MORNING EVERYONE. LET'S GO AHEAD
AND START, SHALL WE? SO TO
ENSURE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA AND
PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO OUR
PROCEEDINGS TODAY. BECAUSE THEY
ALL WANT IT. THIS HEARING WILL
BE STREAMED ON THE ASSEMBLIES,
VIDEO ASSEMBLIES WEBSITE, AND
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN
PROVIDE TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE
IN CAPITAL ROOM 444. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GALLAGHER WILL BE
REPLACING ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOLLY
TODAY, AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER BONTA
WILL BE ABSENT WITH NO
REPLACEMENT, FOR EACH BILL,
WE'RE ALLOWING UP TO TWO MAIN
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT. TWO MAIN
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION. LEAD
WITNESSES WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES
EACH FOLLOWING THE PRIMARY.
WITNESSES REMAINING WITNESSES
ARE ASKED TO LIMIT THEIR
TESTIMONY TO THEIR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION ON THE
BILL. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COOPERATION ON THAT PART OF IT.
ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT THREE BILLS
ON CONSENT TODAY. WE DON'T HAVE
A QUORUM, SO WE WON'T BE TAKING
THOSE UP. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND
START WITH, WE'LL START WITH MR.
BENNETT. BUT I DON'T SEE MR.
BENNETT HERE. HOLD ON. ALL RIGHT
. CABALLERO'S HERE. SENATOR
CABALLERO, COME ON DOWN. YOU GOT
A COUPLE TODAY, RIGHT? I DO
OKAY. YOU DIDN'T FILL UP THE
ROOM FOR THOSE, DID YOU, SIR?
MADAM CHAIR, I'M PART OF THE ON
TIME CAUCUS, SO YOU HAD TO RUB
IT IN, DIDN'T YOU? YES. SHE'S ON
A ROLL. PEOPLE I'M ASSUMING 366.
WE'LL START FIRST. OKAY MADAM
CHAIR, MAY I BEGIN? YES, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT SB 366, A
BILL TO MODERNIZE THE CALIFORNIA
WATER PLAN TO REFLECT THE
STATE'S NEW CLIMATE REALITY AND
ESTABLISH LONG TERM WATER SUPPLY
TARGETS THAT, WHEN MET, WILL
ENSURE SUFFICIENT HIGH QUALITY
WATER FOR ALL BENEFICIAL USES.
FIRST, LET ME START OFF BY
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS OUTLINED IN THE BILL
ANALYSIS AND TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIR VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS BILL.
IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, GOVERNOR
NEWSOM ANNOUNCED 81 NEW TARGETS
THEMSELVES DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF
THE 2045 CARBON NEUTRALITY
TARGET, AN EFFORT TO FOCUS
RESOURCES TO ENSURE CALIFORNIA'S
LANDS ABSORB MORE CARBON
EMISSIONS. DISAPPOINTINGLY, NO
SIMILAR TARGETS TO FOCUS ON AND
SUSTAIN OUR WATER SUPPLY HAVE
BEEN ESTABLISHED, DESPITE THE
FACT THAT NEARLY 40 MILLION
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS DEPEND ON
WATER TO SURVIVE. SB 366 WOULD
SET AN INTERIM TARGET OF 10
MILLION, AND NOW, WITH THE
AMENDMENT, 9 MILLION ACRE FEET
OF ADDITIONAL WATER BY 2040,
WHILE THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES DEVELOPED LONG TERM
TARGETS FOR 2050, RESEARCH
SUPPORTS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
WATER SUPPLY TARGETS. IN JUNE OF
THIS YEAR, A NEW èC RESEARCH
STUDY CONDUCTED BY JAY LUND FROM
UC DAVIS, JOSUE MENDEZ MEDELLIN,
ASWARA FROM UC MERCED, AND
