'S QUITE A AN
ACHIEVEMENT TO HAVE TO REACH
THIS POINT, AND THESE PLANS ARE
ROADMAP FOR HOW LOCAL AGENCIES
ARE GOING TO RELIABLY PROVIDE
GROUNDWATER TO THE COMMUNITIES
OVER THE LONG HAUL IN A
SUSTAINABLE WAY. UM AND SIGMA
DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT TO
EVALUATE THESE PLANS TO
DETERMINE IF THEY'RE USING THE
BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE AND
INFORMATION AND A REASONABLY
LIKE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS FOR EACH
BASIN. THE CRITERIA FOR PLANT
EVALUATION IS IN THE STATES
REGULATIONS, AND WE HAD TWO
YEARS TO ACHIEVE THE DEADLINE TO
REVIEW AND AGAIN THIS IS GOING
TO BE THE INITIAL REVIEW OF THE
PLAN. UM WHERE THERE ARE
MULTIPLE PLANS IN A SINGLE BASIN
OF BASINS DEVELOPED UNDER A
COORDINATION AGREEMENT WILL
PROVIDE A SINGLE ASSESSMENT FOR
THAT BASIN OR OR BASINS. WE DO
NOT LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL PLANS AND
BASINS. WE LOOK AT A BASIN IN
TOTAL. SO THE CURRENT STATUS IN
2020. WE RECEIVED 46 PLANS FOR
21 BASINS, AND THESE ARE
CRITICALLY LARGELY CRITICALLY
OVER DRAFTED BASINS. AND WE
REVIEW THESE PLANS FOR, UM
WHAT'S CALLED IN THE REGULATIONS
, SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE. IT'S
NO PLAN IS GOING TO BE PERFECT
AND NOT GOING TO BE COMPLETE.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE DATA GAPS
AND WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT PLANS
TO ADAPT AND I'LL BE SPEAKING
MORE TO THAT IN A BIT. IN 2022.
WE RECEIVED 65 PLANS FROM 63
BASINS, AND THESE ARE FROM THE
NON CRITICALLY OVER DRAFTED
BASINS. UM SO, UM, WE'VE BEEN
REVIEWING PLANS ISSUING
DETERMINATIONS ON MARCH 2ND. WE
COMPLETED DETERMINATIONS FOR 12.
GROUNDWATER BASINS LARGELY IN
THE CENTRAL VALLEY. THEY WERE
DEEMED INITIALLY INCOMPLETE
BECAUSE WE FOUND A NUMBER OF
DEFICIENCIES THAT PRECLUDED OUR
APPROVAL. WE ENDED OUT UM
APPROVING SIX OF THOSE BASINS
AND THEN SIX BECAME REDEEMED
INADEQUATE AND THEN OUR SUBJECT
TO OVERSIGHT BY THE STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD. UM AND
AGAIN JUST TODAY, WITH THE
CRITICALLY OVER DRAFTED BASINS
AND NON CRITICALLY OVER DRAFTED
BASINS WITH APPROVED 18 BASINS.
UM TODAY, THERE WAS SIX
INADEQUATE. THERE'S STILL ONE
REMAINING THAT'S INCOMPLETE. AND
WE HAVE NINE BASINS WHERE WE
WERE APPROVED IN ALTERNATIVE
PLANT. THEY CAME IN WITH
SOMETHING THAT WAS ANALOGOUS TO
WHAT'S REQUIRED IN IN G S. P S.
SO WE STILL HAVE 59 BASINS TO
EVALUATE AND REVIEW BY NEXT
JANUARY, SO THERE'S A
CONSIDERABLE WORK AHEAD. WE'RE
REALLY CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT. UM AND
AGAIN ALL OUR DETERMINATIONS.
ALL OUR FINDINGS OF POSTED ON
OUR PORTAL. IT'S OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT. UM BUT AS WE LOOK
AHEAD, AND I THINK THE SUBJECT
OF OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL IS
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AHEAD. UM
AGENCIES WE HAVE YET TO ISSUE
GUIDANCE AND COMPLIANCE ON
INTERCONNECTED SURFACE WATER
INTER BASIN COORDINATION WHERE
ONE BASINS PLANNED CAN'T
PRECLUDE AN ADJOINING BASIN FROM
ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS ALWAYS
GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS
GOING TO NEED TO BE IMPROVED AS
WELL AS THOSE DATA GAPS, UM AND
KEEPING TRACK OF THEIR. UM UH
ACHIEVEMENT OF THEIR GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, SO THERE'S
A LOT MORE WORK AHEAD, A LOT
MORE DATA THAT NEEDS TO BE
DEVELOPED BUT REAL CONFIDENT,
EVEN THOUGH WE WERE THE LAST
STATE WAS THE MISSISSIPPI TO
HAVE A STATEWIDE GROUNDWATER LAW
. I THINK THE STRUCTURE HAS
REALLY PROVEN IT'S PROBABLY THE
BEST STRUCTURE AND I THINK WE'RE
REALLY ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY IN
THE BASIN SUBJECT TO, UM SIGMA.
SO WITH THAT OUT CLOTHES AND
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
NEXT PRESENTER. GOOD MORNING. MY
NAME IS CHRIS LEE FROM THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR THE
CENTRAL VALLEY FLOOD PROTECTION
BOARD. UH I'VE BEEN ON THE JOB
FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. UM I
WELCOME THANK YOU. I I'LL DEFER
TO MY COLLEAGUES FROM DWR AND
THE SPECIFICS OF THE FLOOD
PREVENTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
PROPOSALS, BUT JUST WANTED TO
SAY THE BOARD IS A STRONG
PARTNER IN IMPLEMENTING THESE
PROPOSALS, WHICH ARE CONSISTENT
WITH THE 22 22 UPDATE TO THE
CENTRAL VALLEY FLOOD PROTECTION
PLAN. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
MR GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE CHRIS
CHANNEL, MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES FOR INTEGRATED
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY BE
PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. AND
WANT TO ECHO SOME PREVIOUS
COMMENTS. I THINK MY CHAIR ESTÁ
BELL, JUST AROUND THE
APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK OF
THIS COMMITTEE HAS DONE TO
SUPPORT SO MANY GOOD INVESTMENTS
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN
PARTICULAR, UM, AS WE HAVE
REALLY SEEN SUCH AN INCREASE IN
EXTREME CLIMATIC SWINGS. UH BACK
IN 2007, AND I'LL TRY TO KEEP
THIS AS BRIEF AS I CAN. BUT BACK
IN 2007 IS A LITTLE BIT OF
CONTEXT FOLLOWING HURRICANE
KATRINA IN THE GULF COAST AND
SOME SOME LITIGATION IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA
THAT REALLY ESTABLISHED UH,
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY
REALLY FOR THE STATE WHEN IT
COMES TO FLOOD PROTECTION
RESPONSIBILITIES. UM FOLLOWING
BOTH OF THOSE EVENTS. THE
LEGISLATURE PASSED THROUGH SB
FIVE. THEN SENATOR MACHADO WAS
HIS HIS LEGISLATION, UH, BILL TO
DO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, REQUIRED
THE DEVELOPMENT EVERY FIVE YEARS
OF UPDATES TO A NEW CENTRAL
VALLEY FLOOD PROTECTION PLAN.
PRIOR TO THAT THERE WAS NO
STRATEGIC OVERARCHING PLAN FOR
STATE INVESTMENT IN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY. AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY A
SIGNIFICANT REASON WHY WE WERE
FOUND TO HAVE LIABILITY AFTER
CERTAIN FLOOD EVENTS EARLIER IN
THE NINETIES. SO IN 2012. THE
FIRST PLAN WAS DEVELOPED IN 2017
. IT WAS UPDATED ITS FIRST TIME
AND MOST RECENTLY, UM AS THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE CENTRAL
VALLEY FLOOD BOARD, JUST
MENTIONED, UH THE SECOND UPDATE
TO THAT PLAN, THE 2022 UPDATE
WAS ADOPTED. THAT PLAN LAYS OUT
A STRATEGIC GAME PLAN FOR THE
INVESTMENT OF BETWEEN 24 $30
BILLION OVER THE NEXT 30 PLUS
YEARS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT
YOU'LL HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY
THAT YOU DO HAVE BEFORE YOU
TODAY IS A 30 SOME ODD MILLION
DOLLAR PROPOSAL FOR US TO WORK
ON THE 2020. SEVEN I BELIEVE
UPDATE OF THE CENTRAL VALUE
FLOOD PROTECTION PLAN. THAT IS A
GOOD DEAL, GIVEN THAT IT IS THE
STRATEGIC GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR
TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. UH,
THOSE PLANNING INVESTMENTS GO A
LONG WAY IN UPDATING OUR ABILITY
TO, UM, UM, TO MODEL TO PREDICT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ON THE
CUTTING EDGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
ANALYSES TO DO FULL,
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS OF THE
STATUS OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY
FLOOD SYSTEM FOR WHICH WE ARE
RESPONSIBLE. UM SO YOU'LL SEE
THAT IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY WE
CAN GET MORE INTO THAT IF YOU
WOULD LIKE. A COUPLE OF THE
OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE IN
FRONT OF YOU FOR FLOOD
PROTECTION REALLY SPEAKS TO THE
BREADTH AND NOT THE ENTIRE
BREATH BUT REALLY GOOD SWATH OF
THE BREATH OF RESPONSIBILITIES
THAT DWR AND IN MANY WAYS, THE
CENTRAL VALLEY FLOOD PROTECTION
BOARD HAVE IN COMBINATION WITH
EACH OTHER. FOR REDUCING FLOOD
RISK. CONSISTENT WITH THE VISION
THAT'S LAID OUT IN THAT CENTRAL
VALLEY FLOOD PLAN. SO YOU HAVE A
PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THE
URBAN FLOOD RISK REDUCTION
PROGRAM. VERY STRONG PROGRAM
SUPER IMPORTANT FOR MANY REASONS
, TWO OF WHICH, BEING THAT IT'S
A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED
ON THE URBAN CORES OF THE
CENTRAL VALLEY. WHERE UM,
MAJORITY OF FOLKS LIVE BUT ALSO
THE MAJORITY OF WHERE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS ARE AS
WELL, UM EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS
THAT THOSE FUNDS LEVERAGE FAR
MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS. THEN WE
ARE REQUIRED TO PUT FORWARD SO
FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE PUT FORWARD.
WE LEVERAGE BETWEEN TWO AND FOUR
FEDERAL DOLLARS THROUGH THAT
SAME PROGRAM. YOU ALSO SEE
INVESTMENTS FOR DELTA, BOTH
HABITAT AND FLOOD RISK REDUCTION
PROJECTS. THIS IS CONSISTENT
WITH, UM, ACTUALLY LEGISLATIVE
MANDATE FROM A COUPLE OF DECADES
AGO REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT TO
INVEST IN MAINTENANCE AND LARGER
PROJECTS FOR THE INTEGRITY OF
DELTA ISLANDS. SO IMPORTANT FOR
THE 27 MILLION AMERICAN SORRY
CALIFORNIANS WHO RELY ON DELTA
WATER SUPPLY FOR THEIR DRINKING
WATER. UM AND FOR THE LOCAL
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY IN THAT
SAME REGION. SO THERE'S A COUPLE
OTHER PROPOSALS IN THERE AS WELL
HAPPY TO DIVE INTO THOSE, BUT
THAT CENTRAL VALLEY FLOOD PLAN
HUGELY IMPORTANT FOR SETTING
THAT VISION, SETTING THE
PRIORITIES LARGE STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT IN THAT PROCESS. IT'S
REALLY A CONSENSUS DOCUMENT IN A
LOT OF WAYS AND LOOKING FORWARD
TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH YOU
ON THESE PROPOSALS. AND HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
OTHER ADMINISTRATION
PRESENTATION. RIGHT. HELLO?
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, SONIA
PADDOCK WITH THE L A. OH, UM WE
WANT TO START BY NOTING THAT AS
HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED.
WE'RE FACING A BUDGET PROBLEM
THIS YEAR, AND IN LIGHT OF THAT
WE SUGGEST THE LEGISLATURE APPLY
PRETTY HIGH BAR TO ANY NEW
SPENDING PROPOSALS, AS THAT
ESSENTIALLY MEANS. YOU HAVE TO
REDUCE FUNDING FOR PREVIOUS
COMMITMENTS, LIKE EVERY DOLLAR
OF NEW SPENDING MEANS A DOLLAR
LESS FOR SOMETHING YOU'VE YOU'VE
ALREADY COMMITTED TO. SO IN THIS
CONTEXT IN APPLYING THAT HIGH
BAR, WE THINK THAT ANY ANY
PROPOSAL THAT YOU DO APPROVE
SHOULD HAVE SHOULD BE URGENT AND
THE BENEFITS OF ANY PROPOSAL
SHOULD SORT OF OUTWEIGH THE
BENEFITS OF THINGS YOU MIGHT
HAVE TO CONSIDER CUTTING. SO
I'LL CUT TO THE CHASE IN BOTH
THE CONTEXT OF THE SIGMA
PROPOSAL, AS WELL AS THE FLOOD
RELATED PROPOSALS ARE OFFICE
THINKS THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD
CONSIDER UM, APPROVING THESE
PROPOSALS BECAUSE WE THINK THEY
DO MEET THAT HIGHER THRESHOLD
FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE CURRENT
BUDGET CONTEXT. I'LL JUST NOTE A
FEW THINGS ABOUT EACH AS TO WHY
WHY WE CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION.
SO FIRST ON SIGMA. I'LL GO IN
THE SAME ORDER THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION DID, UM OBVIOUSLY
GROUNDWATER. THE STATE RELIES ON
GROUNDWATER FOR DRINKING WATER
FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.
MANAGING GROUNDWATER.
SUSTAINABILITY IS THEREFORE
VITAL TO THE STATE'S FUTURE. AND
AS NOTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION,
UM THE STATES CURRENTLY IN THE
EARLY STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION,
REALLY, AFTER A NUMBER OF YEARS
OF PLANNING, AND THERE HAVE
ALREADY BEEN SOME CHALLENGES
WITH THE PLANNING PROCESS, AS
NOTED, UM BY OUR COLLEAGUES FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES WHEN IT COMES TO SOME
OF THE PARTICULAR UM,
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLANS
. SOME OF THOSE HAD SOME HAD
SOME ISSUES THAT ARE STILL BEING
WORKED THROUGH. UM I RAISED THIS
POINT JUST TO SAY THAT THE LOCAL
AGENCIES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO NEED THE SUPPORT AND
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OF THE
DEPARTMENT. UM THE PROPOSAL
BEFORE YOU TODAY IS FOR 14
MILLION GENERAL FUND ON AN
ONGOING BASIS TO SUPPORT 40. AH,
POSITIONS AT THE DEPARTMENT. UM
11 OF THESE ARE NEW POSITIONS IN
29 OUR EXISTING POSITIONS. WE
WOULD NOTE THAT SOME OF THESE
EXISTING POSITIONS WERE
SUPPORTED WITH PROPOSITION 68
FUNDING, WHICH IS, UM, HAS
NEARLY BEEN EXPENDED. SO IN
ORDER TO KIND OF MAINTAIN THE
CURRENT LEVEL OF SUPPORT, AND
MAYBE DO A FEW ADDITIONAL THINGS
, THE DEPARTMENT WILL WILL NEED
ADDITIONAL STATE SUPPORT. WE
JUST MENTIONED 11 KEY FACTOR
THAT WE THINK MAKES A LOT OF
SENSE, WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT
PROVIDING A LOT OF THE DATA
COLLECTION AND ANALYTICS
CAPABILITIES STATEWIDE. WE THINK
THIS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE
BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT HAS
ECONOMIES OF SCALE RELATIVE TO
THE INDIVIDUAL LOCAL GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES. IT ALSO
MEANS THAT THE DATA WILL BE
STANDARD STANDARDIZED ACROSS THE
STATE THAT IT WILL BE COLLECTED
ON A REGULAR BASIS AND
POTENTIALLY COLLECTED MORE
FREQUENTLY THAN IT WOULD BE BY
THE INDIVIDUAL AGENT, LOCAL
AGENCIES. IN ADDITION, WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THAT THE
DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO DO SOME
ENHANCED DATA COLLECTION
ACTIVITIES. UM. SUCH AS A
COLLECTING OR INCREASING THE
FREQUENCY BY WHICH THEY COLLECT
DATA IN SOME OF THE PRIORITY
AREAS SUCH AS WHERE DRINKING
WATER WELLS HAVE RUN DRY OR
WHERE GROUND WATER RECHARGE.
PROJECTS ARE SET TO TAKE PLACE.
UM THE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THEY
WOULD ALSO BE DOING AN ENHANCED
ENHANCED ANALYSES OF GROUNDWATER
BASINS, WHICH COULD HELP WITH
THINGS LIKE, UM UNDERSTANDING
WHERE THE BEST UNDERGROUND WATER
CONVEYANCE ROOTS ARE LOCATED,
AND I WON'T GET INTO THE
TECHNICAL DETAILS. YOU'D BE MUCH
IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE TO DO
THAT. BUT IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT WOULD BE DOING THIS
KIND OF ANALYTIC WORK RATHER
THAN THE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES. UM
THE LAST THING WE'D NOTE, UH, ON
SIGMA. OBVIOUSLY THE GOAL WITH
SIGMA'S TO HELP THE STATE
ACHIEVED GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY. UM AND THAT SAID
IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR
THE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
CONTINUE TO CONDUCT ROBUST
OVERSIGHT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION
BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED THIS, UM
THIS LOT. THESE THIS SET OF LAWS
THAT WE CALL SIGMA TO BE
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED, GIVEN
OUR RELIANCE ON GROUNDWATER SO
THE LEGISLATURE COULD CONSIDER
DOING THIS IN A COUPLE OF WAYS,
PERHAPS CONDUCTING OVERSIGHT
HEARINGS THAT KEY MILESTONE
DATES SUCH AS, UM WHEN ALL OF
THE LOCAL GROUNDWATER PLANS HAVE
, UM THERE'S A FINAL DISPOSITION
ON ALL OF THE LOCAL GROUNDWATER
PLANS, OR, UM, IN FIVE YEARS,
FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH IS A POINT AT
WHICH THE LOCAL AGENCIES AND THE
DEPARTMENT SORT OF NEED TO DO A
REVIEW. UM AND SO WITH THAT, YOU
KNOW THE BOTTOM LINE AGAIN. WE
THINK THIS PROPOSAL WARRANTS
CONSIDERATION BY THE
LEGISLATURE. UM I'LL JUST MAKE A
FEW COMMENTS ON THE FLOOD
RELATED PROPOSALS. AGAIN DESPITE
THE CURRENT BUDGET PROBLEM. WE
THINK THIS WARRANTS
CONSIDERATION BY THE LEGISLATURE
. UM AND THERE ARE SEVERAL
REASONS FOR THIS. SO FIRST OF
ALL, WE THINK THAT THE VARIOUS
FLOOD RELATED PROPOSALS. DO
RESPOND TO CRITICAL FLOOD
PROTECTION AND RISK MANAGEMENT
NEEDS TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY
SAFETY. AS WELL AS KEY STATEWIDE
WATER CONVEYANCE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AS ALREADY NOTED. A LOT OF THESE
PROJECTS ALSO HELPED THE STATE
DRAWDOWN. FEDERAL FUNDING, UM,
ON PROJECTS THAT ARE CONDUCTED
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE U. S.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. A
NUMBER OF THE OTHER PROJECTS
ALSO, UM, WOULD CREATE STATE
CREDIT FOR A FUTURE FOR THE FOR
THE STATE COST SHARE ON FUTURE
PROJECTS CONDUCTED IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE U. S.