ALVARO ESCRIVA BIÂU FROM UCLA
PROVIDES GREAT INSIGHT INTO THE
MAGNITUDE OF CALIFORNIA'S WATER
CHALLENGES. THIS RESEARCH IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
IDENTIFIES, IDENTIFIES, AND
WARNS ABOUT QUANTIFIABLE AND
SIZABLE FUTURE OF WATER
SCARCITY. THIS REVOLUTIONARY
STUDY ESTIMATES A SHORTFALL IN
CALIFORNIA'S FUTURE WATER
SUPPLY. BETWEEN 4.6 AND 9
MILLION ACRE FEET ANNUALLY BY
2050, WITH NO STATE ACTION THIS
EQUATES TO 50 TO 90% OF
CALIFORNIA'S URBAN WATER USE, OR
BETWEEN 1.5 AND 3 MILLION ACRES
OF IRRIGATED FARMLAND AND WE
KNOW THAT A UC BERKELEY STUDY
INDICATED THAT BETWEEN 500,000
TO 1 MILLION ACRES OF AG LAND
WILL HAVE TO BE PUT OUT OF
PRODUCTION BECAUSE OF THE LACK
OF WATER. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
I HAVE MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE
OF THEIR WELLS, EITHER HAVE
CONTAMINATED WATER OR HAVE RUN
DRY. AND SO THERE'S NO QUESTION
THAT THE FUTURE IS NOW AND WE
NEED TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
THE RESEARCH FURTHER HIGHLIGHTS
THE FOLLOWING CONSEQUENCES OF
CONTINUED INACTION. OVERALL,
WATER SUPPLY WILL LESSEN,
INCREASING THE SEVERITY OF
DROUGHTS. THE NEED TO PURCHASE
OR IMPORT AND IMPORT WATER COSTS
RAISES COSTS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL USES, AND
AGRICULTURE. SHIFT TOWARDS
PERMANENT CROPS. ABOUT A THIRD
OF IRRIGATED CALIFORNIA LAND
TODAY INCREASES THE COST OF
FALLOWING FARMLAND. THE RESEARCH
ALSO SUPPORTS THE NOTION THAT
CALIFORNIA MUST PLAN FOR
TOMORROW AND RELY ON ALL OF THE
TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX TO ENSURE
ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY FOR FUTURE
GENERATION, INCLUDING
INVESTMENTS IN DESALINATION,
RECYCLE AND REUSE WATER STORAGE,
INCLUDING GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT. THE
UNFORTUNATE TRUTH IS THAT
CURRENTLY, THOUSANDS OF
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS SUFFER FROM
THE LACK OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER
. THEY ARE FORCED TO BUY BOTTLED
WATER AND UNABLE TO USE THE
WATER THAT COMES OUT OF THEIR
TAP. AS OUR POPULATION CONTINUES
TO GROW AND AMID CLIMATE CHANGE,
IT'S CRITICAL TO DEVELOP THE
PLAN FOR A RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY
. A NEW APPROACH, GUIDED BY
STATE POLICY, MUST BE
IMPLEMENTED TO MEET THE
CHALLENGE OF NAVIGATING
CALIFORNIA'S UNCERTAIN WATER
FUTURE. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THE COMMENTS MADE IN
OPPOSITION. LETTERS SUBMITTED TO
THIS COMMITTEE. FIRST AND
FOREMOST, THIS BILL IS ENTITLED
CALIFORNIA WATER FOR ALL, WHICH
INCLUDES THE ENVIRONMENT. WE
HAVE MADE MULTIPLE CHANGES TO
THE BILL THAT ENHANCE THE
ATTENTION PAID TO THE
ENVIRONMENT'S WATER NEEDS ABOVE
AND BEYOND WHAT IS IN EXISTING
LAW, AND THE BILL NOW INCLUDES A
SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE DELTA
REFORM ACT. THE TARGETS ARE
MEANT TO ENSURE WATER FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNITIES AND
BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY AS
CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES TO
IMPACT OUR WATER RESOURCES. SB
366 DOES NOT REPLACE THE WATER
PLAN. IT MAINTAINS ALMOST THE
ENTIRE STATUTE, ALBEIT
RESTRUCTURED, AND UPDATES IT FOR
A 21ST CENTURY CLIMATE. THE BILL
DOES NOTHING TO CHANGE THE ROLE
OF DWR OR THE WATER BOARD IN
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN
CALIFORNIA. DWR'S MISSION IS TO
SUSTAINABLY MANAGE THE WATER
RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA IN
COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES,
TO BENEFIT THE STATE'S PEOPLE
AND PROTECT, RESTORE, AND
ENHANCE THE NATURAL AND HUMAN
ENVIRONMENT. DWR IS CURRENTLY
AND HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
WATER PLAN, IMPLEMENTING THE
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH MANAGEMENT
ACT, AND OVERSEES THE STATE
WATER PROJECT, JUST TO NAME A
FEW. AND I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW
THAT BECAUSE THIS IS THE
COMMITTEE THAT LOOKS AT THAT, IT
IS FACTUALLY INACCURATE TO SAY
THAT THE WATER BOARD IS THE LEAD
AGENCY IN PLANNING AND MANAGING
ALL WATER IN CALIFORNIA. THIS
BILL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
STATE WATER BOARD'S WATER
QUALITY CONTROL PLAN, NOR DOES
IT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE
BENEFICIARY PAYS PRINCIPLE. IT
DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY SPECIFIC
PROJECTS TO BE PAID FOR BY THE
STATE. IT WILL TAKE LOCAL,
REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE PLANNING
EFFORTS TO REACH THE WATER
SUPPLY TARGETS, AND THIS BILL
DOES NOT LIMIT DWR'S ABILITY TO
ADDRESS THE MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES.
IN THE 2023 UPDATE OF THE WATER
PLAN. IN FACT, THE OTHER
OBJECTIVES LIKE IMPROVING WATER
QUALITY AND FLOOD MANAGEMENT,
WILL HELP THE STATE ENSURE THERE
IS ENOUGH WATER TO MEET THE
TARGETS. FURTHER, I'D LIKE TO
ADD THAT WE ARE PLEASED TO BE
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES ON THE LANGUAGE
OF THIS BILL, WITH A SHARED
INTEREST OF DEVELOPING A PLAN
AND GOALS FOR THE FUTURE OF
WATER IN OUR STATE. IN CLOSING,
WITHOUT CLEARLY DEFINED WATER
SUPPLY TARGETS AND STRATEGIC
PLANNING TO ACHIEVE TARGETS, THE
STATE WILL CONTINUE TO
EXPERIENCE DEVASTATING WATER
SHORTAGES IN THE FUTURE. SB 366
IDENTIFIES TARGETS FOR
CALIFORNIA TO HELP US AVOID
WATER SCARCITY AND TO ENSURE A
DROUGHT PROOF FUTURE, AS
RESEARCH IDENTIFIES, WE MUST.
THIS IS A LOGICAL FIRST STEP IN
PLANNING A STATEWIDE AND LONG
TERM WATER SUPPLY FOR OUR STATE.
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
AYE. VOTE WITH ME TODAY TO
TESTIFY IS DANIELLE BLANCHETTE,
HÌNH DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WITH THE CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL
UTILITIES ASSOCIATION, AND CRAIG
MILLER WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER
WITH THE WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DANIELLE
BELLUZZO WITH THE CALIFORNIA
MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ASSOCIATION,
AND WE ARE PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR
AND SUPPORT SB 366. CæA
REPRESENTS OVER 60 PUBLIC
AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE WATER AND
WASTEWATER TO 75% OF
CALIFORNIANS. THE CURRENT
ITERATION OF THE CALIFORNIA
WATER PLAN, WHICH HAS ALWAYS
BEEN DEVELOPED THROUGH THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES, HAS BEEN IN
EXISTENCE FOR OVER 65 YEARS. IT
PROVIDES DETAILED INFORMATION ON
THE STATE'S WATER RESOURCES AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLY
MANAGING THOSE RESOURCES.