ARMY CORPS. UM THIS FUNDING
WOULD ALSO ALLOW KEY PROJECTS
THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROGRESS TO
CONTINUE AND WE KNOW AN
INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE WAY
THE YOU KNOW THE FUNDING IS
STRUCTURED. IT'S MOSTLY ONE TIME
IN NATURE. SO WHAT THIS MEANS IS
THAT EVEN FOR THE CONTINUING
PROJECTS, IT GIVES THE
LEGISLATURE THE FLEXIBILITY, UM
, TO CONSIDER FUTURE YEAR
FUTURE. FUTURE FUNDING, YOU
KNOW, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THAT
YEAR'S BUDGET SITUATION. UM SO
WITH THAT, THANK YOU HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU
VERY MUCH BEFORE I GO TO MEMBER
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, WHICH
WHICH I'LL DO IN JUST A MOMENT.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE IT KIND OF
AN OVERVIEW OF SOME THOUGHTS
THAT I HAVE, UM I THINK
EVERYBODY. STARTING TO HAVE A
GREATER AND GREATER APPRECIATION
OF THE ROLE OF GROUNDWATER
PATIENTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
GROUNDWATER IN CALIFORNIA. IT
IS. IT IS SORT OF THE LAST
REFUGE FOR US TO GO TO, AS WE
HAVE. TAP TO SURFACE WATER. UM.
WE'RE RELYING ON MORE WATER THAN
CAN BE DELIVERED IN TERMS OF
SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER IS
UNFORTUNATELY NOT BEING USED
CURRENTLY AT A SUSTAINABLE RATE
. UH AND THAT CAUSES ALL KINDS
OF PROBLEMS FOR US, NOT THE
LEAST OF WHICH IS OUR FINAL
RESERVE. IT'S LIKE A FAMILY
DRAWN DOWN THE BANK ACCOUNT. YOU
KNOW, IT WAS EVENTUALLY YOU CAN
YOU DRAW THAT THING DOWN AND YOU
HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS THAT COME
AS A AS A RESULT OF THAT. SO IN
TERMS OF OVERVIEW, I'D LIKE TO
POINT OUT THE CHALLENGES THAT I
SEE WAS SIGMA AT THIS POINT IN
TIME. AND I OFFER THESE AS
OVERVIEWS AND I WANT TO
COMPLIMENT WHAT WHAT,
PARTICULARLY, MR GOSSELIN, YOU
AND YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE DOING IN
TERMS OF TRYING TO IMPLEMENT
SIGMA, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE
A TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE SHORTAGE.
UNDERGROUND BASINS ARE
COMPLICATED. IT'S VERY HARD FOR
EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THEM. IF
THE GENERAL PUBLIC SAW IF YOU IF
YOU TOOK THE UNDERGROUND BASINS
, AND YOU COULD REVEAL IT ALL.
THEN THEY SAW HOW MANY NEW? YEAH
I THINK ABOUT THE RESERVOIR WE
HAVE IN OUR AREA THAT EVERYBODY
DRIVES BY EVERY DAY AND SEES THE
RESERVOIR. AND WHEN THAT
RESERVOIR GOES DOWN BY THE PHONE
GOES, STARTS RINGING OFF THE
HOOK, BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH
THE GROUNDWATER BASIN, RIGHT AND
IF SOMEBODY SUDDENLY STARTED
PUTTING PIPES DOWN INTO THE
RESERVOIR RUNNING DOWN THE HILLS
, EVERYBODY GO. ONE OF THOSE
PIPES. DO IT RIGHT. IT DOESN'T
HAPPEN WHEN THOUSANDS OF NEW
WELLS GO INTO GROUNDWATER BASIN
SITS JUST SENT. SIGMA WAS
PASSED. SO TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
IS A GAP THAT WE HAVE THAT WE
HAVE TO TRY TO FILL. AND I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF LAO
AND APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF
THE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO HELP
FILL THOSE FOR LOCAL AGENCIES.
THAT'S ONE TO FUNDING
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY
AGENCIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO
RAISE FEES, BUT IT IS VERY
DIFFICULT FOR LOCAL AGENCIES TO
ACTUALLY. JUST FROM A POLITICAL
STANDPOINT, UM, GET THAT DONE,
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT THAT CHALLENGE. DO WE HAVE
THE RIGHT FUNDING MECHANISM FOR
GROUNDWATER AGENCIES TO DO THE
ROBUST WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO
FOR US TO BE AT THE
SUSTAINABILITY? THE TRUE
SUSTAINABILITY LEVEL THAT WE
NEED TO BE BY 2040 AND HOPEFULLY
SOONER? OF THE THIRD THING IS
THE TIMELINESS OF THE CHALLENGE
. UM IF WE'RE GOING TO BE WAY
OUT OF A LONG WAYS FROM
SUSTAINABILITY IN 2039 THINK
THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
IT IN 2040. I THINK IT'S JUST
NOT. WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT
REALISTIC. BUT. MY EXPERIENCE
HAS BEEN IT IS REALLY EASY WITH
THIS TO SAY, LET'S DO THE HARD
STUFF LATER. UM AND LET'S ONLY
NIBBLE AT THE EDGES. NOW. LET'S
DO ANOTHER STUDY. LET'S BE SURE
UM AND I HAVE OVER THE COURSE OF
HISTORY IN THE UNITED STATES. WE
HAVE EXPLOITED RESOURCE AFTER
RESOURCE THAT WAY. AND HAVE
DESTROYED THE RESOURCE. USUALLY
FISH STOCKS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE
. YOU KNOW, FISHERMEN WOULDN'T
TAKE A 10% CUT RIGHT BECAUSE
THEY WOULDN'T SUDDENLY THEY
NEEDED TO TAKE A 50% CUT. WELL,
THAT'S WHEN THE FISHERMEN SAID,
WELL, WE'LL TAKE THE 10% CUT
NOW, BUT NOW THAT WASN'T GOOD
ENOUGH. AND THEN UM, THEN, THEN
YOU CAME BACK A FEW YEARS LATER
AND THEN THE POPULATION DROPPED
EVEN MORE. AND THEY SAID, NOW
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE A 90% CUT AND
THEY SAID, WELL, WE'LL TAKE A
50% CUT. NOW THE SAME THING CAN
HAPPEN WITH GROUNDWATER. IT'S
CERTAINLY NOT EXACTLY COMPARABLE
, BUT THE POINT IS RESOURCE
AFTER RESOURCE IN THE HISTORY OF
THE WORLD HAS BEEN EXPLOITED
THAT WAY, DELAYING THE HARD UM,
AND SO I HOPE THAT WE HAVE A
SENSE OF URGENCY THAT WE CAN
IMPLEMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN THAT LEADS ME TO THE
FOURTH THING, WHICH IS, I THINK
MY GREATEST CONCERN AND THAT IS
AS I LOOK AT GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, UM THEY
THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF VARIETY
AND HOW THEY WERE FORMED. WE
GAVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY
AND HOW THEY WERE FORMED. BUT AS
WITH ALL SITUATIONS, THE PEOPLE
THAT HAD THE MOST TO LOSE HAD
THE MOST INTEREST IN HAVING
STRONG REPRESENTATION ON THOSE
AGENCIES, AND THAT CREATES A
BUILT IN NOT FOR EVERY AGENCY.
BUT FOR TOO MANY. BUT FOR MANY
AGENCIES, I SHOULD SAY A STRONG
INSTEAD OF TO DELAY. TWO BECAUSE
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE MOST TO
LOSE WANT TO AND TOO MANY PEOPLE
HAVE A VIEW OR AT LEAST I SHOULD
SAY NOT TOO MANY. BUT MANY
PEOPLE ARE MORE INTERESTED IN
THE SHORT TERM GAINS THAT THEY
GET FROM THAT OVER PUMPING THAN
THEY ARE IN TERMS OF US GETTING
TOO LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY, SO
I JUST WANT TO CALL THAT OUT
THERE, BUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
ON GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY
AGENCIES. IS A GENUINE ISSUE AND
NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT OPENLY
BECAUSE ON OTHER OTHER
GOVERNMENT BODIES IF YOU HAD THE
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT EXIST
, I MEAN ALARM BELLS WOULD BE
RINGING OFF IF YOU HAD IT SET UP
THE WAY THAT IT HAS BEEN SET UP
. SO UM, AND THAT AFFECTS THE
ALL THE OTHER ISSUES. IT AFFECTS
THE FEES. THEY DON'T WANT TO
CHARGE A LOT OF FEES IF YOU
REGULATE THE REGULATED INDUSTRY
ALMOST ALWAYS WANTS TO HAVE A
STARVED REGULATOR AGENCY OUT
THERE. UM AND SO THEY DON'T HAVE
. YOU KNOW THEY DON'T TAKE
CHARGE HIGH ENOUGH FEES.
THEREFORE, THEY DON'T HAVE THE
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE THAT GIVES
THEM JUSTIFICATION FOR DELAYING
ACTION AS IT MOVES FORWARD, SO
WE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE OVERSIGHT
HEARINGS. AS WE MOVE FORWARD,
WANT EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE OF
THAT, AS WE TRY TO DEAL WITH
THESE CHALLENGES, NOT BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE WELL INTENTIONED
PEOPLE TRYING TO GET THIS DONE,
BUT BECAUSE THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
, AND IT HAS MANY CHALLENGES IN
TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION. FINAL
THING I'D SAY IN TERMS OF THE
OVERVIEW IS THAT WE HAVE
DECIDED. TO DO THIS WITH LOTS OF
LOCAL CONTROL. IN TERMS OF HOW
WE GET THIS DONE. THAT
POLITICALLY IS ALWAYS THE MOST
ADVANTAGEOUS IN TERMS OF
IMPLEMENTATION. BUT THERE BUT IT
DOES MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO
COME UP WITH A COHERENT PLAN AND
I WOULD OFFER AUSTRALIA AS AN
EXAMPLE. UM, THEY AFTER 10 YEARS
OF SEVERE DROUGHT AND TWO YEARS
OF EXTREME FIRES, THEY JUST SAID
, WE'VE GOT TO NATIONALIZE THIS
. UM AND THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL HAVE TO
DO. IF THIS EFFORT AT LETTING
THE LOCALS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE, AND SO IF
PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP LOCAL
CONTROL THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT
WE HAVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS WE
MOVE FORWARD. I KNOW THAT
MEMBERS HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. BUT
BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS I
THINK YOU HAVE I SAW YOU REACH
AND SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THOSE
SPECIFIC SORT OF BROAD OVERVIEW
. THINGS ABOUT GS ASSESS AND
SIGMA AS WE GO FORWARD. THANKS
JEFF BENNETT. THOSE ARE FOUR KEY
POINTS THAT ARE TOP TOP ON OUR
MINDS ON IMPLEMENTATION, AND I
THINK FROM THE PLEASURE ON THE
TECHNOLOGY SIDE, THE INFORMATION
SIDE FROM WHERE WE STARTED IN
2014, WE HAVE VASTLY FAR AHEAD
ON UNDERSTANDING BASINS, LOCAL
AGENCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT AND I
THINK THAT SPEAKS TO UM, OUR
BUDGET PROPOSAL ABOUT ADVANCING
SOME OF THOSE TECHNICAL ASPECTS
THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE THROUGH
THE THROUGH THE WHOLE LIFESPAN
OF THE ACT. IT'S JUST THE NATURE
OF GROUNDWATER ISSUES DESCRIBED.
IT'S DIFFICULT AND NATURE
DOESN'T PROVIDE US A HOMOGENEOUS
SORT OF SET OF BASINS, SO IT
MAKES IT ALWAYS CHALLENGING
FUNDING HIS ALWAYS BEEN, UM IN
THE MINDS OF AGENCIES AND I
THINK GOING INTO THE PLAN
DEVELOPMENT SIDE AGENCIES WERE
FORMED. WE GAVE BROAD DISCRETION
TO LOCAL AGENCIES ON HOW THEY
FORMED SOME DESIGN, THEIR
GOVERNANCE AND A VERY EFFICIENT
WAY. SOME HAD BETTER ECONOMIES
OF SCALES. OTHERS THAT DIDN'T
AND THEY LARGELY WORKED THROUGH
THE GRANTS THAT WE PROVIDED.
$300 MILLION PLUS OF SIGMA
IMPLEMENTATION DOLLARS, SO THEY
WERE USING THAT TO DEVELOP THEIR
PLANS. AND NOW, AS AS I SAID,
ALL THE PLANS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.
UM THEY HAVE SOME ACCESS TO SOME
IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS, BUT
LARGELY NOW, THIS STEPPING BACK
SAYING OKAY. WE DEVELOPED A PLAN
. WE HAVE THIS ORGANIZATION. WE
NEED TO RUN. NOW. WE NEED TO
KIND OF DO IT. AND I THINK THAT
REALITY IS HITTING HOME FOR SOME
AGENCIES. UM GOING FROM A PLAN
AND THEN SEEING THE REALITY OF
HOW TO CARRY IT OUT. SOME
AGENCIES HAVE ADOPTED PROPER TO
18 FEES. UM YOU KNOW, AND HAVE
DONE THAT SUCCESSFULLY. SOME
HAVE RUNNING INTO CHALLENGES.
SOME ESPECIALLY SMALLER RURAL
AGENCIES ARE STARTING TO GO
THROUGH THAT PROCESS. THEY
HAVEN'T DONE IT BEFORE. UM AND
WE'VE BEEN COGNIZANT OF THAT
WE'VE HAD A WORKSHOP FOR LOCAL
AGENCIES ON FUNDING OPTIONS. THE
WIDE GAMBIT TO GIVE THEM TOOLS.
IDEAS SHARE FROM THEIR PARTNERS
ON HOW TO GET FUNDING. SO THAT'S
SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
KEEP TRACK OF. IT IS ONE OF THE
CRITERIA WILL LOOK AT ABOUT DO
THE AGENCIES HAVE THE FINANCIAL
MEANS TO ACTUALLY CARRY OUT WHAT
THEY INTEND TO DO, BECAUSE
THAT'S A OF AN ISSUE TO US. AND
AS FOR THE TIMELINESS, UM AND
THIS GETS INTO GOVERNANCE,
COMPLIANCE. WE'RE NOT WAITING
TILL 2040 OR 2042 TO ACHIEVE THE
GOAL. ANNUAL REPORTS COME IN
EVERY YEAR, AND WE'RE STARTING A
PROCESS TO REVIEW HOW AGENCIES
ARE REPORTING TO US, UH,
ANNUALLY THE ONES THAT ARE
APPROVED. UM AND THAT'S GOING TO
RESULT IN A COUPLE OF FACETS.
ONE IS EITHER US GIVING SOME, UH
, POLICY DIRECTIVE GUIDANCE TO
CORRECT WHAT ACTIONS HAVE BEEN
TAKING OR FEEDBACK LOOP TO US ON
WHAT OTHER ASSISTANCE. WE NEED
TO HELP GUIDE THEM ALONG THE WAY
, AND THAT KIND OF GETS TO SOME
OF OUR DATA DATA NEEDS BUT ALSO
THE FIVE YEAR UPDATE. SIGMA WAS
VERY CLEAR THAT WE WEREN'T GONNA
WAIT UNTIL 2040. THERE'S UM
PERIODIC UPDATES, UH, AT LEAST
EVERY FIVE YEARS, AND IT'S
REALLY THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES
ARE THEY ON TRACK? TO ACHIEVE
THEIR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS BASED
UPON EMPIRICAL DATA. WHAT
THEY'RE MEASURING IN THE GROUND.
ARE THEY ON TRACK TO WHERE THEY
SAY THEY WANT TO GO? AND IF
THEY'RE NOT? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO COME BACK AND IDENTIFY
. ARE THEY MAKING MODIFICATIONS
TO WHERE WHERE THEY PLAN TO GET
TO OR OTHER ADJUSTMENTS THEY
NEED TO DO AND AT ANY POINT,
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE APPROVED
PLANS IF WE FIND THAT THERE'S
FALLING OUT OF COMPLIANCE, OR WE
QUESTION WHETHER THEY'RE STILL
ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE
SUSTAINABILITY, WE CAN DEEM THE
BASIN INADEQUATE AND HAVE THE
STATE BOARD INTO INTERVENE SO
LOCAL CONTROL IS VERY IMPORTANT
. BUT IT WAS ALSO PREDICATED
THAT THEY HAD TO BE ABOUT STATE
BACKSTOP, AND WE'RE WELL
PREPARED TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP
EVERYONE ON TRACK AND FOR
GOVERNANCE. IT IS A WIDE GAMBIT
OF HOW AGENCIES WERE FORMED, I
THINK FOR GOOD OR FOR ILL, BUT
WE'RE FOCUSED NOT SO MUCH ON HOW
THEY DESIRED DESIGN THE
GOVERNANCE. UM IT'S WHAT THEY'RE
DOING. AND WE HAVE SOME PRETTY,
UH STRONG REGULATIONS GUIDELINES
ON THE CONDUCT OF HOW THEY
ACTUALLY CARRYING OUT. ARE THEY
MOVING TOWARDS THE
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL? AND KEEPING
ON TRACK. SO IRREGARDLESS OF THE
GOVERNANCE WE'RE GONNA KEEP KEEP
THEM ON TRACK. UM AND PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE FACILITATION
SERVICES. WE HAVE WRITTEN
TRANSLATION. WE'RE STARTING A
PILOT ON VERBAL TRANSLATION. SO
THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS
SOMETHING WE'RE ALSO GOING TO
PRESS AS WE GET THROUGH
IMPLEMENTATION, SO A FEW
COMMENTS ON YOUR ON YOUR POINTS
AND I AGREE. THOSE ARE KEY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GONNA TURN
THIS OVER TO MEMBER COMMENTS.