HOWEVER, IT IS MISSING A KEY
COMPONENT A NORTH STAR FOR WATER
SUPPLY PLANNING. IN A STATE
WHERE OUR CHANGING CLIMATE AND
OTHER FACTORS ARE AFFECTING
EVERY ASPECT OF WATER
MANAGEMENT, WE NEED TO MOVE FROM
A MINDSET OF MANAGING FOR
SCARCITY AND INSTEAD PLAN FOR A
FUTURE WHERE THERE IS ENOUGH
WATER FOR ALL BENEFICIAL USES,
INCLUDING SMALL COMMUNITIES,
URBAN CENTERS, BUSINESS,
AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST
ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD. WE
SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH A FRAGILE
WATER SUPPLY THAT TWO YEARS OF
DROUGHT NEARLY CRIPPLE OUR
COMMUNITIES, FARMS AND
FISHERIES. WE HAVE BEEN
FORTUNATE TO HAVE A WET WINTER,
BUT WE COULD BE RIGHT BACK IN
SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS, IN A
WATER SUPPLY CRISIS, IN JUST A
FEW YEARS. AS THE SENATOR NOTED,
RESEARCH FROM THE UC SYSTEM
FOUND THAT THERE WILL BE AN
ANNUAL SHORTFALL OF 4.6 TO 9
MILLION ACRE FEET OF WATER
SUPPLY IN THE FUTURE, EQUAL TO
ALL THE URBAN WATER USE IN THE
STATE. THIS GAP MAKES IT CLEAR
THAT ACTION MUST BE TAKEN TO SET
UP THE STATE FOR A SUSTAINABLE
WATER FUTURE, AND A WATER SUPPLY
TARGET IS A CRITICAL PART OF
GETTING US THERE. SB 366
FULFILLS THE GENERATIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO DEVELOP A
WATER SYSTEM THAT WILL ADAPT TO
CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND
ALLOW THE STATE TO THRIVE NOW
AND PRESERVE THE CALIFORNIA WAY
OF LIFE. WE THANK SENATOR
CABALLERO FOR HER LEADERSHIP
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. WE
SUPPORT SB 366 AND URGE, AND I
VOTE. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CRAIG
MILLER. I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER
AT WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT, LOCATED IN RIVERSIDE
COUNTY, MY SERVICE AREA HAS
ABOUT A MILLION CUSTOMERS AND A
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS AND
COMMERCIAL SECTOR THAT WE
SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, MY ROLE AS A
GENERAL MANAGER IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT I CAN PROVIDE WATER EVERY
SINGLE DAY UNDER ALL CONDITIONS,
TO THOSE 1 MILLION RESIDENTS AND
THEIR BUSINESSES. THIS IS
GETTING HARDER TO MEET ALL THE
TIME. RIVERSIDE COUNTY IS STILL
DEPENDENT ON THE STATE WATER
PROJECT. ABOUT HALF OF OUR WATER
COMES THROUGH THE STATE WATER
PROJECT. AND LET ME GIVE YOU AN
EXAMPLE OF OUR CONCERNS AS
MANAGERS ACROSS THE STATE, IN
2021, THE STATE WATER PROJECT
HAD A ZERO ALLOCATION. SO
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOT NO WATER
FROM THE STATE WATER PROJECT OR
RIVERSIDE COUNTY GOT NO WATER,
THE WORST THING ABOUT THAT IS
2019 WAS A VERY WET YEAR. ALL OF
OUR RESERVOIRS WERE FULL. THE
SYSTEM WAS FULL BY 2021. THE
STATE SYSTEM WAS OUT OF WATER.
THAT'S TWO YEARS OF RESILIENCE
FOR THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE FIFTH
LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD.