I'M GOING TO STEP OUT FOR JUST
ONE MINUTE WHILE YOU GUYS START
WITH YOUR COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
CONNELLY. THANK YOU REALLY
APPRECIATE HOW THE CHAIR
PROVIDED THAT OVERVIEW. I THINK
THAT'S THE LARGER STAGE. I MEAN,
CERTAINLY IN OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES. WE'RE SEEING THIS
PLAY OUT. THERE IS THE CENTRAL
VALLEY, WHICH, OF COURSE WE'RE
ALL FOCUSED ON TO A LARGE
DEGREE. BUT FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE
NORTH BAY, PARTICULARLY SONOMA
COUNTY, UM A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS
ARE UNWELL SYSTEMS. YOU HAVE
SMART AD. UM. AND MORE BROADLY
SPEAKING, AS NOTED BY THE CHAIR
, GROUNDWATER, IT REALLY IS
GOING TO BE A KEY PART OF OUR
OVERALL SET ISN'T LESIONS. TO
OVERCOME DROUGHT AND JUST HAVE
BRASILIENSE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
MAYBE GETTING MORE SPECIFIC WITH
FROM THAT OVERVIEW, THOUGH, AND
I APOLOGIZE IF I WAS OUT OF THE
ROOM, AND YOU DISCUSS THIS
ALREADY, BUT HOW MANY PLANS
UNDER STIGMA HAVE BEEN APPROVED
IN COMPARISON TO THOSE THAT HAVE
BEEN REJECTED AT THIS POINT. SO
UM, WE HAVE APPROVED 18 BASINS,
PLANS AND BASINS. UM WE HAVE 11
BASIN. THAT'S INCOMPLETE. WE
FOUND TO THE INITIAL REVIEW THAT
THEY HAD SOME DEFICIENCIES THAT
PRECLUDED OUR APPROVAL. THEY
HAVE SIX MONTHS TO, UM, RESPOND
. THEY RESPONDED. WE'RE
REVIEWING THAT AND THEN SIX ARE
INADEQUATE WHERE WE FOUND AFTER
THAT INCOMPLETE PROCESS THAT WE
SUBMITTED THEY STILL HAD ONE OR
MORE DEFICIENCIES THAT PRECLUDED
OUR APPROVAL. AND NOW THEY'RE
UNDER, UM, JURISDICTION OF THE
STATE BOARD. ARE YOU SEEING MORE
COMPLIANCE OVER TIME? YEAH I
THINK ONE THING THAT WE HAVE
BEEN FOCUSING IN ON ON THE PLANS
IS, UM HOW THEIR SUSTAINABLE
MANAGEMENT CRITERIA IS SET UP
BECAUSE SIGMA HAD A VERY
DIFFERENT LENS TO LOOK FORWARD
FOR WATER MANAGERS. IT WASN'T
JUST ABOUT ELIMINATING
OVERDRAFT. IT WAS ABOUT HOW DO
THEY MANAGE THE BASIN,
ELIMINATING THAT OVERDRAFT. AND
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT ALL THE
GROUNDWATER USES AND USERS TO
AVOID UNDESIRABLE RESULTS? AND
THAT WAS SORT OF A UM, SORT OF
WHERE A LOT OF THE AGENCIES, UM
, HAD TROUBLE. UM SO WE'RE
HOPING TO WORK THROUGH, BUT I
THINK THE AMAZING THING. JUST
LOOKING AT THE AT THE DEPTH AND
BREADTH OF THOSE PLANS AND WHERE
AGENCIES ARE STARTING TO
IMPLEMENT. IT'S PRETTY
ASTOUNDING. THE. EFFORTS HAVE
BEEN PUT FORWARD. ALREADY MOST
AGENCIES HAVE, UM, BEEN
PROMOTING, UM, A LOT OF
RECHARGED PROJECTS AND THAT
SPEAKS TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
WATERSHED STUDIES AGAIN TOOLS TO
ALLOW THOSE AGENCIES TO DO
BETTER MANAGEMENT. WE'VE SEEN
THAT THROUGH FLOODS THAT'S
REALLY HAS TAKEN OFF, BUT ALSO
IN DEMAND MANAGEMENT. I THINK
THERE'S 19 BASINS RIGHT NOW THAT
EITHER HAVE SOME ALLOCATION
DEMAND REDUCTION SCHEME IN PLACE
OR HAVE SOME IN THE WORKS, SO
THEY'RE REALLY MOVING FORWARD ON
BOTH FRONTS ON TRYING TO ADVANCE
INPUTS, INCREASE INPUTS INTO THE
BASIN AND DO DEMAND MANAGEMENT
ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO UM, LOT OF
HARD WORK A LOT OF DIFFICULTY
LOCALLY POLITICALLY, WITH
CONSTITUENTS TRYING TO WORK
THROUGH THESE ISSUES, BUT THE
EFFORTS HAVE GONE THROUGH IS
JUST ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING. NO
AND REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THAT
LOGO FOCUS. ARE THERE CERTAIN
AREAS ALIKE SMALLER RURAL
COMMUNITIES THAT NEED ADDITIONAL
HELP WITH THEIR G ESAS AND WENT
FUNDING SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE
FOR THESE COMMUNITIES. YEAH, WE
HAD HAD, UH, WEBINAR WORKSHOP
FOR GSA'S AND PARTICULARLY A LOT
OF SMALL RURAL ONES. UM. THIS
WAS NEW TO THEM. THEY HADN'T
DONE PROP 2 18 BEFORE YOU ALSO
HAD A LOT OF NEW AGENCIES THAT
WERE FORMED THROUGH JOINT POWERS
AGREEMENTS. SO YOU HAD NEW
AGENCIES THERE WAS IN KIND STAFF
SUPPORT TO CREATE THESE NEW
AGENCIES, AND NOW THEY NEEDED TO
TRANSITION OFF OF THE IN KIND.
SUPPORT FROM THE OTHER MEMBER
AGENCIES ARE COUNTIES OF CITIES.
TO FUND THEMSELVES, SO THEY'RE
GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS RIGHT
NOW, UM, A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN
LOOKING AT EITHER, UM, PROP TO
18 OR OTHER ASSESSMENTS, UM, IN
THE PROCESS, SO WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP ENGAGED. WE'VE BEEN HAVING
REGULAR WORKSHOPS WITH THE ESAS.
WE HAVE REGIONAL CHECK INS WITH
THEM ON THEIR PLANS AND THEN
AGAIN IN THEIR ANNUAL REPORTS,
THIS IS ONE OF THE FACETS THAT
WE DO ASK FOR IS, UM YOU KNOW
WHAT ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKING
HOW THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING. SO
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP APPRISED ON
ON HOW THOSE FUNDING MECHANISMS
ARE GOING AND THEIR THOSE WILL
BE LESSONS LEARNED FOR US TO
COME BACK AND SEE WHAT OTHER
THINGS WE MAY NEED TO DO TO HELP
SUPPORT LOCAL AGENCIES. GREAT
AND RELATED AS WE GO FORWARD
WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION UM. FROM
WHAT WE'RE SEEING. IS THERE A
NEED TO AMEND OR ADD TO SIGMA AT
THIS TIME, GIVEN THAT WE ARE NOW
IMPLEMENTING? ARE THERE ANY
LOOPHOLES OR GAPS THAT HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED? LIKE ANY LAW.
THERE'S ALWAYS, UM TIMES FOR
IMPROVEMENT, BUT I THINK ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT UM I WAS STRUCK
BY THIS BEING A VAST, HUGE
CHANGE IN WATER LAW TAKING 100
YEARS OF GROUNDWATER LAW ON ITS
HEAD AND TURNING INTO A WHOLE
NEW SYSTEM BASED UPON LOCAL
CONTROL WITH STATE OVERSIGHT.
LARGELY MECHANICALLY. IT'S RUN
VERY WELL, UM, I THINK WE'VE
SEEN IT FOR 10 YEARS HAS BEEN
SOME AMENDMENTS. BUT
STRUCTURALLY WE'RE ABLE TO WORK
THROUGH WITH OUR REGULATIONS.
BUT I THINK WE'LL BE OPEN. UM,
YOU KNOW. TO LISTEN TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND OTHERS ON OTHER
IDEAS, BUT WE'RE PRETTY
CONFIDENT UNDER THE STATUTE AND
REGULATIONS WERE ON TRACK TO
ACHIEVE GRAMMAR SUSTAINABILITY.
GOOD LOOKING FORWARD TO KIND OF
AN ONGOING DIALOGUE ON THAT.
FINAL QUESTION FOR NOW, AND THE
STATE WATER BOARD IS MOSTLY
SUPPORTED BY FEES ON REGULATED
PARTIES. WHY IS THE STATE WATER
BOARD NOT ABLE TO COLLECT FEES
UNTIL 2025 FOR ITS ACTIVITIES?
DOES THAT MEAN THE GENERAL
FINDINGS COVERING THESE PLANS? I
CAN'T SPEAK TO WATERBOARD
FUNDING. HI THANK YOU. JUST A
QUICK COMMENT ON THAT. SO THE
SIX BASINS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT
THE BOARD. THE BOARD HELD A
HEARING. ACTUALLY, UM, JUST
ABOUT A MONTH AGO TO REALLY HAVE
A REAL OVERVIEW OF OKAY, WELL,
WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE BOARD'S
PROCESS HERE, WHICH IS WITH A
LOT OF DISCRETION? THERE ARE
CERTAIN TIMELINES AND STATUTES
WITHIN THE LAW HERE. UH TO DO
WITH FEES, ESPECIALLY AND
BRINGING BASINS INTO PROBATION.
WHAT WE HAVE TO STILL DETERMINED
AS A BOARD RIGHT NOW IS WHICH
BASINS? SHOULD WE BRING THEM ALL
INTO PROBATION? SHOULD WE, YOU
KNOW, PICK A FEW FIRST AND START
TO KIND OF T THEM OFF.
ULTIMATELY THOUGH, A BASIN HAS
TO BE BROUGHT INTO ROTATION
BEFORE WE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO
COLLECT FEES. THE PROCESS
PROGRAM FOR PROBATION AGAIN IS
LAID OUT IN STATUTE. I CAN TAKE
IT WILL TAKE AND EVEN AT
EXPEDITED, YOU KNOW, JUST
KEEPING TO THE TIMELINES WITHIN
THE STATUTE. IT WOULD TAKE
AROUND A YEAR TO KIND OF REALLY
GET A BASIN INTO PROBATION, THEN
HAVE TO THEN SET UP A STRUCTURE
FOR FEES. SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE
AT THIS POINT AND THE SOONEST
THAT WE WOULD BE COLLECTING FEES
ON ANY BASINS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN
ON PROBATION, WHICH AGAIN IT'S A
WHOLE PUBLIC PROCESS AND HEARING
WOULDN'T BE UNTIL 24 25. OR THE
DATES THAT WE INDICATED. THANK
YOU. I AM. SO I HAVE A SERIES OF
THESE DETAILED QUESTIONS THAT I
HAD MENTIONED EARLIER. AND IF
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S CONNOLLY ASKED
THE QUESTION WHILE I WAS OUT OF
THE ROOM, YOU CAN JUST SAY
YOU'VE ALREADY ANSWERED THAT
QUESTION. AND I'M HAPPY DID MOVE
FORWARD FIRST. JUST QUICK
RESPONSE TO YOUR YOUR COMMENTS
ABOUT MY FOUR ITEMS WHEN IT
COMES TO THE ISSUE OF
GOVERNANCE, AND I CERTAINLY
RESPECT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN RESULTS AND THE
GOVERNANCE IS NOT WHAT YOUR
MAJOR FOCUSES, BUT I WOULD OFFER
THAT IN PLACES WHERE YOU WHERE
AN OBVIOUS CONFLICT OF INTEREST
LOOKS APPARENT OR JUST IN
GENERAL, THE FACT THAT THERE IS
A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN
ANYBODY WHO IS USING A RESOURCE
HEAVILY AND THEIR RELUCTANCE TO
DECREASE THE USE OF THEIR
RESOURCE. THOSE ARE THE AREAS
WHERE IT JUST MAKES US MORE
ATTENTIVE AS WE'RE AS WE'RE
DOING OUR OVERSIGHT, SO WE JUST
ARE MORE LIKELY TO SAY. IN THAT
SITUATION. UM HEY, WE'RE GONNA
PAY MORE ATTENTION AND BE MORE
ALERT BUT WOULD OFFER THAT THE
OTHER THING IS, UH IN TERMS OF
HOUSING IS WORKING. UM I THINK
THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE
BLOOMBERG, UM Dð CAME OUT WITH A
5000 WORD ARTICLE THAT JUST CAME
OUT ABOUT A WEEK GO AND I REALLY
RECOMMEND THAT EVERYBODY TAKE A
LOOK AT IT. IT DOCUMENTS WHAT
HAS HAPPENED SINCE SIGMA SINCE
2014. AND UM THE NUMBER AND THEY
FOCUS. THE ARTICLE FOCUSES ON
OUT OF STATE. BIG OUT OF STATE
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS PENSION
FUNDS FROM CANADA BIG INSURANCE
COMPANIES FROM ALL THE STATES
THAT HAVE MADE A CALCULATION.
THAT THEY RETURN ON AN
INVESTMENT IN LAND AND DEEP
WELLS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY WAS
VERY PROFITABLE INVESTMENT TO
MAKE AND EVEN IT, BUT IT WAS NOT
A SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT, BUT
THEY WE WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT IT
NOT BEING SUSTAINABLE AS LONG AS
THEY COULD. IF YOU RUN A PRIVATE
EQUITY FIRM, YOU TAKE THIS BIG
INVESTMENT AND THEN YOU 10 12
YEARS LATER, YOU YOU'VE MADE
YOUR RETURN, AND THEN YOU MOVE
ON JUST TO SOMETHING ELSE. UM
THAT ARTICLE SHOWS THE NUMBER OF
DEEP WELLS THAT WERE HAVE BEEN
PUT IN AND THE IMPACT ON THE
SHALLOW WELLS. AH PROBLEM THAT
WE HAVE THAT THERE IS A THERE IS
A PROBLEM WITH THE SIGMA
IMPLEMENTATION IF FROM 2014 TO
2022 6000 NEW WELLS HAVE BEEN
PUT INTO THOSE CRITICALLY OVER
DRAFTED BASINS, AND THOSE NEW
WELLS ARE SUNK AT 1000 FT.
DEEPER MORE THAN 1000 FT DEEP.
MEANWHILE DRAWING DOWN THE WATER
FROM THE 200 FT DEEP UM DRINKING
WATER WELLS THAT ARE ABOVE THEM
AND ARE NOT FINANCED BY THAT.
BUT BY THE DIFFERENT, TREMENDOUS
WEALTH THAT CAN COME IN FROM
FROM THE OUTSIDE. SO THAT'S
THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE
HAVE A PROBLEM, AND WE DON'T
ACTUALLY HAVE SIGMA LANGUAGE TO
ADDRESS THE NEW WELLS. IN FACT,
WE HAVE A BILL ON THIS, BUT IN
FACT GROUNDWATER AGENCIES DON'T
EVEN GET TO SAY NO. SO IF YOU'RE
A GROUNDWATER AGENCY, YOU'VE
WORKED HARD. YOU PUT YOUR PLAN
TOGETHER AND SOMEBODY ELSE
SOMEBODY HAS COME IN, AND THEY
PURCHASED THE LAND. THEY GO TO
THE COUNTY, NOT YOU AND THEY GET
A PERMIT, AND THEY CAN SINK
THAT. WELL 1000 FT DEEP START
DRAWING DOWN. CERTAINLY THE
GROUNDWATER AGENCY. PEOPLE CAN
SAY WELL, THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR
ALLOCATION. BUT ONCE YOU HAVE A
PERMIT AND ONCE YOU HAVE THE
WELL PERMITTED, YOU HAVE A
VESTED RIGHT? AND IT BECOMES
LEGALLY MUCH MORE OF A CHALLENGE
, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT
TOPIC I'M GOING TO GET INTO
WHICH IS THE WHOLE ADJUDICATION
ISSUE THAT IS OUT THERE, BUT
IT'S LEGALLY MUCH HARDER FOR
GROUNDWATER AGENCIES AND THEN
THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT,
WHEREAS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH
BETTER IF THEY COULD HAVE AT THE
BEGINNING. S¼ NO, WE CAN'T
HANDLE 5 1000 NEW 1000 FT,
DEEPER, MASSIVE WELLS. AND THESE
ARE WELLS WAS MUCH BIGGER,
DIAMETERS MUCH BIGGER CAPACITY,
AND THEY CAN DRAIN AN AQUIFER
MUCH FASTER THAN THE THAN THE
EXISTING FARMING COMMUNITY THAT
IS OUT THERE. SO YOU LOOK LIKE
YOU WANT TO RESPOND SO AND I
THINK THAT PHENOMENON THAT WAS
IN THE BLOOM BOARD. REPORT
STARTED BEFORE SIGMA. I THINK
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE EVEN IN
SAC VALLEY. THERE WERE CORPORATE
INVESTOR. AGRICULTURE COMING IN
BUYING LARGE TRACTS. SO IT WAS
STARTING BEFORE SIGMUND. I THINK
ENTITIES WERE STARTING TO PENCIL
OUT, UM, PROFITS FROM CALIFORNIA
AGRICULTURE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS
CHANGING THE SOME OF THE
COMMUNITIES CHANGING SOME OF THE
DYNAMICS. UM BUT I THINK 11
PIECE IN THE ARTICLE IF I RECALL
THAT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
SIGMA DID AFFECT IS AS AGENCIES
STARTED TO IMPLEMENT THEIR PLANS
. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THAT
PROJECTION ABOUT WE'RE JUST
GONNA PENCIL OUT AND RUN THIS
TILL THE COWS DRY, UM, WASN'T
GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE THE
AGENCIES STARTED TO ALLOCATIONS
STARTED TO DO SOME LAND
REPURPOSING AND SOME OTHER
FACETS SO IT IS ON ONE HAND, THE
CHANGE IN LAND OWNERSHIP AND THE
STRUCTURE OF THAT AND IMPACTS ON
FAMILY FARMS. BUT ON THE OTHER
END, UM YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO
HOLD THE AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE TO
ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABILITY
GOALS. JESUS CAN LIMIT HOW MUCH
CAN GET EXTRACTED FROM THESE
WELLS. THEY CAN'T UM, IMPACT
THAT THE PERMITTING OF THOSE
WALLS BUT THEY CAN AFFECT THE
EXTRACTION. THE OTHER PIECE TO
THAT SOMETIMES GETS LOST. IS THE
LOCAL LAND USE DECISIONS BY NOT
JUST THE COUNTY'S ON WELL
PERMITTING, BUT MUNICIPALITIES
AND COUNTIES ON LAND USE. UM
SIGMA DID ALSO AMEND THE
GOVERNMENT CODE THAT DIRECTED
LOCAL LAND USE AGENCIES TO TAKE
INTO CONSIDERATION THE
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLANS
WHEN THEY DO GENERAL PLAN ZONING
AMENDMENTS. UM THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IS, YOU
KNOW, LAND USE PLANNING IS THE
KEY. UH THAT AND GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY. EASE PLANS SET
THE TONE AND THE VALUES FOR THE
COMMUNITY THAT NEXUS NEEDS TO BE
TIGHTENED UP A LOT MORE. UM
THOSE LOCAL AGENCIES AND THE
LAND USE AGENCIES NEED TO WORK A
LOT CLOSER TOGETHER, SO THOSE
IMPLICATIONS ON LAND USE
DECISIONS WHILE PERMITTING NEED
TO TIE INTO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
FOR THE RESOURCES THAT THAT'S
GOING TO AFFECT? UM SO THOSE ARE
JUST SOME APPRECIATE IT, AND I
CERTAINLY AGREE THAT THE TREND
STARTED BEFORE SIGMA. BUT I
THINK THE ONE OF THE POINTS IS
THAT SIGMA DID NOT GIVE THE
GROUNDWATER AGENCIES THE
AUTHORITY TO STOP THAT. STOP THE
NEW, WELL IMPLEMENTATION, UH,
WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
THAN NOW TRYING TO DO IT AFTER
THE FACT AND IN TERMS OF TRYING
TO DECREASE, UH, AN ALLOCATION.
OR OR OR CHANGE THE ALLOCATION,
SO IT'S NOT THAT I'M CERTAINLY
NOT SUGGESTING THAT SEGMENTS NOT
HAVING ANY IMPACT. BUT UH, SIGMA
, I THINK HAS HAS SOME HOLES IN
IT THAT STILL NEED TO BE FIXED.
AND IT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE THE
FIRST TIME YOU DO THE MAJOR
CHANGE LIKE THAT, UH AND THE
POINT IS, I THINK WE SHOULD STAY
OPEN TO WHAT ARE THE TWEETS THAT
WE NEED NEED TO MAKE AS IT GOES
FORWARD, GO AHEAD. BY THE END OF
THE YEAR. WE'RE DOING AN
ANALYSIS. UM ON WELL PERMITTING
DECISIONS AND HOW HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED EITHER EITHER COUNTY
ORDINANCES AND HOW THAT AFFECTS
GRANDMA SUSTAINABILITY PLAN SO
BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE
SHOULD HAVE ANALYSIS AND REPORT
MAYBE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, AND
THAT GETS ME TO THE NEXT
QUESTION AND TRY TO DO THESE IN
ORDER OF IMPORTANCE AND SOME OF
THE DETAILED QUESTIONS.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN RUN THROUGH
FAIRLY QUICKLY. AND THAT IS THE
WHOLE ISSUE OF ADJUDICATION. UM
THAT IS OUT THERE. UM, AS I
MENTIONED ONCE YOU HAVE A WELL
PERMITTED AND BUILD, UM, YOU
HAVE. GIVEN SOMEBODY INVESTED
RIGHT, WHICH GIVES THEM STRONGER
, STRONGER CASE WHEN THEY GO TO
COURT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THESE
ADJUDICATIONS NOW TAKING PLACE.
AND UH, IN GROUNDWATER AGENCY.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH. I
BELIEVE THE JUDGES RIGHT ON THE
VERGE OF GETTING READY TO MAKE A
RULING THAT WOULD IN A SENSE, I
MEAN, ESSENTIALLY OVERRULED THE
GROUNDWATER AGENCIES.
DETERMINATION OF WHAT
SUSTAINABLE YIELD IS, UM AND.
THEY HAVE COME UP WITH SOME
CLEVER LEGAL LANGUAGE, UH, TO
SAY THIS ISN'T SUSTAINABLE YIELD
, BUT THEY'RE THE SAME. THEY'RE
THEY'RE ALLOCATING WATER GREATER
THAN SUSTAINABLE YIELD, BUT
SAYING THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE
YIELD. SO THEREFORE WE'RE NOT
VIOLATING SIGMA AND YET IT'S
THEIR THEIR THEIR MANDATING
THEMSELVES TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE,
YOU KNOW THAT KIND OF
ALLOCATION. I THINK THAT THAT'S
A THE ADJUDICATION PROCESS IS
ONE THAT COULD REALLY UNRAVEL.
UH SIGMA AND THE THINGS THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO, PARTICULARLY
IF THIS TREND CATCHES ON, IN
OTHER WORDS, IF PEOPLE ARE
UNHAPPY THOSE BIG INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE
STATE ARE UNHAPPY WITH THEIR
ALLOCATION, AND THEY DECIDED TO
SUE. AND THEY CAN FIND A JUDGE
TO DO THAT. SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO,
UH, WORK AND DEVELOP THE LAWS SO
THAT LEGALLY A JUDGE CAN'T JUST,
UH. VIOLATE THE FINDINGS OF
SIGMA OR WE WOULD WE WILL FIND
THAT THE PEOPLE THAT CAN HIRE
THE MOST, YOU KNOW, THE MOST
POWERFUL WILL HIRE THE BEST
ATTORNEYS AND GET THE BEST
DECISIONS IN SIGMA. WILL SIGNAL
GROUNDWATER AGENCIES WILL HAVE
TO TRY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN
LAWSUITS USING THE PRECIOUS FEES
THAT THEY'RE COLLECTING FROM THE
GROUNDWATER PUMPING THIS. THIS
IS A REAL THREAT, SO I SEE THAT
AS THE SECOND THING I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR
COMMENTS ON THAT. I KNOW IT'S A
REALLY THORNY PROBLEM FOR YOU
GUYS TO EVEN COMMENT. SOMETHING
US AND THE STATE BOARD OR
TRACKING AGAIN. UM YOU KNOW,
THERE IS A STATUTE TO TRY TO
MERGE THE TWO AND HAVE THEM WORK
AND SINK AND WE'RE KEEPING TRACK
OF SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS. I
CAN'T SPEAK TO DETAILS ON A
DUPLICATIONS. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE
LOOKING TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY
OF LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF
SUSTAINABLE GLORY TO MANAGEMENT
ACT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU GET
YOU KNOW? INPUT FROM THE
COMMUNITIES AND REAL GOOD
ENGAGEMENT. SO, UM LOT MORE
DISCUSSION ON THAT, TO THE
EXTENT THAT VIEW AND THE
ADMINISTRATION AND THE GOVERNOR
, UH, YOU KNOW, WILL ADVOCATE
FOR THAT. I THINK IT WILL BE
HELPFUL TO TRY TO HAVE US REACH
THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN THE
JUDICIARY AND THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING
SIGMA AND NOT UNDERMINING THE
FIRST YOU KNOW THE FIRST AND
ONLY SORT OF SIGNIFICANT
GROUNDWATER LAW, YOU KNOW THAT
WE'VE COME UP WITH AT THIS POINT
IN TIME. THEY SO BEFORE I GO OUT
TO MY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WOULD
YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU PRESENT
ALL OF YOUR NEW PROPOSALS THAT
SOMEBODY FROM DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE OR WHATEVER REGION ALL
THE NEW NEW SPENDING PROPOSALS
THAT YOU HAVE? SO SURGICAL PART
OF FINANCE. I THINK THEY WERE
SOMEWHAT COVERED IN THEIR
OPENING REMARKS AS PART OF THE
OPENING PRESENTATION. I COULD GO
THROUGH THEM AGAIN, IF PREFERRED
. I THINK THEY WERE COVERED. WHY
DON'T YOU WE'VE HAD A REQUEST
FOR YOU FOR THEM. SO MAYBE MAYBE
WE'RE ALL CAUGHT UP IN THE HEAVY
POLICY ISSUES HAVE MISSED THOSE
RIGHT. THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT SO CANCER DRUG LORD PART
OF FINANCE, SO IN TERMS OF SIGMA
, THERE'S TWO RELATED PROPOSALS
. ONE IS 14 MILLION ONGOING
GENERAL FUND AND 11 POSITIONS.
UM I LOVE A NEW POSITIONS AND
SUPPORTING 29 EXISTING POSITIONS
FOR THE WR TO CONTINUE
IMPLEMENTING STIGMA. AND THEN
THE SECOND IS A ONE TIME
PROBATION OF 2.5 MILLION GENERAL
FUND IN 23 24 600,000 ANNUALLY
THROUGH 27 28 FOR THE SOUTH
JOAQUIN RIVER GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE SPECIFICALLY FOR WATER
AVAILABILITY, ANALYSIS AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR
TWO SIMILAR RELATED PROPOSALS.
IN TERMS OF FLOOD PREVENTION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE'S VARIOUS
PROPOSALS AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM
DWR BRIEFLY COVERED FUNDING TO
IMPLORE TO DO THE 2027 CENTRAL
VALLEY FLOOD PROTECTION PLAN
UPDATE AND IT'S 36.9 MILLION
GENERAL FUND OVER VARIOUS FISCAL
YEARS. THERE IS FUNDING FOR THE
DELTA LEVEE SYSTEMS, INTEGRITY
AND HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM
SPECIFICALLY, 13 POINT 2,000,001
. TIME GENERAL FUND AND 27.4
MILLION IN PROPOSITION ONE FUND
, UH, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE
SYSTEM WIDE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION
PROGRAM FOR PARADISE CUT AND THE
YELLOW BY PATH PROJECTS.
SPECIFICALLY THAT'S 25 MILLION
IN GENERAL FUND IN 23 24. AH
THERE'S FUNDING FOR THE CENTRAL
VALLEY URBAN FLOOD RISK
REDUCTION PROGRAM. 135.5 MILLION
GENERAL FUND, AND THAT'S
INCLUSIVE OF VARIOUS DIFFERENT
PROJECTS. UM AS PART OF THE
APRIL ONE SUBMISSIONS, THERE'S
43.7 IN PROPOSITION 13 FUNDING
FOR THE DELTA PERMANENT OPERABLE
GATES. PROJECT. I THINK THOSE
ARE ALL THE ONES THAT WERE PART
OF YOUR AGENDA. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE
TAKING TIME TO DO THAT THIS IS
GOING TO BE HOPEFULLY A LITTLE
MORE RAPID FIRE. UM BUT, UH THE
FIRST QUESTION. NOW THAT GSA'S
HAVE BEEN FINALIZED AND AGAIN
JUST SPEAK UP OF MR
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ALREADY ASKED
THE QUESTION. ANY DATA GAPS THAT
YOU'RE FINDING THAT YOU THINK WE
SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO
FROM THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS?
YES YEAH. YEAH AND I THINK THE
PROPOSAL WE HAVE IS REFLECTIVE
OF SOME OF THE DATA NEEDS THAT
LOCAL AGENCIES HAVE, AND I
THINK, UM I SPOKE TO THAT THAT
THIS IS GOING TO BRING ECONOMY
OF SCALE STANDARDIZATION, SO
WITHOUT US PROVIDING THE DATA
THAT, UM, AGENCIES HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO RELY ON THERE EITHER NOT
GOING TO HAVE THAT DATA, UM AND
NOT USE THE BEST AVAILABLE
SCIENCE OR THEY'LL GO THEIR OWN
WAY AGAIN PUT FEES AND COSTS ON
LOCALS AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT
MAY OR MAY NOT FIT. UM SO ONE.
IT'S SOME OF THE DATA NEEDS THAT
WE IDENTIFIED WERE GOING TO
FULFILL, BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN
DATA GAPS COME THROUGH THE PLANS
. SOME OF IT IS AGAIN, UM MORE
TECHNICAL IN NATURE. SOME OF IT,
UM IT IS ALSO GOING TO BE, UM,
ADVANCING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IN TIME
WE'RE GOING TO NEED AGENCIES TO
BECOME AN ADAPTIVE PLANS TOWARDS
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THE
RATIFICATION UM AND ADVANCING OF
CLIMATE CHANGE. SO UM, IS THE
GOVERNOR'S WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY
THAT WAS PUT OUT FOR HOT, DRIER
CALIFORNIA LAST AUGUST POINTED
TO THIS IS THE REALITY. SO WE'RE
GOING TO NEED PLANS TO BE
ADAPTED TO REFLECT WHAT WE'VE
BEEN CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING IN
2040 AND 2042, SO THEY'RE GOING
TO BE RESILIENT TOWARDS THOSE
EFFORTS. SO THAT'S GONNA NEED A
LOT OF DATA GAP AUGMENTATION AS
WELL AS INTERCONNECTED SURFACE
WATER. THAT'S A DATA GAP. AGAIN
WE'RE DEVELOPING METHODOLOGIES
FOR AGENCIES TO FOLLOW, AS WELL
AS INTER BASIN COORDINATION, SO
WE HAVE NOT YET DEALT WITH ONE
BASINS ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR
GOALS ACROSS BOUNDARY LINES. SO
ALL OF THAT ARE KIND OF THE KEY
DATA GAPS WE SEE IN THE NEXT FEW
YEARS. GREAT. THANK YOU. I THINK
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, AND
I THINK WE HAVE BROAD AGREEMENT
ON WHY WE NEED TO HAVE
SUFFICIENT FUNDING MOVING TO THE
AGENCIES SO THAT WE CAN FILL IN
THOSE DATA GAPS. UH AS WE MOVE
FORWARD, YOU KNOW THE BETTER JOB
THAT WE DO IN TERMS OF FILLING
IN THE DATA GAPS. THE MORE WE
CAN ACCOMPLISH. WHAT I BELIEVE
IS THE IS THE GOAL, WHICH IS FOR
THE EXISTING AGRICULTURAL
OPERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN A LONG
STANDING PART OF CALIFORNIA AND
BOTH OF OUR ECONOMY AND IN TERMS
OF THE SYSTEM, SOCIETY AND
COMMUNITY NEEDS. THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE THAT'S WHAT IS AN
IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CALIFORNIA
THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT AND IT'S
THE IT'S. IT'S THE NEWER IT'S
THE CHANGING THINGS THAT WE HAVE
TO EVALUATE VERY CAREFULLY AS WE
MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THEIR
SUSTAINABLE AND WITHOUT GOOD
TECHNICAL INFORMATION, SO I
CERTAINLY STRONG SUPPORTER OF
THE NEW POSITIONS IN THE NEW
FUNDING. AND I THINK THE LAO WAS
STRONG AGREEMENT WITH THAT, AS
IT MOVES FORWARD. UM, THE
SOMEBODY'S ON PROBATIONARY
STATUS. THOSE PROBATIONARY
BASINS. WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR?
UH, THAT THAT. FOR THEM, UH,
CHAIR ESQUIVEL MENTIONED WE HAVE
SIX BASINS ARE DEEMED INADEQUATE
OVER AT THE STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD. THEY
HAD A INFORMATION HEARING LAST
MONTH. UM TO START STUDYING THE
STAGE. NONE HAVE BEEN, UH PLACED
IN PROBATION YET AND THEY'RE IN
THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT SO IF
THERE'S QUESTIONS, THE BOARD CAN
ANSWER THAT THAT'S UNDER THE
BOARDS PROCESS. THE BOARD COME
UP BECAUSE I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD. DON'T
GO. DON'T GO FOR IT. YEAH MR
GOSSELIN. I'M SURE YOU'LL HAVE
WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS FROM
THERE YOU GO. RIGHT, PAUL. HOW
ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF
PROBATIONARY STATUS? YEAH. SO UM
, AS AS MR DAWSON SAID, WE
CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY IN
PROBATION. NOW THE BOARD IS
GOING TO BE MAKING
DETERMINATIONS WHO TO BRING IN
AND THERE ARE TIMELINES. SO UM,
YOU KNOW, NOTICING REQUIREMENTS
OF ABOUT 30 DAYS AND THEN
ANOTHER 90 DAYS. UM AS IT'S A
CITY AS AS FOLKS COME IN, UH,
BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A LOT OF
PROCESS AFFORDED. UM THE BASINS
AS THEY COME INTO PROVISIONS AT
THE STATE. SO TIMELINE WISE, THE
SOONEST WE'D LIKELY SEE ANY ANY
BASINS IN PROBATION WOULD BE,
YOU KNOW, SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.
OKAY SOMETIME NEXT YEAR. AND
THEN COULD YOU ANSWER THE
QUESTION? UM YOU KNOW,
LEGISLATION ALREADY ALLOWS
JUDGES TO ASK FOR ADVICE FROM
THE WATER BOARDS AS THEY'RE
WORKING ON ADJUDICATIONS, AND
IT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE
ALERTED YOU TO. UM BUT THE WATER
BOARDS HAVE OPTED NOT TO WEIGH
IN. COULD YOU ANSWER? YEAH.
GLADLY CLARIFY. IT'S NOT THAT WE
HAVE OPTED NOT TO WEIGH IN. IT'S
THAT WHEN A REQUEST AND REFERRAL
COMES IN THROUGH THE COURTS,
WHAT WE DO IS SAY OKAY, IN ORDER
TO PARTICIPATE HERE IS THE
AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME HERE'S WHAT
THE COST WOULD BE BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE RESOURCES OTHERWISE
TO PARTICIPATE AND FULFILL OUR
OBLIGATIONS TO THE COURT. AND
WHEN WE DO TAKE THAT STEP. WHAT
IS OFTEN HAPPENING IS THE LIVING
IN THE FOLKS WITHIN THE
PROCEEDING, MAKE THE
DETERMINATION THAT'S NOT KIND OF
WORTH THE COST TO PROCEED. SO
WE'RE NOT MAKING A TERMINATION.
WE'RE JUST ARTICULATING CLEARLY
WHAT THE COST WOULD BE FOR US TO
PARTICIPATE IN STAFF TIME,
ETCETERA AND THAT THAT POINT WE
ARE THEN YOU KNOW NOT BEING SO
WE DON'T HAVE STATE FUNDING FOR
YOU TO GIVE ADVICE TO NO, WE
ARE. WE ARE FEED BASED
ORGANIZATION, REGRETTABLY, SO TO
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH WHEN THE
JUDICIAL BRANCH ASKED FOR IT.
AND WE'RE AT THE SAME TIME
CONCERNED ABOUT ADJUDICATIONS
UNDERMINING SIGMA'S SO I WOULD
OFFER THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT
WE HAVE, IF WE IF, IF WE DON'T
HAVE THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO
RESPOND TO JUDICIAL REQUEST FOR
HELP, WHICH IS THE APPROPRIATE
THING, WHICH WE WANTED JUDICIAL
BRANCH TO TRY TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE CONSISTENT. UM WITH THE
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
, AND THEN WE CAN'T RESPOND TO
THAT. SO THAT'S A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. I'D LIKE TO
GET ON EVERYBODY'S RADAR SCREEN
AS AS WE GO FORWARD HERE, UM AND
THEN, UM FEE STRUCTURE, WHOSE
BEST TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IN
TERMS OF WHAT THE FEE STRUCTURES
WHICH WHICH GROUNDWATER AGENCIES
HAVE FEE STRUCTURES. WHAT'S THE
RANGE? ALL OF THAT KIND OF
STUFF? YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THE
SPECIFICS ON INDIVIDUAL GS A FEE
STRUCTURES LIKE I SAID MANY
AGENCIES GOING BACK INITIALLY
HAD PUT PROPER TO 18 FEES IN
PLACE. A NUMBER OF THEM ARE IN
THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE. UM AGAIN
, THAT'S AUGMENTING THE MONEY IS
THE STATE. UM MONIES THAT HAVE
BEEN PUT OUT $300 MILLION OVER
THE LAST, UM A FEW YEARS SO WE
CAN COME BACK AND COMPILE SORT
OF THE STATUS. IF THAT'S UH,
THAT'S IMPORTANT. THAT WOULD BE
IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL
INFORMATION FOR US TO HAVE AS
WORTH AS WELL AS WE'RE LOOKING
BUDGET WISE, BECAUSE WE ALSO
HAVE SMALL RURAL DISTRICTS THAT
LITERALLY THE BASIN IS THE BASIN
IS LARGE. OVER DRAFTED, BUT THE
. FOR THE SMALL RURAL AREA TO BE
ABLE TO PUT IN SUFFICIENT FEES
TO RUN AGROUND. WATER AGENCIES
PRETTY YOU KNOW, PRETTY LIMITED
AND SO RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE
PLANS OUTSIDE OF DO DO WE THINK
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GRANTS FOR
YOU KNOW, ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION
MAY BE BASED ON THE FINANCIAL
WHEREWITHAL OF A DISTRICT. SOME
SOME DISTRICTS YOU KNOW, CAN CAN
AFFORD THE FEES AND THE
REGULATION MUCH BETTER THAN
OTHERS. YEAH THE FUTURE FUNDING
AND STRUCTURE. THIS IS SOMETHING
WE'VE BEEN TALKING, UM WITH
LOCAL AGENCIES ABOUT DIFFERENT
FUNDING MECHANISMS. RIGHT NOW,
THERE'S NOTHING PROPOSED
ESTABLISHED TO DO THAT. BUT
THOSE KIND OF ISSUES WE'VE BEEN
TALKING TO LOCAL AGENCIES ON
WHAT STATE LOCAL RELATIONSHIP
SHOULD BE IN TERMS OF FUNDING
AND SORT OF BASELINING. MINIMUM
EXPECTATIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR
ONES THAT MAY NOT HAVE, UM THE
ECONOMIES OF SCALE TO CARRY OUT
WITH WHAT'S EXPECTED IN IN THE
STATUTE. ALRIGHT GREAT. UM IF I
CAN ADD JUST ONE THING ON FEES,
BOARDS FEES WHEN WE BRING FOLKS
INTO PROBATION AND THEN BEGIN TO
RECOUP THESE OR ACTUALLY ON TOP
OF THOSE ONGOING G S A P S THAT
THEY WILL BE, UH, YOU KNOW.