AND AS GENERAL MANAGERS ACROSS
THIS STATE, WE'VE BEEN IN
DISCUSSIONS, WE'VE DEVELOPED
THIS LEGISLATION. WE'RE
PROMOTING THIS LEGISLATION. AS I
TALK WITH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, URBAN AG
WATER MANAGERS, WE'RE ALL IN
AGREEMENT. WE HAVE TO START WITH
A PLANNING PROCESS. AND AS YOU
HEAR ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, WE'RE
LOOKING AT LONGER DRY PERIODS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT FLASHIER WET
PERIODS. WE DO NOT HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE TO
CAPTURE THOSE WET PERIODS AND
THE ABILITY TO MOVE THAT WATER
TO STORAGE. SO WE CAN MAKE IT
THROUGH THOSE LONG, DRY PERIODS.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE WHAT WE'RE
DOING. THIS IS THE TIME TO DO
IT. SO YOU ALSO HEARD THE
SENATOR TALK ABOUT THE RESEARCH
WE'RE BEHIND NOW. WE'RE GOING TO
BE 9 MILLION, UP TO 9 MILLION
ACRE FEET FURTHER BEHIND IN THE
NEXT DECADE. WE REALLY HAVE TO
CHANGE OUR PROCESS. AND THAT
STARTS WITH A PLANNING PROCESS.
SB 366 PROVIDES THAT FRAMEWORK
TO CHANGE THE PLAN, WE NEED A
TARGET. SB 3.6 SETS A TARGET.
COULD YOU IMAGINE ENTERING A
PLANNING PROCESS AND DEVELOPING
THE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA? WITHOUT A GOAL?
WE DON'T HAVE A GOAL. THIS
PROCESS GIVES US A GOAL THAT
NORTH STAR WE NEED FOR OUR
PLANNING PROCESS. SO WE'VE DONE
GREAT LOCALLY IN OUR WATER
SUPPLY. WE'RE GREAT AT
RECYCLING. WE'RE GREAT AT
CONSERVATION, BUT IT HAS TO BE A
PROGRAM ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.
AND WE NEED THE STATE WATER
PROJECT TO BE HEALTHY. WE NEED A
RESILIENT WATER SUPPLY FOR THE
FIFTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE
WORLD. SO I WANT TO THANK THE
SENATOR FOR HER GREAT SUPPORT.
AND I URGE, AND I VOTE. GREAT.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? DO I
HAVE A QUORUM? OKAY LET'S TAKE
ROLL BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR
WITNESSES. HANG ON ONE SECOND.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT'S GOING TO
COME UP AND TESTIFY? OKAY, WHY
DON'T YOU COME ON UP AND WE'LL
TAKE A ROLL WHILE YOU'RE DOING
THAT? THANK YOU. PAPPIN HERE.
PAPPIN HERE. ADDIS ALANIS.
ALANIS HERE. OLIVARES. ALVAREZ.
HERE. BENNETT BENNETT. HERE.
GALLAGHER. DAVIES DAVIES. HERE.
GARCIA. HEART. HART HERE. THREE
OF US. CHAU PHILLIPS. HERE
WEBER. WEBER. HERE. GREAT. SO
WE'VE GOT A QUORUM. WHEN YOU'RE
READY, PLEASE BEGIN, DENNIS
O'CONNOR WITH THE MONO LAKE
COMMITTEE, ALWAYS NICE TO SEE
YOU, SENATOR. LIKEWISE. SHE WAS
ON OUR COMMITTEE FOR QUITE A
WHILE, MANY YEARS, THE
CALIFORNIA WATER PLAN THAT WAS
JUST RELEASED, HAS THREE
INTERSECTING, THEMES IN IT. ONE
IS ADDRESSING CLIMATE URGENCY,
ONE IS STRENGTHENING WATERSHED
RESILIENCE. THE THIRD IS,
ACHIEVING EQUITY, THESE ARE
SAYING THAT THE WATER PLAN DOES
NOT HAVE A GOAL OR AN OBJECTIVE.