PROVIDING SO IT WE KNOW THAT IT
BECOMES AS A STRAIN AND THE
BOARD HAS FLEXIBILITY ON WHAT WE
SET THOSE FEES AT, BUT WE'RE
GONNA YOU KNOW, DO OUR BEST TO
KEEP IT CLOSE TO THE ACTUAL WORK
THAT WE'RE DOING AND THE BENEFIT
ULTIMATELY THAT IT SHOULD BE TO
THESE AGENCIES. AS WE HEAR
EMPHASIZE THAT THIS ISN'T A
RESET BUTTON AS YOU COME TO THE
BOARD. IT'S A CONTINUATION
THROUGH WHAT ARE WE KNOW
DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT THEY'RE
TRYING TO WORK THROUGH, AND THE
BOARD IS HERE TO HELP PROVIDE
CLARITY THROUGH TO THEM FOR AND
IT. IT ALSO HOPEFULLY WILL BE AN
INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO NOT GO ON
TO PROBATION RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY
WOULD BE PAYING. YOU MAY HAVE
BEEN STRUCTURED THAT WAY. YEAH
UM, HOW ABOUT THE FENDER AQUIFER
UNDER THE MOJAVE DESERT DOES
THERE ANYWAY, THAT COMES UNDER
SIGMA. UM NO, I BELIEVE IT'S
EITHER A LOW OR VERY LOW
PRIORITY BASIN AND AGAIN. THERE
WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION WHEN
SIGNAL WAS FORMED ABOUT WHERE TO
PLACE THESE SO YOU KNOW, HIGH
AND MEDIUM PRIORITY BASINS OUT
OF THE 515 BASINS. 94 HIGH END
MEDIUM PRIORITY BASIS, THE ONE
THAT WERE SLATED TO BE SIGMA
REQUIRED THAT ACCOUNTS FOR 96,
PLUS PERCENT OF THE GRANDMOTHER
DEMAND IN THE STATES. SO FOR US,
THAT'S A GOOD, UM, TARGET TO GET
SUSTAINABILITY GOING. I'M GOING
TO LEAVE IT AT THAT BECAUSE WE
HAVE LOTS OF OTHER QUESTIONS,
AND I JUST WANTED TO WANTED TO
GET THAT OUT THERE. UM I'M GONNA
JUMP OVER WATER BOTTLING, BUT IF
SOMEBODY COULD JUST GET BACK TO
US ON THAT THE GOVERNOR'S E O
ORDER COME TO THOSE QUESTIONS
THAT I HAVE ON THAT AFTER MR
FONG, WHO HAS TO LEAVE IN A FEW
MINUTES. WHO WANTS TO ASK SOME
QUESTIONS ON FLOODING, AND I
HOPE YOU'LL APPRECIATE THAT.
WE'RE GIVING HIM SOME PRECIOUS
TIME AS WE'RE ALL TRYING TO
SQUEEZE IN OUR QUESTIONS TO
THANK YOU. UH I CERTAINLY
APPRECIATE THE CHAIRS. UH
INDULGENCE. I JUMPED IN A LITTLE
LATE HERE BUT BECAUSE THE
GOVERNOR WAS JUST IN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY YESTERDAY. I BELIEVE, UH
, YOU KNOW, JOAQUIN WAS THERE AS
WELL APPRECIATE THE VISIT. JUST
A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS JUST
BECAUSE IT'S TIME SENSITIVE IN
OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO
THE FLOODING OF THE RIVER BASIN
AND THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL
VALLEY AND FOOT PROTECTION. JUST
QUICKLY SINCE THE GOVERNOR WAS
THERE, SURVEYING THE DAMAGE THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DOES, UM,
ELIMINATE $40 MILLION THAT WAS
APPROVED IN THE BUDGET LAST YEAR
FOR FLOODPLAIN RESTORATION IN
THE STOMACH VALLEY. IS THERE AN
HOUR CONVERSATION TO RESTORE
THAT MONEY AND ENHANCE IT? UH,
THAT I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION THAT THAT THAT WE
NEED TO HAVE. DRUG LOWER WAS THE
PART OF FINANCE SOLDIERS. NO, WE
KNOW WE'VE DEFINITELY HAD
RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON
THAT SPECIFIC REDUCTION. I THINK
THEY WILL ALSO DISCUSSED
YESTERDAY. I'LL JUST NOTE. YOU
KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE CURRENTLY
WORKING ON THE MAYOR VISION. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DID DID MAKE
THAT REDUCTION DON'T HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO SHARE
ON THAT ONE AT THAT POINT IN
TIME. OKAY UM, IN TERMS OF THE
NEXT FEW MONTHS IN THE REGION WE
ARE EXPECTING, YOU KNOW THE
HISTORIC SNOWPACK TO MELT. WHAT?
WHAT IS BEING DONE WITHIN
ADMINISTRATION TO ADDRESS THAT
IS THERE I KNOW THERE'S UH, THEY
EMERGENCY FUNDING THAT'S BEEN,
UH, PROVIDED TO O ES. BUT WHAT
WHAT? WHAT DOES THE NEXT STEPS
LOOK LIKE? SO THANK YOU. I CAN
TAKE THAT QUESTION AND THEN
OTHERS CAN JUMP IN. IF I'VE
MISSED SOMETHING SO I TOLD I
NEED TO BRING THIS CLOSE. SO
YOU'RE RIGHT. WE HAVE YOU KNOW,
EXITED THE ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS
MARCH FLOODING PHASE WE AT THE
DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH OUR
PARTNERS, CALLOWAY S ARMY CORPS
. OTHERS ARE REALLY MONITORING
SNOWMELT, SO LOT OF OUR DATA
COLLECTION OR FORECASTING OUR
COORDINATION WITH LOCAL COUNTY
ENTITIES AND LOCAL EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS IS PROVIDING THE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SNOW MELT
AND IS THAT WATER IS COMING IN,
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM.
WE'VE WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS
WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A LOT OF
PRESENCE AND MEETINGS DOWN IN
THE AREA TO WORK WITH THE FOUR
COUNTIES ON A REGIONAL FLOODS
STRATEGY, SO PART OF WHAT DWR
DOES IS WE DO A LOT OF DATA
GENERATION AND ANALYSIS, SO
WE'RE TRYING TO FEED AS MUCH
INFORMATION AS WE CAN. TO THE
LOCALS HAVE THEM FILL IN GAPS.
OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE VERY AWARE OF
THE LOCAL CONDITIONS. ALSO
WORKING WITH THE ARMY CORPS, WHO
HAS A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION.
SO UM THIS REGIONAL FLOOD
STRATEGY WILL HELP TO REALLY
IDENTIFY AREAS THAT YOU KNOW,
NEED TO BE PRIORITIZED AROUND
FLOODING AND INDICATION, SO YOU
KNOW, WE KNOW WATER IS COMING
INTO THE LAKE BED FROM THE
RESERVOIR RELEASES. BUT WE ALSO
KNOW AS WE ENTER THE WARMER
SEASON WILL HAVE DIVERSIONS WILL
HAVE IRRIGATION, SO WE'RE GOING
TO MONITOR HOW MUCH WATER IS
REALLY KIND OF COMING DOWN INTO
THE AREA AND WHERE IT'S
INUNDATING. PREPOSITIONING FLOOD
FIGHTING MATERIALS. THAT'S
ANOTHER, UM, SERVICE. I GUESS I
WILL CALL IT THAT DWR ALONG WITH
SOME OF OUR PARTNERS DO WE'VE
PROVIDED FLOOD FIGHTING
SPECIALISTS, SO WE'LL CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH THE LOCALS LOOKING
AT LEVY CONDITIONS, MAKING SURE
WE HAVE MATERIALS IN PLACE IF
THEY'RE NEEDED AS WATERS RISE
WITH THE SNOW MELT, UM WE ALSO
HAVE JUST IMPLEMENTED THE
TEMPORARY PUMP PROGRAM. IF YOU
WILL. THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK
WAS TOUCHED UPON YESTERDAY WITH
THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT, SO THAT'S
SOMETHING WE'VE KICKED OFF PAUL.
I DON'T KNOW YOUR PROGRAM LEADS
IT IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW
WORDS ABOUT THAT THIS THIS ADDS
ON TO EFFORT WE STARTED, UM
WORKING WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND
, UM IN THE RESERVOIR MANAGERS
TO IDENTIFY WHEN THOSE RESERVOIR
RELEASES. WE'RE GOING TO COME
DOWN AND WE IDENTIFIED NOT JUST
IN TILLERY LAKE BUT CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
ABOUT 108. ALREADY PERMITTED,
RECHARGE OR BANK FACILITY. SO
JUST FOR US TO COORDINATE WE
MAKE WEEK AT LEAST WEEKLY CALLS
TO COORDINATE TO LET THEM KNOW
WHAT IS COMING DOWN CAPTURED IF
THEY CAN JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHATEVER COULD BE CAPTURED TO
AVOID FLOOD RISK DOWN STREAMS
COULD BE, UM, TAKEN AND THIS
BUILDS UPON THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS
THAT THE GOVERNOR ISSUED UM, THE
PAST FEW MONTHS, AND THEN WE
FOUND THAT THE CAPACITY OF THESE
AGENCIES THEY HAD MAXED OUT THE
CAPACITY AND SAID, WE COULD
DIVERT MORE IF WE HAD PUMPS, AND
SOME ACTUALLY HAD SOME UH,
BASINS THEY HAD CREATED BUT
DIDN'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE OF
PIPING TO DO IT. SO THAT'S WHERE
THE TEMPORARY PUMP PROGRAM CAME
IN TO JUST ADVANCE SOME OF THOSE
FLOOD DIVERSIONS TO MINIMIZE THE
IMPACT DOWNSTREAM. SO LET ME LET
ME JUST BE VERY QUICK IN TERMS
OF JUST SPEAKING TO THIS POINT
ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE WHAT THE
LOCAL COUNTIES I'VE TALKED TO,
OF COURSE, THE YOU KNOW THE
LOCAL ELECTED, THEY'RE THEY'RE
VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY NEED TO
BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE TO IN
PREPARATION. YOU SAID THAT THE
MONITORING AND THE DATA AND THEY
WANT TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THINGS
BEFORE IN PREPARATION FOR THE
WATER TO FLOW. AND SO THERE IS
THIS KIND OF A TIMING ISSUE IN
TERMS OF REIMBURSEMENT, CAN YOU
CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? YOU HAVE A
LOT OF AS YOU MENTIONED
CAPACITY. A LOT OF THESE WATER
DISTRICTS, FLOOD IRRIGATION
DISTRICTS, COUNTIES AND CITIES
PROBABLY ARE EXPENDING A LOT OF
RESOURCES RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS
THIS SITUATION, BUT THEN YOU
KNOW THEY'RE THEY'RE BLEEDING
THERE WERE THERE THE GENERAL
FUNDS AND THE RESERVES AND THEIR
CITY BUDGETS AND THE COUNTY
BUDGETS. UM HOW CAN WE
STREAMLINE THE REIMBURSEMENT
PART OF IT? I CAN'T SPEAK. TO
BEAM OF REIMBURSEMENT. I WILL
JUST SAY FOR THE TEMPORARY PUMP
PROGRAM. THIS IS FUNDED BY THE
STATE, SO IT'S A TURN. NOT NOT
THE PUMP, NOT THE PUMPING. I
MEAN, APPRECIATE THE PUMPING
PROGRAM NEED TO MOVE THE WATER.
BUT BROADLY SPEAKING, WE HAVE WE
HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
LITERALLY IN THE MIDST OF BEING
IN THE MIDDLE OF A FLOOD EVENT
AND THEY THEY WANT. THEY'RE
TRYING TO PREPARE, YOU KNOW,
EITHER RAISING LEVIES OR
EXPANDING CAPACITY AND IN IN
FACILITIES THAT HAVEN'T SEEN AS
MUCH WATER IN A LONG TIME AND SO
APPRECIATE THEIR RESPONSE BY O
ES. CERTAINLY UH, HAS BEEN, UH,
YOU KNOW, VERY HELPFUL JUST NOW
, AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT
FEW MONTHS. THIS IS THIS IS A
CRITICAL TIME, AND IT'S
CERTAINLY EXACTLY LOT OF ANXIETY
FOR US IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.
YES, YEAH. AND HAVING BEEN DOWN
A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE LAST
MONTH, AND THE CONVERSATIONS
WERE HAVING WITH THE LOCAL
ENTITIES. PART OF WHAT WE'RE
DOING ALONG WITH CALA ES IS
REALLY JUST ENCOURAGING THEM AND
MAKING SURE AS THEY ARE PUTTING
REQUESTED SO AS THEY HAVE
ACTIVITIES THAT DO FALL UNDER
EMERGENCY REPAIRS AND WHATNOT TO
GET THOSE REQUESTS INTO THE
HOPPER THROUGH CALAVIUS, THE
STATE OPERATIONS CENTER. SOME OF
IT COMES TO THE DWR. WE CAN GET
MISSION TASKED TO GET MATERIALS
TO THEM SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO
PERHAPS DO EXPENDITURES OUT OF
POCKET TO GET SOME OF THE OR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. I DIDN'T
MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S
PART OF THE FLOOD FIGHTING
SPECIALISTS. SO I THINK THERE'S
A LITTLE BIT THE COUNTY'S SEEM
TO BE GETTING ORGANIZED AND
PRIORITIZING WHERE THOSE NEEDS
ARE, AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH
THEM TO KIND OF PUT THOSE INTO
THE BUCKETS. IF YOU WILL OF
EMERGENCY, GET THOSE IN THOSE,
YOU KNOW. CAN BE REIMBURSED
THROUGH PERHAPS FEMA WITH THE
FEDERAL DECLARATION OR THE DRILL
A FUNDS, BUT THERE ARE ALSO
OTHER REQUEST. WE KNOW KINGS
COUNTY JUST PUT ONE IN ON FRIDAY
, UM, FOR POTENTIAL TO LOOK AT
LEVY RAISE THOSE ARE GOING TO BE
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TYPE
PROJECTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, SO
I KNOW WE'RE WORKING THROUGH
THAT. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. I
APPRECIATE IT. AND I APPRECIATE
THE CHILDREN DODGERS. LET ME
JUST SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH,
IN WITHIN, UH, THE RESPONSE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE CERTAINLY
THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT SIDE IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT. YOU KNOW, WE
WERE DEALING WITH REIMBURSEMENTS
FROM FIRES FROM FROM FROM 2019.
SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY
CONCERNED THAT YOU KNOW AS
COMMUNITIES AND CITIES AND WATER
DISTRICTS ARE EXPENDING
SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO PROTECT
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND LIVELIHOODS AND
THE LIVESTOCK. THAT YOU KNOW,
WE'RE NOT FORCING THEM TO GO
BANKRUPT OR TO BANKRUPT THEIR
RESERVES OR IN THEIR GENERAL
FUNDS AND WAITING FOR A
REIMBURSEMENT THAT THAT'S THAT'S
NECESSARY. UH THE OTHER THING AS
WE DEAL WITH THE EMERGENCY SIDE
IS LOOKING FORWARD IN THE
PREPARATION AND IF WE COULD
RESTORE AND ENHANCE THE FLOOD
PROTECTION FUNDING AS WELL AS
FAST TRACK SOMEBODY DISASTER
RELIEF. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
, AND I THINK ONE THING THAT WE
NEED TO LOOK AT MOVING FORWARD
IS JUST HOW DO WE STREAMLINE THE
MAINTENANCE OF THESE FACILITIES
? THE DEBRIS REMOVAL A LOT. A
LOT OF THE DEBRIS THAT WAS IN
THESE FACILITIES CERTAINLY BUILT
UP DURING THE DROUGHT, BUT YOU
KNOW WE HAVE. WE HAD WATER
DISTRICTS THAT WERE TRYING OR
WAITING FOR APPROVAL FROM
AGENCIES. AND THEN WHEN THE
WATER CAME, THE DEBRIS ACTUALLY
LEAD TO LEVEES, BREAKING AND
DAMAGE AND SO TRYING TO
STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS. I THINK
IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, SO I
THINK THOSE THREE AREAS IF WE
COULD WORK TOGETHER ON THAT, I
THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY THE NEXT
FEW MONTHS ARE CRITICAL.
CERTAINLY THANK YOU, MR CHAIR
FOR LETTING ME KIND OF KIND OF
JUMP IN. THIS IS THIS IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR US IN
THE CENTRAL VALLEY IN AND I
APPRECIATE THE INDULGENCE. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR YOUR YOUR CONSTANT
INTEREST AND ATTENTION TO. THESE
THESE GOOD BUDGET ISSUES JUST
GOING TO BE REAL QUICK ON
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE, AND THEN
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO, UH,
ISSUE ITEM THREE JUST WITH
REGARD TO THE GOVERNOR'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER, YOU KNOW IT.
SURE. OUT THERE. DEEP DEEP. WHAT
DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA IN TERMS OF
HOW ROBUSTLY HAS A PROGRAM BEEN?
BEEN IMPLEMENTED, TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF WHAT KIND OF DO YOU
HAVE ANY DATA ON HOW MUCH WATER
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECHARGE AS A
RESULT OF PUBLIC? MADE THE
PUBLIC IS AT THE POINT WHERE
THEY SEE ANYTHING. NOT ANYTHING
ANY ANY FLOODWATER. IT'S LIKE,
WHY AREN'T WE RECHARGING
EVERYTHING. AND, UM, SO IF
ANYTHING WE CAN HAVE TO HELP US
RESPOND WOULD BE HELPFUL. YES UM
, ONE THING I'LL SAY IS UNDER
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, UM, FLOOD
DIVERSIONS OF BEING REPORTED TO
THE STATE WATER RESOURCES
CONTROL BOARD. SO TODAY, JUST
UNDER THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER UM 50
SOMEWHAT AGENCIES HAVE REPORTED
. THERE'S UPWARDS OF OVER 55,000
ACRE FEET THAT'S BEEN DIVERTED.
UM AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE
SOME OF THE OTHER DIVERSIONS
THAT ARE OCCURRING WITH ENTITIES
THAT HAVE PRE 1914 WATER RIGHTS
OR HAVE ESTABLISHED WATER RIGHT
PERMITS. UM SO THERE'S A LOT OF
DIVERSIONS GOING ON IN PRIMARILY
YOU KNOW, RECHARGE IS IMPORTANT.
BUT UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY
GETTING DIVERSIONS TO PROTECT
COMMUNITIES AND MINIMIZE IMPACTS
DOWNSTREAM. NOW, IN TERMS OF HOW
MUCH IS GETTING RECHARGED. UM
YOU KNOW IT'S DIFFERENT AREAS
PERCOLATED DIFFERENT RATES, AND
THE GEOLOGY IS DIFFERENT. SO, UM
YOU KNOW AND AGAIN, SOME OF
THESE AREAS THAT GET DIVERTED.
DON'T HAVE A WATER RIGHT PERMIT
. THEY'RE DIVERTING BECAUSE
THEY'RE MINIMIZING FLOOD RISK SO
THE AREAS MAY NOT BE TOTALLY
CONDUCIVE TO RECHARGE. BUT IN
THE END WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT,
AT LEAST IN THE AGGREGATE IS THE
LOCAL GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY
AGENCIES REPORT TO US ANNUALLY
ON APRIL 1ST THE CHANGE IN
STORAGE WITHIN THE BASIN FOR THE
PAST YEAR, SO THE YEAR THAT
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30 SO THAT
CHANGE IN STORAGE SHOULD ACCOUNT
FOR EITHER CHANGES IN PUMPING IF
THERE'S IN LIEU RECHARGE BECAUSE
THEY WEREN'T PUMPING OR
INCREASED INPUT INTO THE BASIN
FROM NATURAL RECHARGE, ACTIVE,
RECHARGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SO
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING NEXT.
MAY WE'LL GET IT? APRIL 1ST. WE
SHOULD GET IT OUT BY MAY 1ST THE
THAT CHANGE IN STORAGE THAT WILL
REFLECT IMPROVE STORAGE AS WELL
AS THE QUARTERLY. OUR
GROUNDWATER MONITORING THAT
OCCURS AND TYPICALLY APRIL AND
THEN THE FALL. SO WE'RE GOING TO
BE TRACKING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE BOARD
ON BETTER METRICS ON
CHARACTERIZING, RECHARGE A YEAR
FROM NOW THAT WILL HAVE HAVE
BETTER DATA IN TERMS OF HOW HOW
WELL WE WERE ABLE TO RECHARGE
NOW. YEAH THANK YOU. I WOULD
JUST ADD. AS AS PAUL SAID, YOU
KNOW, THE REALLY FALLS INTO TWO
BUCKETS HERE. WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT PERMANENT RECHARGE AND
THEN UNPERMITTED RECHARGING AN
UNPERMITTED SPACE. IT'S BECAUSE
IF YOU ARE, INCIDENTALLY
RECHARGING BECAUSE YOU'RE
FLOODING FIGHTING FLOODS. IT IS
A SPACE THAT, UM BEFORE
EXECUTIVE ORDER BEFORE THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE ADMINISTRATION
WAS JUST KIND OF UNDEFINED AND
SO ON THE PERMITTED SIDE BECAUSE
OF STREAMLINING THAT WE'VE DONE
BECAUSE OF TEMPORARY PERMITS
THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED BECAUSE
THESE MOMENTS THEY REALLY ARE
EPHEMERAL. ALMOST THEY COME AND
IT'S HARD TO YOU NEED TO PLAN
BEFORE THEY COME SO THAT YOU CAN
DIVERT SAFELY ENSURE YOU'RE NOT
HARMING WATER RIGHT HOLDERS. THE
NUMBER OF PERMITS WE ACTUALLY
HAD THIS YEAR FOR THE AMOUNT OF
WATER WAS NOT MUCH WE HAVE. WE
HAVE APPROVED EIGHT PERMITS.
PLUS I THINK AT THIS POINT, IT'S
ABOUT 190,000 ACRE FEET WORTH OF
RECHARGE THAT THOSE PERMITS ARE
PERMITTED FOR AND THE OTHER
ACTIVITY WE TOOK ON THE
PERMITTED SIDE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT
TO THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION. UM
WATER RIGHT PERMIT WHERE WE WERE
ABLE TO MAKE A TEMPORARY URGENCY
CHANGE ORDER IN A FROM A
PETITION AND UNLOCK 600,000 ACRE
FEET WORTH OF RECHARGE FOR THE
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION. THEY'RE
USING WHAT'S KNOWN AS THEIR 2 15
CONTRACTS, WHICH ARE EXCESS
WATER WITHIN THEIR SYSTEM THAT
THEY CAN THAT BECAUSE IT'S
REALLY A MATTER OF CONVEYANCE,
ULTIMATELY GET TO FOLKS THAT CAN
USE IT FOR RECHARGE AT AT A
REDUCED PRICE, SO THAT'S 600,000
ACRE FEET 190,000 ACRE FEET.
THAT'S ALL THE PERMITTED
RECHARGE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE
FOR THIS YEAR, AND THEN THERE'S
AGAIN THE UNPERMITTED SIDE AND
THEIR FOLKS ARE REPORTING TO US
THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WE
HAVE. I THINK IT'S ABOUT 58
INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES THAT HAVE
REPORTED RECHARGE UNDER THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER PROVISIONS AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER, AS WELL AS TO CREATE SOME
GUIDE RAILS AROUND AGAIN. WHAT
WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE WAS PERMITTED
ACTIVITY THAT COULD TAKE PLACE.
BUT WE WANT TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T
TAKE PLACE IN A WAY THAT HURTS
COMMUNITIES. UH WATER QUALITY
CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY AROUND
NITRATES. SO THERE'S
PROHIBITIONS IN THE UNPERMITTED
EXECUTIVE ORDER WORK THAT IS
ENSURING THAT IT'S NOT BEING
APPLIED TO DAIRY LANDS. UH, IS
NOT BEING APPLIED TO PLACES THAT
PESTICIDE APPLICATION OR
FERTILIZER APPLICATION HAPPENED
RECENTLY. WHERE YOU HAVE WATER
QUALITY IMPACTS THAT ARE THEN
EXACERBATING YOUR QUANTITY ISSUE
AND NEEDING TO THINK OF THOSE AT
ONCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I
JUST WANTED TO KIND OF ADD THAT
IN HIS, UH, PAUL SAID HERE WE'RE
WE'RE REALLY WORKING HERE IN
REAL TIME TO BEST SUPPORT THE
DECISION MAKING THAT'S GOING ON
ACROSS THE BASINS WITH THE MELT
AND AROUND THINGS LIKE RECHARGE
SO THAT WE HAVE AS BEST PICTURE
AS WE CAN ON WHERE WATER CAN
MOVE. UNDER WHAT PROVISION? UM,
CAN THEY DO SO? AND HERE,
LESSONS LEARNED FOR HOPEFULLY,
ADDITIONAL YEARS LIKE THIS WHERE
WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT THIS TO USE
FURTHER, BUT I'M REALLY PROUD OF
THE WORK THAT HAS GONE ON AND
THE BALANCE THAT WE'VE HAD TO
STRIKE WITH. NOT JUST SAYING YES
TO EVERYTHING BUT REALLY
UNDERSTANDING. WHAT ARE THE
IMPACTS OF THE ACTIVITIES WERE
HAPPENING ON THE WATERSHED? I
APPRECIATE YOU KNOW THE DAIRY
RESTRICTION AND THE RECENT
PESTICIDE APPLICATION. MUCH MORE
COMPLICATED WITH THE NITRATE.
BUILD UP. HOW WHAT ARE YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THAT? HOW ARE YOU
HANDLING THAT? THERE'S AN
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK AND
SCIENCE THAT'S GONE INTO
PROGRAMS LIKE ARE IRRIGATED
LANDS REGULATORY PROGRAM WHERE
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE RATIOS AT
WHICH PLANTS UPTAKE NITROGEN,
THE MULTITUDE SHOULD APPLY AND
WHAT'S OVER APPLICATION AND
REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE REGIONAL
WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD THE
CENTRAL, UH, VALLEY REGIONAL
WATERBOARD AND CENTRAL COAST. UM
AND THEIR WORK THERE. WE ALSO
HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE CV SALTS,
WHICH ARE IN THE LONG TERM
LOOKING AT THE SALINITY BUT ALSO
NITRATES AS WELL IN THE
GROUNDWATER AND PROVIDING
REPLACEMENT WATER FOR FOLKS. SO
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU KNOW,
THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE FOCUS
ON THAT WORD. BUT YOU FOR THE
FOR THE EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE
ORDER. YOU DON'T HAVE A. DO YOU
HAVE A STANDARD THAT YOU HAVE
FOR? WE CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU
KNOW. SÐNG NITRATE NITRATE
POLLUTED WATER DOWN INTO THE
INTO THE BASIN ON THE
UNPERMITTED SIDE AGAIN WE BUILT
IN THESE PROHIBITIONS TO PREVENT
YOU KNOW THOSE WORST CASE SORT
OF SCENARIOS. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WITH
NITRATES, ESPECIALLY IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY. THERE'S ALREADY
A LOT OF NITRATE LOADING WITHIN
THE ROOT ZONE OR OTHER OTHER
PLACES, SO NO MATTER SO APPLYING
WATER CAN HAVE THE EFFECT OF
INCREASING NITRATES. BUT IN THE
LONG TERM COULD CAN ACTUALLY
HELP. A LOT OF THAT SCIENCE. I
KNOW AGAIN RIGHT NOW IS STILL
BEING DONE, AND I KNOW RIGHT
NOW, ESPECIALLY AROUND THESE
PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO THE
GROUND TESTING THE SAY OKAY,
WHAT IS THE IMPACT AFTER A YEAR
LIKE THIS IN PLACES IS GOING TO
BE REALLY IMPORTANT, SO I THINK
THE ON THE POINT THERE. IT'S
REALLY WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS
THAT ARE HELPING TO INFORM IT
AND HERE ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
AND ON THE UNPERMITTED SIDE.
ACTUAL RESTRICTIONS TO PREVENT
THE WORST OF ACTIVITIES FROM
HAPPENING. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
USED THIS TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE
COLORADO RIVER AND THE DELTA
CONVEYANCE. BUT GIVEN GIVEN OUR
TIMING OF ANYBODY WHO PREPARED
YOUR ANSWERS ON COLORADO RIVER
IN DELTA CONVEYANCE, WE WOULD
LOVE YOU TO COMMUNICATE THOSE TO
US IN WRITING, IF YOU COULD.
FROM FROM THE AGENCIES. BUT IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME, I THINK WE
HAVE TO MOVE ON. AND SO WE'RE
GOING TO GO ON TO DAM SAFETY AND
REALLY WANT TO THANK UM BOTH OF
YOU AND WE'LL ALL OF YOU FOR
THESE ANSWERS. YOU'VE GOT
IMPORTANT WORK TO DO RIGHT AND
LET'S HOPE WE CAN CREATE GOOD
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH ON A COMPLICATED TOPIC
AND TRY TO REALLY COME UP WITH
THE BEST GOOD GOVERNMENT. WE
CAN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S. MY NAME IS
SHARON TAPIA. I AM THE DIVISION
MANAGER OF THE DIVISION OF
SAFETY OF DAMS AND WERE COMMONLY
REFERRED TO AS D. S. O D. AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
SO D REGULATES THE SAFETY OF
APPROXIMATELY 1240 NON FEDERAL
DAMS STATEWIDE. SO D PROVIDES
INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT OF THE
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS,
INCLUDING NEW CONSTRUCTION AND
ENLARGEMENT, REPAIR, ALTERATION
AND REMOVAL OF EXISTING DAMS. WE
ANNUALLY INSPECT DAMS TO ENSURE
OWNERS ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINING
THEIR DAMS IN A SAFE CONDITION
AND WE PERFORM INDEPENDENT
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF EXISTING
DAMS IN ADDITION TO OTHER
CRITICAL FUNCTIONS. IS SHE?
THREE IS A REQUEST FROM DWR FOR
3.178 MILLION IN ONGOING FUNDING
FROM THE DAM SAFETY FUND TO
SUPPORT 12 NEW POSITIONS IN
FISCAL YEAR 23 24. IT ALSO
INCLUDES TRADE OR BEAR TRAILER
BILL LANGUAGE TO MODERNIZE A
1991 APPLICATION APPLICATION FEE
SCHEDULE THAT IS SET IN STATUTE
UNDER SECTION 6300 OF THE WATER
CODE. SIX OF THESE POSITIONS ARE
FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF AN
ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. AND THAT IS
FOR NEW STATUTORY AUTHORITIES
THAT WERE PROVIDED. UNDERSTAND
IT, BILL 92 BACK IN 2017. AND
THE OTHER SIX POSITIONS OR TO
UNDRESS ADDRESS A WORKLOAD
INCREASE RELATED TO NEW DAM
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
ENLARGEMENTS REPAIRS, LARGELY
MEDIATIONS AND REMOVAL OF DAMS.
SINCE 2004, OR DAM SAFETY
PROGRAM HAS BEEN FUNDED SOLELY
BY ANNUAL FEES, WHICH ARE PAID
BY ALL OWNERS, IN ADDITION TO
APPLICATION FEES, WHICH ARE PAID
ONLY BY DAM OWNERS, WHO ARE
CONSTRUCTING A DAM, MAKING
MODIFICATIONS TO AN EXISTING DAM
OR REMOVING A. PRIOR TO THAT WE
WERE 100% GENERAL FUNDED AND
OWNERS PAID A NOMINAL UH, THE
FOR THEIR ANNUAL FEE AS WELL AS
YOU AND THEY PAID THE 1991
APPLICATION FEES. REVENUE TO
SUPPORT THIS REQUEST WOULD
INITIALLY BE COLLECTED THROUGH
ANNUAL FEES AND OFFSET THROUGH
THE MODERNIZATION OF OUR 1991
APPLICATION FEE SCHEDULE. SO
WHILE THE S O D. CANADA JUST
ANNUAL FEES FOR COST OF LIVING
INCREASES WITH OUR DIRECTOR
APPROVAL. WE DO NOT HAVE THE
AUTHORITY AND STATUTE TO ADJUST
THE 1991 APPLICATION FEES.
CASTRO THE UPDATED FEE SCHEDULE
WILL CORRECT AND IMBALANCE THAT
IS CURRENTLY OCCURRING IN THE
REVENUE THAT WE COLLECT TO COVER
OR REGULATORY COST FOR OVERSIGHT
OF APPLICATION WORK. AND I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
THAT YOU MAY HAVE. ANYBODY ELSE
FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. OKAY? L
A L FAMILY MEMBER. I JUST HAVE
ONE COMMENT MORE THAN A QUESTION
THAT THE TRAILER BILL ALLOWS THE
DEPARTMENT TO ADJUST THE FEES. I
JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT,
UH, HAVING THE AUTHORITY TO
JUSTIFY FEES IS NOT AS GOOD AS
HAVING THE FEE AUTOMATICALLY GO
UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING. THAT
IT'S JUST SO MUCH MORE
APPROPRIATE TO JUST HAVE THE
FEES GRADUALLY MOVED WITH THE
CPI. I UH AND NOT HAVE
EVERYBODY, UM BE CONCERNED. WHEN
FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS LATER,
YOU SAY NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE A
BIG INCREASE IN FEES BECAUSE WE
DIDN'T DO THAT. SO TO THE EXTENT
THAT YOU CAN MODIFY THE TRAILER
BILL IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S UH
ADDS REGULAR COST OF LIVING
INCREASE. HARDLY ANYBODY
COMPLAINS ABOUT THAT. THAT'S
WHEN YOU WHEN YOU COME ALONG
WITH IT'S AFTER SOME PERIOD OF
TIME, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE
THAT YOU HAVE THE PROBLEMS AND
STUFF. JUST AND I THINK IT'S
GOOD GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT KEEPS
FEES MORE IN LINE WITH THE COST
OF THE ENFORCEMENT ON THE PART
OF THE DEPARTMENT. AND WITH
THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE
APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ISSUE ITEM
FOR WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY,
IMPLEMENTATION AND WATER
RECYCLING PROJECT FEES. WE'LL
HAVE. SIMILAR THOUGHTS. HIGH
CHAIR. WELCOME BACK. WELCOME
BACK FROM ME, I SUPPOSE.
APOLOGIES ONE SECOND. LET ME
MAKE SURE I PULL UP MY
DOCUMENTS. OKAY UM, I'LL GIVE A
BREAKDOWN OF OUR REQUEST HERE.
SO THE STATE WATER SOURCES
CONTROL BOARD REQUESTS A
CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF 28 PERMANENT
POSITIONS AND ONE MILLION
CONTRACTING FUNDING 19 PERMANENT
POSITIONS, AND IN THAT KIND OF
BREAKS DOWN TO 19 PERMANENT
POSITIONS AND WHICH IS ABOUT
SEVEN POINT 4.73 MILLION. UM.
AND THOSE ARE ONE TIME AND THEN
ALSO, UM, AMONGST THOSE 19
POSITIONS, 500,001 TIME CONTRACT
FUNDING FROM THE WEST CHURCH
DISCHARGE PERMIT FUND AND THIS
IS FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 24. UH AND
THEN IT WILL BE AN INCREMENTAL
INCREASE OF NINE PERMANENT
POSITIONS. UM AND AGAIN, THAT'S
FROM THE WASTE DISCHARGE PERMIT.
UH HUH. AND THEN STARTING FISCAL
YEAR 2025 26 ONGOING SPENDING
AUTHORITY FOR ABOUT 6,000,005
0.6 OF THAT FROM THE WEST. JUST
SEARCH PERMIT FUND BORN ON 8000
FROM THE SAFE DRINKING WATER
ACCOUNT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
ABOUT 20 POSITIONS, SO THESE
RESOURCES WILL ADDRESS CRITICAL
STATEWIDE WATER SUPPLY NEEDS
THROUGH PLANNING AND PERMITTING
FOR OUR NEW WATER SUPPLIES AND
STORAGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S CALIFORNIA WATER
SUPPLY STRATEGY. FOR ADAPTING TO
A HOTTER AND DRIER FUTURE. THE
WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY, AS YOU
KNOW, SETS OUT GOALS AND
DIRECTIVES FOR THE PRODUCTION
AND USE OF WATER RECYCLED WATER
. BRACKISH GROUNDWATER. DECENT,
UH SEAWATER, DIESEL AND STORM
WATER, CAPTURE AND USE, UH,
DELIVER TO DELIVER THE PATIENT
SCALE OF PROJECTS NECESSARY TO
MEET THESE GOALS. THE WATERBOARD
MUST MODERNIZE ITS REGULATORY
STRUCTURES AND EXPANDING STAFF.
CAPACITY SO THAT THE STATE AND
REGIONAL WATER BOARDS CAN ASSESS
PERMIT FUND AND IMPLEMENT
PROJECTS AT THE PACE THAT THIS
CLIMATE EMERGENCY REALLY
WARRANTS. THESE ACTIONS WILL
INCREASE THE RESILIENCE OF LOCAL
AND REGIONAL WATER SUPPLIES AND
BETTER POSITION THE STATE TO
RESPOND TO NEVER WATER SUPPLY
AND WATER QUALITY CHALLENGES
ASSOCIATED WITH WARMING CLIMATE
WHAT I'LL NOTICE ESPECIALLY
ABOUT THE WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY
HERE IS THAT IN A WARMING
CLIMATE, AND IN A CLIMATE WHERE
THE REALITY IS WHETHER WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE COLORADO RIVER
BASIN, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE BABY DOLL TO WHETHER
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EASTERN
SIERRA, THESE PLACES WHERE WE'VE
DEPENDED ON, UM FOR EXPORTED
WATER AREN'T ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE
LEVELS THAT WE'VE EXPORTED FROM
HERE INTO THIS FUTURE. AND SO
THE WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY REALLY
DOES FOCUS ON WATER, RECYCLING
GROUNDWATER CAPTURE AND RECHARGE
DIESEL AND EVEN CONSERVATION AS
CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF ENSURING
THAT WE'RE ADAPTING TO THE THIS
CLIMATE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE,
UM, SO I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THE
BOARD HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IN
THIS VEIN ALREADY, AND THESE
POSITIONS WILL REALLY HELP US TO
MODERNIZE AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE
ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH AGENCIES, UM
AND NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOND
TIMELY BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO
EVALUATE OUR DECISION MAKING
PROCESS TO BEGIN WITH. THERE
BECAUSE OF WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY
DIRECTS A LOT OF WORK AND
INCLUDING A LOT OF STREAMLINING
WORK. WHERE HERE WE'RE REALLY
BREAKING DOWN. WELL, WHAT IS THE
PERMITTING PROCESS FOR RECYCLED
WATER PROJECTS? WHAT IS THAT
PERMITTING PROCESS FOR DIESEL
PROJECTS AND IN LAYING THOSE
OUT, BETTER TRY TO GET TO BETTER
DECISION MAKING SOONER, AND I
THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT'S SO
CRITICAL ABOUT THIS WORK AND
THIS REQUEST. IT ALLOWS US TO
NOT GET TO BED SOON DECISION
SOONER BY REMOVING PARTS OF OUR
WORK, BUT REALLY BY SUPPORTING
THE FOUNDATION OR RESOURCES THAT
ALLOW US TO BE BETTER DECISION
MAKERS IN THAT SPACE, SO, UH,
APPRECIATE. UM THAT, UH, THE
SUPPORT POTENTIALLY OF THAT
REQUEST, CORRECT. THANK YOU.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. ELIO.
GREAT. CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE AN
APPROPRIATE REQUEST FROM FROM
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. UM, COULD
YOU JUST GIVE US A SENSE OF YOUR
WHAT YOU'RE. COMFORTABLE BILITY
IS WITH AN ANNUAL FIEF RECYCLING
IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE
COMPLICATED. YOUR DEPARTMENT'S
GOT MORE AND MORE CHALLENGES IN
TERMS OF DOING THAT, UH, FEES TO
COVER YOUR COSTS IN TERMS OF THE
INCREASED COMPLEXITY OF THAT,
WHICH WHICH? WHAT ARE YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THE YES, WITH
ACTUALLY THIS YEAR, THE STATE
WATER BOARD WILL BE ADOPTING
DIRECT POTABLE REEFS REGULATIONS
. THERE'LL BE SOME OF THE BE THE
FIRST IN THE NATION IS COMPLEX
IS AND IS PROTECTIVE AS AS THESE
ARE AND WHAT IT MEANS IS WE'RE
GOING TO SEE A WHOLE NEW
GENERATION OF WATER RECYCLING
PROJECTS GET USHERED IN, AND I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
BE ABLE TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE IN
THE WAY THAT WE RECOUP OUR FEES.
IN OUR, YOU KNOW, AND HERE WE DO
OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
A LOT OF DATA ASSOCIATED WITH.
WELL, WHAT ARE THE FEES
SUPPORTING? WHERE'S THE STAFF
TIME GOING? AND AS WE MAP THAT
OUT, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO SEE THE NEED FOR
STAFF TIME TO APPROVE THESE
COMPLEX RECYCLED PROJECTS. SO
THE PROPOSAL THAT TO TRY TO YOU
KNOW, I KNOW SOME FOLKS OUT
THERE LIKE CAN YOU PUT A CAP ON?
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WOULD
RAISE OR OR OR OR HOW YOU MANAGE
THAT IT REALLY HARMS ARE
SOMETIMES OUR ABILITY TO
ACTUALLY RESPOND TO THE RESOURCE
NEED THAT'S OUT THERE. I'LL NOTE
THAT WE, WE MANAGE OUR FEE
PROGRAMS. IT'S A YEARLY
ASSESSMENT. YOU KNOW WHAT CAME
IN WHAT CAME OUT WHAT ARE THE
EXPENDITURES AND CREATING A BIT
OF A RESERVE WHERE WE CAN DO
THINGS LIKE WE JUST DID WITH THE
COVID EMERGENCY? WHERE WE
SUSPENDED ANY FEE RAISES FOR A
BIT, AND WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE
WE KNOW WE HAVE A RESERVE AND
YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DICTATE TOO
MUCH, WHETHER THROUGH CAPS OR OR
OR TYING US TO, UM, SAY, YOU
KNOW, THE INFLATION INDEX OR
WHATEVER. MAYBE UM, JUST CREATES
MORE DIFFICULTY IN US TRYING TO
DO OUR BEST, WHICH IS REALLY
MAKE A RESOURCE REQUEST. THAT IS
AN OVER ONEROUS BUT ACTUALLY
GIVES US THE RESOURCES. WE NEED
TO DO THE WORK THAT WE KNOW WE
HAVE TO. WHAT ONE WHEN THE TAPS
GO DRY, AND WHEN THE PROBLEMS
COME, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T SAY OH,
YOU YOU WERE OVER FUNDED, RIGHT
? YEAH SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
WE DO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
BRING GOOD RECYCLED PROJECTS ON
ETCETERA. ALL THOSE THINGS THAT
THAT YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO,
SO, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
THAT. ANSWER ALL RIGHT. WE ARE
READY TO MOVE ON TO OUR FINAL
ITEM. AND THAT IS THE ISSUE.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE. AND I'M GLAD
TO MOVE TO THE SIDE BECAUSE THIS
IS YOU KNOW WHETHER IT YOU KNOW
WHAT IT BRINGS TO MIND HIS LAST
YEAR. LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE
BOARD INVESTED $3.3 BILLION IN
LOANS, GRANTS AND FINANCIAL
SUPPORT FOR DRINKING WATER
SYSTEMS, WASTE WATER SYSTEMS,
WATER RECYCLING, AND VERY PROUD
OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK. THE
DIVISION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
DOES TO SUPPORT SO MUCH OF THE
WATER NEEDS OUT THERE AND THEN
ON TOP OF IT, WE WERE ABLE TO
HERE, ACCOMPLISHING A RE RICH
PROGRAM THAT NATIONALLY NO OTHER
STATE HAS HIS. HIS HIS HAS
MIRRORED AND SO FAR AS REALLY
HERE, PAYING DOWN DEBT, UM, SO
THE 2021 BUDGET ACT APPROPRIATED
ONE BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FOR
WATER AND WASTEWATER BUILD THAT
KNOWN AS ARREARAGES FOR DEBT
ACCRUED FROM MARCH 4TH 2020
THROUGH JUNE 15TH 2021. UM THAT
WINDOW IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
BECAUSE WE ASKED FOR A BILLION
BECAUSE OF SOME POLLING AND SOME
NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED
WITH WATER AGENCIES TO FIGURE
OUT HOW MUCH DEBT WAS BEING
CARRIED AROUND. AND AT THE TIME
OF THAT THE NEED WAS THERE AND
SO, BUT OF THAT AMOUNT,
APPROXIMATELY 255 MILLION WAS
PROVIDED TO WATER AGENCIES FOR
THOSE DRINKING WATER ARREARS.
WITHIN THAT WINDOW. 124 MILLION
WAS PROVIDED TO WASTE WATER
AGENCIES FOR DEBT AND
ARREARAGES. AND UM AND THEN
THERE WAS ABOUT 15 MILLION FOR
ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUNDS AT
THE BOARD. ADDITIONALLY, THE
2020 BUDGET ACT TRANSFERRED
ABOUT 200 MILLION TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
. SO AND AGAIN YOU HAVE THOSE
TWO NUMBERS AND IT'S NOT THE
BILLION THAT WAS PROVIDED. AND
WHAT WE FOUND WAS ACTUALLY A LOT
OF DEBT WAS TRANSFERRED EITHER
TO COUNTY ROLLS OR TO OTHER DEBT
SERVICES WITHIN THE WATER SPACE,
SO WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP DOING IS
LEARNING A LOT ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS TO DRINKING WATER AND
WASTEWATER DEBT. AS IT'S ACCRUED
, AND A LOT OF IT MOVES OFF OF
THE BOOKS OF THE AGENCIES. AND
SO WE WERE, YOU KNOW, IN THE END
CHASING THAT A BIT SO AGAIN. 200
MILLION, THOUGH IN 2022 BUDGET
ACT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
AND DEVELOPMENT THERE, THEY'VE
BEEN IMPLEMENTING FEDERAL LOW
INCOME UH, WATER ASSISTANCE
LABOR PROGRAM LOW INCOME RATE
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. UM THAT'S
BASED OFF OF EMERGENCY NEED.
IT'S MODELED OFF OF AN ENERGY
PROGRAM THAT SIMILARLY PROVIDES
CRISIS LINE AND SO WE WERE ABLE
TO MOVE DOLLARS INTO.
THANKFULLY, THAT PROGRAM AND
GOOD WORK BY OUR SISTER AGENCY.
UM THIS AS A RESULT OF LOWER SO
COVERED. WHY WHY WE HAD LOWER
THAN ANTICIPATED? UM ARREARAGES
? UM AT THIS POINT, FINANCES NOT
REVERTED ANY WATERBOARD WATER
ARREARAGES FUNDING PURSUANT TO
THIS CONTROL SECTION FURTHER,
NOR HAS THE ADMINISTRATION
DETERMINE WHAT TO DO WITH THE
REMAINING FUNDS. UM AND WE'LL
JUST STOP AT THAT. GREAT. ANY
QUESTIONS? YES. GO AHEAD. THANK
YOU. SO WHAT ADMINISTRATIVE OR
OPERATIONAL ISSUES DOES THE
BOARD HAVE OR MAY HAVE WITH
USING THE FUNDING? FOR THE
PURPOSE. IT WAS IN AND
ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR I THINK
THAT SO WE KNOW THE ORIGINAL
INTENTION CAME WITH A DEADLINE.
THERE WERE A WINDOW AT WHICH
ARREARAGES COULD BE COVERED, AND
WE'VE COVERED ALL THOSE ORIGINAL
FROM THAT WINDOW. SO WE'RE NOT
ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ON THEIR OWN
DISCRETION NOW TO BE ABLE TO
SPEND THOSE FUNDS FURTHER ON,
SAY OTHER EXISTING DEBT THAT MAY
BE OUT THERE. IF THE BOARD WERE
AT TO BE ASKED TO DO SO. I WOULD
JUST NOTE THAT THE ALTHOUGH YOU
KNOW IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE
ACCOMPLISHMENT. WITHIN A YEAR.
WE GOT THESE DOLLARS OUT THAT
STOOD UP A PROGRAM THAT DIDN'T
EXIST BEFORE AND WERE ABLE TO
QUICKLY DELIVER THIS BENEFIT TO
SO MANY CALIFORNIANS, BUT IT DID
COME AT COST WITH THE BOARD. A
LOT OF REDIRECT HAD TO HAPPEN IN
ORDER TO DO THAT. REDIRECT FROM
PROGRAMS THAT, UM YOU KNOW OUR
JUSTICE CRITICAL AND SO I THINK
FOR US, IT'S HIS BALANCE OF
RECEIVING THE RESOURCES TO THEN
BE ABLE TO BETTER ACCOMPLISH
THAT WORK A BIT AND SO FAR AS
YOU KNOW, POSITIONS OR OTHERWISE
. SO I THINK I WOULD JUST FLAG
THAT SORT OF COMPLICATION WITH,
YOU KNOW, EXISTING FUNDS AND
CURRENTLY, UM, WE DON'T HAVE
WITHIN OUR DISCRETION TO BE ABLE
TO SPEND THE MONEY ANY ANYTHING
OUTSIDE THAT WINDOW. SO YOU
THINK YOU WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL
POSITIONS TO BETTER ADMINISTER
IF YOU HAD TO. I WOULD JUST I
WOULD JUST SAY I WOULD NOT WANT
TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF REDIRECTION
THAT ENDED UP HAPPENING TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS BENEFIT THAT WE
ENDED UP, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO DO
BEFORE IT REALLY DID HARM SOME
OF OUR CORE WORK, AND IT IS A IT
WAS A SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING
AND ONE I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF
AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE BENEFIT
WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER, BUT IT
DOES COME AT COST. AND ONE MORE
QUESTION. WHY DON'T WE EXTEND
THE PERIOD FOR WHICH THESE FUNDS
MAY BE USED OR USE THESE DOLLARS
TO HELP CALIFORNIANS OFFSET THE
COST OF THEIR WATER BILLS. SURE
LUCY YURI DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
, AS THE CHAIR NOTED THE BUDGET
ACTED HAVE SPECIFIC PROVISIONAL
LANGUAGE LIMITING TO THE JUNE
15TH 2021 TIME PERIOD, BUT
ADDITIONALLY, CONTROL SECTION
11.96 OF THE 2022 BUDGET ACT
PROVIDES FINANCE WITH THE
AUTHORITY TO INITIATE A
REVERSION OF UNSPENT FUNDS FROM
THE CORONAVIRUS FISCAL RECOVERY
FUND, WHICH INCLUDES THE
ARREARAGES PROGRAM. TO BE
ALLOCATED TO DIRECT DISASTER
RESPONSE COSTS. SO FINANCE IS
CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF
RECONCILING THOSE ACTUAL
DISASTER RESPONSE COSTS, AND
ONCE THAT RECONCILIATION OCCURS
, WE ANTICIPATE MAKING A
DECISION ABOUT HOW TO BEST COVER
THOSE COSTS, EITHER THROUGH
THESE SAVINGS OR THROUGH
POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL GENERAL
FUND. SO GIVEN THE GENERAL FUND
OUTLOOK, THE ADMINISTRATION
REALLY NEEDS TO KEEP ALL OPTIONS
ON THE TABLE IN TERMS OF BEING
ABLE TO COVER THOSE RESPONSE
COSTS, WHETHER THAT MEANS
THROUGH OUR SAVINGS OR
POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL GENERAL
FUND. SO YOU DON'T THINK THESE
FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR DEBT? SO
WE CAN'T SAY AT THIS TIME WE ARE
IN THE PROCESS OF THIS
RECONCILIATION OF DISASTER
RESPONSE COSTS. OKAY BECAUSE YOU
KNOW THERE. OF COURSE, THERE'S
STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE. THERE'S
STILL A LOT OF DEBT, RIGHT? AND
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HELP
CALIFORNIANS WITH IT. AND YOU
KNOW THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL
PURPOSE OF THESE FUNDS, SO I
DEFINITELY WOULD PUSH. FOR US TO
DO THAT IN SOME WAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. IT'S BEEN A VERY
INFORMATIVE DAY AS WE MOVE
FORWARD, AND WE'RE GOING TO WRAP
THIS UP. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS APPRECIATE. YOU'RE.
STEADY ATTENDANCE HERE.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S UM, AS WE WILL,
UM OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT NOW, UM AND WE'LL START
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THIS IS
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
DEPARTMENTS IN THE AGENDA AND
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO IDENTIFY
YOURSELF. THANK YOU TO IDENTIFY
YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN. OKAY
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND
ASSOCIATE MEMBER, RIVAS SAID
JASON INCURRED ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
ASSOCIATION IN THE SAN FRANCISCO
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.
REALLY WANT TO SPEAK TO THE LAST
ITEM AND MAKE THIS REAL IN SAN
FRANCISCO ALONE? RATEPAYER
ARREARAGES ARE 32 TIMES HIGHER
TODAY THAN THEY WERE BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC AND WHAT REALLY MATTERS
THERE IS THAT THERE'S 12,000
RESIDENTS IN THAT CITY ALONE.
WHO HAVE $15 MILLION OF DEBT
HANGING OVER THEIR HEAD, 37% OF
WHICH ARE FROM THE POOREST ZIP
CODES IN THE CITY BECAUSE OF
PROP TO 18, AND BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THERE IS NO
REAL OPTION FOR THEM TO RESOLVE
THIS WITHOUT STATE ASSISTANCE,
AND WE AGREE WITH WHAT THE CHAIR
JUST SAID, AND WE RESPECT HOW
QUICKLY AND HOW EFFECTIVELY THE
BOARD WAS ABLE TO STAND UP THIS
PROGRAM. BUT WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT, YOU KNOW THE
INCONVENIENCE ASSOCIATED WITH A
REDIRECT OF STAFF. IS NOT REALLY
A SUFFICIENT REASON FOR THE TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF RATEPAYERS
ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BILLION
DOLLARS THAT YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES APPROPRIATED FOR THIS
EXACT PURPOSE TWO YEARS AGO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH YOU GUYS TO
MAKE ONE CHANGE IN STATUTE AND
ALLOW ANOTHER ROUND OF FUNDING
TO OCCUR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. MR. CHAIR OF VANESSA
KATINA WITH K P PUBLIC AFFAIRS
ON BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER,
ALSO TO SPEAK ON ISSUE FIVE.
REGARDING WATER AND WASTEWATER,
ARREARAGES. WE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RIVAS LINE OF QUESTIONING OR
CUSTOMERS ARE STILL FACING A
SERIOUS AMOUNT OF ARREARAGES
DEBT ASSOCIATED WITH WATER AND
WASTEWATER FROM THE PANDEMIC AS
YOU'LL RECALL COUNTY AND CITY OF
LOS ANGELES. HAD A LOT MORE FITS
AND STARTS OF WHEN PEOPLE WERE
ABLE TO GO TO WORK AND STAY AT
WORK AND STAY AT HOME, SO AS A
RESULT OF THAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH ABOUT $135 MILLION AT THIS
POINT, AND THAT IS A
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER NUMBER THAN
WE HAD ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIDGE
DEBT PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, WE
ASK YOU TO MAKE THAT ONE CHANGE
APPRECIATE THE WATER BOARD'S
COMMENTS. HOWEVER WE DO BELIEVE
THAT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE USE
OF THESE FUNDS FOR CUSTOMERS WHO
REALLY NEED IT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR ALEX ON
BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA TROUT
TROUT, UNLIMITED DEFENDERS OF
WILDLIFE IN AMERICAN RIVERS ON
ISSUE THREE POST. THE DAM SAFETY
TRAILER BILL IS CURRENTLY
WRITTEN. THIS BILL WOULD INHIBIT
THE REMOVAL OF OBSOLETE DAMS,
WHICH JUST TRAGIC CLEARLY
OUTLINED IN THE STATES. 30 BY 30
PATHWAYS REPORT. THE COST OF
JAMMER MOVIL IS FREQUENTLY LESS
THAN REPAIR, ESPECIALLY WHEN
MAINTENANCE IS DEFERRED FEDERAL
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES RECOGNIZE
THIS CALIFORNIA SHOULD TAKE A
SIMILAR APPROACH CONSISTENT WITH
FEDERAL POLICY AND ALLOW THESE
FUNDS TO BE USED FOR DAM REMOVAL
ARE GROUPS WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE
OF THIS TRAILER BUILD INCLUDED
FUNDING PROVISIONS FOR THE STAND
REMOVAL. ADDITIONALLY DEFENDERS
OF WILDLIFE CALIFORNIA TROUT AND
TRY TO LIMIT IT ALSO REQUESTS
THE INCLUDING INCLUSION OF OTHER
FIST PASSION SOLUTIONS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO PILAR NOT
TAKING TANYA HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT
AND HUGO WATER AGENCY, SPEAKING
ON ISSUE 25 WITH RESPECT TO THE
DAM SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM FIRST
OFF, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THE INITIAL STARTER FUNDING TO
KICK START THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
SECONDLY, UM, ON THE FLIP SIDE
HERE WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
THE ADMINISTRATION'S LENGTH
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE TO GET
THIS PROGRAM GOING, YOU KNOW, IN
THIS SORT OF HYDROLOGICAL YEAR
IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE REALLY
NEED TO MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT
REPAIRS TO EXISTING DAMS. UM,
NOT ONLY FOR PURPOSES OF
MAXIMIZING STORAGE CAPACITY FOR
THOSE DAMS THAT ARE RESTRICTED
DUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS,
BUT ALSO DUE TO CURRENT AND
ONGOING FLOODING CONCERNS. SO
AGAIN, WE DO STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE ADMINISTRATION'S LANGUAGE ON
THIS, AND WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
COMMITTEE'S COMMENTS IN THE
ANALYSIS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO
ENGAGE FURTHER ON THOSE, UM,
SUGGESTED REFINEMENTS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIR MARK FINSTER MAKER HERE ON
BEHALF OF SONOMA WATER, AS WELL
AS THE SALINAS VALLEY BASIN
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY
AGENCY ON ISSUE TO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THIS COUPLE OF THE
POINTS AND THE QUESTION IS LAID
OUT IN THE AGENDA REGARDING
SMALL BASINS AND SUB BASINS THAT
ARE FACING REALLY HIGH FEES THAT
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PASS ALONG
TO PUMPERS BECAUSE WE HAVE A
JUST A SMALL POOL OF PUMPERS.
UM, TO HELP SUPPORT JUST BASIC
GS A ADMINISTRATION MONITORING,
DATA GATHERING AND THE SIGMA
MONEY THAT'S BEEN COMING OUT SO
FAR, EVEN THOUGH ITS GENERAL
FUND THE PROGRAMS HAVE NOT BEEN
AVAILABLE FOR THOSE TYPES OF
ACTIVITIES TO BE COVERED, AND WE
ARE LOOKING TO THIS NEXT ROUND
OF SIGMA FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT
SOME OF THOSE FEES, SO WE DON'T
HAVE TO CHARGE BUMPER SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 304 $100 AN ACRE FOOT
WHICH IS REALLY JUST
UNSUSTAINABLE. UM IN ADDITION ON
BEHALF OF SONOMA WATER ON ISSUE
ONE, A LITTLE CONCERNED AT THE
PROPOSED CUTS TO THE WATERSHED
RESILIENCE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, WE
ARE REALLY AT THE END OF
INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FUNDING OUT
OF THE LAST BOND. IT'S BEEN
CRITICAL FOR WATERSHED
RESILIENCE AND OBVIOUSLY, WITH
THE WEATHER WHIPLASH WE'RE
EXPERIENCING. WE NEED TO BE
COGNIZANT OF THAT RESILIENCE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
CINDY TUCK WITH THE ASSOCIATION
OF CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES.
SPEAKING TO ISSUE 25, WHICH IS
THE DAM SAFETY GRANT PROGRAM IN
THE TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE AGAIN
. WE APPRECIATE THE STARTER
FUNDING THAT THAT'S CONTINUING
AND WE SUPPORT THE MINISTRATIONS
TRAILER, BUILD LANGUAGE, AND WE
APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTED CHANGES
THAT STAFF HAS MADE REGARDING
THAT LANGUAGE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR.
BETHEL ASO ON BEHALF OF WATER
REUSE CALIFORNIA ON ISSUE ONE ON
THE FUNDING. I REALLY THREW
WATER RECYCLING WANT TO SUPPORT
WHAT BASKETBALL SAID ON HOW
CONFUSING THE FUNDING COMING
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT BACKFILL
COME BECAUSE OF THE DIRECTED
SPENDING FROM THE FEDS. SO WHILE
THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT
THERE'S PLENTY OF FUNDING COMING
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
IT'S NOT THERE, AS THE CHAIR
SAID, AND SO WE REALLY DO
SUPPORT THE PROPOSED FUNDING AS
CUT WOULD LIKE MORE, BUT WE'LL
TAKE THE SMALL CUTS REALLY,
REALLY HOPE THAT THE COMMITTEE
MAINTAINS THAT FUNDING ON THE
TRAILER BILL PIECE FOR THE
RECYCLED WATER FEE. APPRECIATE
YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE CHAIR.
WATER REUSE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE
NEED DO NEED TO START FUNDING
AND HOPE THAT THESE POSITIONS
WILL HELP EXPEDITE OUR PERMITS.
WE ARE CONCERNED. WE HAVE ASKED
FOR THAT CAP OF SOME SORT, SO
WE'RE NOT HARD LINE ON A 5% IT
WAS OUR SUGGESTION. UM WE'VE
SEEN A LOT OF OTHER FEES GET
RAISED, YOU KNOW, 10 15 20% YEAR
AFTER YEAR AND JUST NEED SOME
CERTAINTY SO THAT WE CAN PLAN
OUT THOSE PROJECTS AND KNOW WHAT
OUR RATEPAYERS ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO PAY. AND SO SOME WAY THAT WE
CAN WORK WITH YOU AND THE STATE
WATER BOARD ON THAT FEE AND
FINDING THAT CERTAINTY WE WOULD
APPRECIATE FINALLY HAVE ONE MORE
CLIENT JUST ON SERRANO WATER
DISTRICT IN ORANGE COUNTY,
SUPPORTING WHAT MY COLLEAGUE
SAID ON THE DAM. SAFETY FUNDING.
THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA TIME.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, JAMIE
MINOR ON BEHALF OF THE MONTERREY
ONE WATER, EASTERN MUNICIPAL
WATER DISTRICT AND SANTA
MARGARITA WATER DISTRICT IN WEST
SPACE AND MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT. WANT TO ECHO THE
COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE FROM
WATER REUSE. SHE PUT IT VERY
WELL. UM WE ARE SEEING THIS
TRICKLE IN THE FUNDING FROM THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, ESPECIALLY WHEN
IT COMES TO WATER RECYCLING
INFRASTRUCTURE. SO NOW IS NOT
THE TIME TO LET OUR FOOT OFF THE
PEDAL AND GETTING THESE PROJECTS
UP AND GOING AND THEN,
ADDITIONALLY ON ISSUE FOR ECHO
THAT CONCERNS AROUND, YOU KNOW,
SOME SORT OF COST CONTAINMENT
WHEN IT COMES TO THE FEES, BUT
DO APPRECIATE THAT THE WORKLOAD
AND THE NEED TO ADJUST BUT JUST
SOME SORT OF CERTAINTY FOR, UM,
COMMITTEES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, DARRYL
LITTLE ON BEHALF OF IN RDC ON
ISSUE FIVE. JUST LIKE THE
EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT OF THE
EXTENSION OF THE STATE WATER
BOARDS, CALIFORNIA WATER AND
WASTEWATER ARRANGEMENT PAYMENT
PROGRAM ON ASSISTANCE IS
URGENTLY NEEDED BY HOUSEHOLDS
STRUGGLING WITH LARGE
ACCUMULATIONS OF WATER DOT THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. WILL NOW START
WITH THE PHONE LINES. AND THE
NUMBER IS 8776928957. THE ACCESS
CODE IS 131 54 47. OPERATOR OF
FUEL. OPEN UP THE PHONE LINES,
PLEASE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK, PLEASE PRESS 10 AND 18 TO
SPECIALISTS WILL PROVIDE YOU
WITH YOUR LINE NUMBER, WHICH WE
WILL OPEN. IDENTIFY YOU WITH
WELL, FIRST GO TO LINE 18. GO
AHEAD. PERFECT. HI THANK YOU.
THE ASSIGNMENT CLIMATE POLICY
COORDINATOR WITH LEADERSHIP
COUNCIL, FORGET SUSTAINABILITY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I REALLY
WANTED TO RAISE SOME ISSUES
AROUND TWO OF THE NON
PRESENTATION ITEMS THAT WERE ON
THE AGENDA TODAY. THE FIRST
ISSUE 21 AROUND SALT,
ACCELERATED RESTORATION, BUT WE
SUPPORT CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN
ASSAULT AND TV'S RESOURCES MUST
IMPROVE THE WELL BEING OF THE
COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND THE
SCENES WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND
QUALITY OF LIFE CONTINUE TO BE
IMPACTED THE STATE THAT WE
DEVELOPED MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
AND IMPLEMENTS PROJECTS AT LEAST
HALF OF ALL FUNDING INVESTMENT
TARGET THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI
BENEFIT PROJECTS THAT NOT ONLY
CREATE HABITAT SUPPRESSED BUT
ALSO PROVIDES RESOURCES. FOR
COMMUNITY RESILIENCY AND ACCESS
TO RECREATIONAL SPACES AND THEN
GREAT ISSUE. 27 59 05 CARBON
CAPTURE TECHNOLOGIES HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO EITHER DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY. EXTEND THE LIFE OF
INFRASTRUCTURE. DO NOT ADDRESS
COKE ALLUSIONS. THE LEGISLATURE
MUST ENSURE THAT ALLOCATIONS ARE
MADE FOR SP 905 IMPLEMENTATION
AGENCIES ARE ENACTING ROBUST
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THESE,
UM IMPLEMENTATION ARE ENSURING
THAT THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL
POLLUTION IN THE PROJECTS OF
POLLUTION REDUCTION PLANS AND
THAT NO PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD IN
THE FACE OF COMMUNITY OPPOSITION
, ESPECIALLY IN UM, ALREADY
OVERBURDENED COMMUNITY. THANK
YOU. LOCAL NEXT TO LINE 21 GO
AHEAD. HI THIS IS NATALIE WATER
POLICY COORDINATOR WITH
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, PROVIDING
COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF THOSE FROM
THE WATER ITEMS TODAY. WE'RE
PLEASED THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED
THE REMAINING ARREARAGES FUNDING
, LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ARE
STILL STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM
WATER DEBT ACCRUED DURING THE
PANDEMIC. WE'RE JUST LEGISLATURE
TO USE THE REMAINING WATER AND
SUPER ARREARAGES FUNDING TO
ADDRESS THE DEBT ACCRUED THROUGH
THE END OF THE PANDEMIC OF ON
FEBRUARY 28TH 2023. AS SUCH, WE
SUPPORT THE EXTENSION OF THE
STATUTORY TIMELINE. WE'RE RICH
THAT TO ENABLE MORE OF THE FUNDS
TO BE SPENT ON THE STATE WATER
BOARD THE REAR EACH PROGRAM.
STATE WATER BOARD REACHED
PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY ALLOCATED
MORE THAN 400 MILLION IN DEBT
NEEDS GIVEN OF THE ARREARS
PROGRAM REMAINING ARREARS.
FUNDING SHOULD BE LEFT IN THEIR
PROGRAMS DESPITE SIGNIFICANT
STORMS OR SOMETHING, AND THEY'RE
DROUGHT CHALLENGES, INCLUDING
REPLACING 1600 RICH IN WATER
WELLS, WHICH MAY TAKE NEARLY 10
YEARS. FURTHERMORE THROUGHOUT
THE STORMS, DOMESTIC WILL
CONTINUE TO GO DRY AND WE WILL
LIKELY SEE ADDITIONAL DRINKING
WATER WELLS GO DRY THIS SUMMER.
THE STATEMENT FOR SERVED AGENCY
FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
FUNDING WELL REPLACEMENT OF
WATER AND OTHER EMERGENCY
PROJECTS TO ENSURE THAT THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME IS
UP. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO NEXT TO
LINE 17 GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR BENNETT MEMBERS. THIS IS
MEGAN CLEVELAND WITH THE NATURE
CONSERVANCY CAN PROVIDE COMMENTS
ON ISSUES ONE WE URGED THE
LEGISLATURE TO PRESERVE CRITICAL
FUNDING IN THE BUDGET TO SUPPORT
NATURE, FACEBOOK CLIMATE SOCIALS
AND WATER RESILIENCE. AS YOU
KNOW THE GOVERNOR'S JANUARY
BUDGET NEXT SIGNIFICANT TESTS TO
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CLIMATE
SPENDING CUTS ARE FAR GREATER
THAN THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS IN
OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET.
SPECIFICALLY THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET CUT THE DROUGHT
AND WATER RESISTANCE PACKAGE BY
NEARLY 200 MILLION IN DELAYS IN
ADDITIONAL 300 MILLION. THIS
INCLUDES CUTS TO CLIMATE
RESILIENCE AT THE WATERSHED
LEVEL. THANK YOU. CONSERVANCY
URGES THE LEGISLATURE TO PROTECT
CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN NATURE
BASED SOLUTIONS, MULTI BENEFIT
BLOOD MANAGEMENT PROJECTS,
HABITAT RESTORATION AND CLEAN
DRINKING WATER FROM FURTHER
BUDGET CUTS. BUSTER RECOMMEND
THAT THE LEGISLATURE RESTORE AND
PRESERVE GENERAL FUNDED
CORPORATIONS TO PROGRAM TO
BETTER CONSIDERED INELIGIBLE FOR
SPECIAL FUNDING OR BOND FUNDING.
FINALLY THESE CUTS DEMONSTRATES
THE CALIFORNIA URGENTLY NEEDS A
CLIMATE BOND OF AT LEAST $15
BILLION TO PROVIDE STABLE, LONG
TERM FUNDING SOURCE FOR NATURE
BASED CLIMATE SOLUTIONS, AS WELL
AS A STRUCTURED INVESTMENT PLAN
TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE
CHANGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GO NEXT TO LINE
14 GO AHEAD, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR BENNETT AND
MEMBERS. THIS IS ROBERT GORE
FROM THE GLOCK OH GROUP, AND WE
APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE AND
PATIENTS ON BEHALF OF THE
SACRAMENTO AREA. FLOOD CONTROL
AGENCY NATIONS, MOST AT RISK
FLOOD AGENTS AND ALSO THE KINGS
RIVER WATER AUTHORITY. OPERATORS
OF PINE FLAT, WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT ISSUES 18. 24 25 ITEMS
TO BE HEARD 12 AND THREE ON ITEM
TO BE HEARD NUMBER FOUR AND ON
BEHALF OF KINGS RIVER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT, MODESTO
IRRIGATION DISTRICT, TARRANT
COUNTY WATER, THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF WINE GRAPE
GROWERS IN THE CITIES OF FRESNO
IN LONG BEACH. THE PROPER
FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS IS AS A
STATEWIDE BENEFIT IS GENERAL
FUND, NOT THE RATE PAIRS. WE
SUPPORT THE WATER BOARDS
INITIATIVE, BUT WE FEEL THIS
SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO A
GENERAL FUND. CONTINUING
APPROPRIATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. WE GOT A LINE 23. GOOD
AFTERNOON. SHE REMEMBERS THAT
ERIC TURNER WITH NICOLAS PAPPAS
AND ASSOCIATES ON BEHALF OF
TURLOCK IRRIGATION DISTRICT
WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT
FOR THE PROPOSED FUNDING
INCLUDED PROVERB. UPDATING WATER
RIGHTS DATA FOR CALIFORNIA
MODERNIZATION PROJECT INCLUDED
IN ISSUE 14, AS WELL AS ECHOING
PREVIOUS COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TRAILER
BILL ON DANCE SAFETY. ISSUE. 25
WOULD ASPECT. UM ADDITIONAL
FUNDING BEING INCLUDED FOR THEM
SAFETY AND FLOOD PROTECTION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LINE 15.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS
GAVE ME THE NEWS FOR THE
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE FAMILY
FARMERS PASSED. CAP REPRESENTS
OVER 8000 SMALL AND HISTORICALLY
UNDERSERVED FAMILY FARMERS. WE
WANT TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES FOR THEIR $10 MILLION
INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT SMALL AND
SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS
TO ENGAGE IN SIGMA AND WE
APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION
COMMITTED FLOODING TODAY. I
WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO
THE FACT THAT THIS EXTREME
FLOODING HAS DEFINITELY HUNDREDS
OF SMALL FARMS, MANY OF LOTS OF
HOMES, FARM EQUIPMENT AND MORE.
THERE'S CURRENTLY NO FEDERAL OR
STATE PROGRAMS TO HELP THEM GET
ON THEIR BACK ON THEIR FEET, AND
WE URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO
ALLOCATE AT LEAST $5 MILLION
PART OF THE FLOOD CONTINGENCY
FUNDS THROUGH PDF PHASE.
CALIFORNIA UNDERSERVED IN SMALL
PRODUCER PROGRAM OR CUT WE
REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
WE'LL GO NEXT TO LINE 20 GO
AHEAD. HI THIS IS STANDARD
NAKAGAWA, POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE
CALIFORNIA CLIMATE AND
AGRICULTURE NETWORK, ALSO KNOWN
AS CAL, CAN. I'M PULLING INTO
THE ABOUT ISSUE ONE AND THE
PROPOSED CUTS TO THE STATE WATER
EFFICIENCY AND ENHANCEMENT
PROGRAM OPEN IN A TWEET. BECAUSE
CONSISTENTLY BEEN OVERSUBSCRIBED
BUT 200 TO 300% MEANING THERE'S
2 TO 3 TIMES AS MUCH FUNDING
REQUESTED, AS HAS BEEN
AVAILABLE. SO WE CELEBRATE THIS
WET WINTER. WE KNOW FROM HISTORY
AND CLIMATE MODELING THAT THE
PENDULUM WILL INEVITABLY BRING
BACK TOWARDS YOU OUT IN THE NEAR
FUTURE. MEANWHILE THE COLORADO
RIVER, IT'S STILL IN CRISIS TO
THE LONG TERM MEGA DROUGHTS. AND
THE IMPERIAL VALLEY REGION,
WHICH IS THE LARGEST USER OF
COLORADO RIVER WATER. BECAUSE
OVERSUBSCRIBED LAST YEAR BY 280%
48 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED, BUT
ONLY IN THE FUNDING TO COVER 17
PROJECTS. 17 PROJECTS ALONE. NOW
WHAT THEY'VE 4800 ACRE FEET OF
WATER EACH YEAR. THIS IS ABOUT
MORE THAN TWO SWATTER,
ELECTRIFYING AND SOLAR POWERING
IRRIGATION PUMPS PROGRAM REDUCES
LOCAL AIR POLLUTION AND SCALES
UP RENEWABLE ENERGY BY IMPROVING
IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY. THE
PROGRAM REDUCES POTENT NITROUS
OXIDE EMISSIONS AND NITRATE
LEACHING INTO GROUNDWATER. THE
URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO RESTORE
THEM SUPPOSED TO EAT. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. 9 22.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS
CAITLIN JOHNSON WHEN POLITICAL
SOLUTIONS ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA WATER ASSOCIATION
SPEAKING ON ITEM 39 40 ISSUE
FIVE. PC REPORTS SHOW THAT
CUSTOMERS CONTINUE TO CARRY
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF WATER
UTILITY DEBT. DESPITE THE
SUCCESS OF THE SEA WALK PROGRAM
, HOUSEHOLDS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE
CONTINUED. TO EXPERIENCE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC. USING THE REMAINING
UNSPENT FUNDS FROM THE ORIGINAL
APPROPRIATION WOULD HELP MANY
CALIFORNIA FAMILIES WHO CONTINUE
TO FACE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES. WHAT PROGRAM IS BEST
SUITED TO PROVIDE THIS
ASSISTANCE AS IT DOES NOT
REQUIRE THE CUSTOMER TO APPLY
FOR THE ASSISTANCE RATHER THAN
UTILITY APPLIES. FOR THE
ASSISTANCE ON THEIR BEHALF AND
APPLIES IT TO THEIR BILLS. FOR
THESE REASONS, WE URGED THE
COMMITTEE TO APPROVE EXTENDING
FUNDING ELIGIBILITY HAVE ALSO
BEEN ASKED TO ITS FOR SUPPORT
FOR THIS REQUEST ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. LINE
19. THANK YOU AND GOOD
AFTERNOON. BEST AND REALLY
APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND
COMMENTS TODAY. MY NAME IS
LAUREN A KI¾M AND I'M CALLING
FROM THE LOS ANGELES ALLIANCE
FOR A NEW ECONOMY. UM IN L, A
AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE AGAIN
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S QUESTIONS,
PARTICULARLY AS ONE OF OUR
REPRESENTATIVES WERE CALLING
TODAY AND STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE
CONSIDERATION AS DISCUSSED TO
EXTEND THE PROGRAM. WE'VE SEEN
HOW SUCCESSFUL IT'S BEEN AND
SOMETHING THAT WE FOUGHT AND
WORKED TOGETHER WITH Y'ALL TWO
FIRST AWARD IN 2021, WE KNOW
THAT THERE ARE STILL TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS IN L. A.
WHO CARRY THAT OVER $135 MILLION
IN WATER AND WASTEWATER DEBT. UM
AND THIS WOULD BE ALLOWING THE
REMAINING FUNDS TO GO TO RELIEVE
THOSE CUSTOMERS AND THROUGH THE
REALLY STREAMLINED WAY THAT THE
LEGISLATURE APPROVED WHERE
CUSTOMERS DON'T HAVE TO WADE
THROUGH. SUPER CONFUSING AND
COMPLICATED. PROCESSES THAT
SOMETIMES LIKE WHAT CAN BE THAT
WILL REALLY EXPEDITE PEOPLE
GETTING RELIEF AND HELP PEOPLE
TO HAVE MORE STABLE ECONOMIC
FOOTING AND WOULD ALSO JUST
REALLY ENCOURAGE AS OTHER FOLKS
HAVE MENTIONED THE CONTINUED
FUNDING FOR THE WATER SOLUTIONS
THAT WE NEED FOR CALIFORNIA LIKE
WASTEWATER, RECYCLING AND PEOPLE
TO RE MEDIATE OUR WATER SUPPLIES
AND THE SEGMENT WORK. THANK YOU
FOR THAT CONSIDERATION AS WELL
AS VERY MUCH. LINE 25. GO AHEAD,
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON TURN
NUMBERS. LOVELY MCKAY CALLING ON
BEHALF OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER
AUTHORITY AND UNITED WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT IN SUPPORT
OF THE FUNDING PORTION. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MR
CHAIR. WE HAVE NO FURTHER LINES
IN QUÊ. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
OPERATOR, AND THIS MEETING IS
NOW ADJOURNED.