THOSE ARE THE OBJECTIVES TO TRY
AND ACHIEVE THAT. TO DO THAT,
DWR HAD SEVEN MAJOR OBJECTIVES
TO ACHIEVE THAT. BESIDES WATER
INCREASING WATER SUPPLY, THERE
WAS REDUCED WATER DEMAND,
IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
AND TRANSFERS, IMPROVE FLOOD
MANAGEMENT, IMPROVE WATER
QUALITY PRACTICE, RESEARCH,
STEWARDSHIP AND PEOPLE IN WATER,
WHICH IS REALLY DEALING WITH THE
SOCIAL INEQUITIES OF WATER, TO
CALL OUT JUST WATER SUPPLY AS AN
OBJECTIVE DIMINISHES THESE OTHER
OBJECTIVES. WE THINK ALL ALL
SEVEN OF THESE SHOULD BE HIGH
PRIORITIES. AND SO, WHILE WE,
THINK THAT THE WATER PLAN CAN BE
IMPROVED, THE REORGANIZATION WAS
WONDERFUL BECAUSE THAT WAS
HARDER THAN HECK TO TRY AND
FOLLOW, WHEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN
TO PEOPLE HOW THE WATER PLAN LAW
WORKS. BUT WE STILL SAY THAT,
THE, THE FOCUS ON WATER SUPPLY
AS AN OBJECTIVE, AS THE
PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE REALLY
DIMINISHES THE OTHER ISSUES. I
JUST AS AN ASIDE, THE SENATOR
MENTIONED, THAT WE HAVE A
MILLION PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER IN MANY OF
THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE PROBLEM
IS NOT THE SUPPLY OF WATER. THEY
HAVE PLENTY OF WATER. IT'S JUST
TOXIC, AND SO WE NEED TO THINK
BROADER ABOUT HOW WE LOOK AT OUR
WATER SUPPLY, OUR WATER
MANAGEMENT. WE, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF, OF OCEAN
DESALINATION, WE ACTUALLY CAN'T
MAKE ANY WATER. WE JUST HAVE TO
MANAGE WHAT WE HAVE MUCH BETTER.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, ASHLEY
OBERHAUS, ON BEHALF OF DEFENDERS
OF WILDLIFE AND GOLDEN STATE
SALMON ASSOCIATION, I'M THE
WATER POLICY ADVISOR FOR
DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE, OUR
CALIFORNIA PROGRAM. AND WHILE
I'M NEWER HERE AT THE TABLE
TODAY THAN MOST OF YOU ARE MY
ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, I WOULD
LIKE TO STILL RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSE THREE. SIX, SIX, I ALSO
ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY
COLLEAGUE, MR. DENNIS O'CONNOR
JUST GAVE ON BEHALF OF THE MONO
LAKE COMMITTEE, AND I APPRECIATE
THE INTENT BEHIND THIS BILL,
WHICH IS TO TRY TO HELP ALIGN
WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.
CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT HERE, AS
THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS
RIGHTFULLY NOTED, CALIFORNIA'S
RIVERS AND FISHERIES ARE IN
CRISIS PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF
UNSUSTAINABLE WATER DIVERSIONS,
PARTICULARLY IN THE BAY DELTA,
WHICH COVERS 40% OF THE STATE.
THIS CRISIS HAS RESULTED IN
COMPLETE CLOSURE OF THE STATE'S
SALMON FISHERY IN 2023 AND THIS
YEAR, 2024, INCREASED FREQUENCY
OF HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS IN THE
DELTA THAT THREATEN HUMAN HEALTH
AND SAFETY, AND MANY NATIVE FISH
SPECIES ARE HEADING TOWARDS
EXTINCTION. SO WE GREATLY
APPRECIATE THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS IN THIS BILL PUT
FORTH BY THE COMMITTEE AND
APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR TAKING
THESE AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU, WE
RESPECTFULLY STILL OPPOSE FOR
JUST A COUPLE REASONS. FIRST,
THIS LEGISLATION DOES SEEK TO
PUT INTO THE CALIFORNIA WATER
PLAN AT LEAST ONE INTERIM
ARBITRARY NEW WATER SUPPLY
TARGET THAT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH
THE GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S WATER
SUPPLY STRATEGY DOCUMENT. EVEN
WITH THESE AMENDMENTS, THE BILL
LANGUAGE SPECIFIES SECURING 9
MILLION ADDITIONAL ACRE FEET,
WHEREAS GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S
STRATEGY ONLY CALLS FOR 6.9 TO
7.2 MILLION ACRE FEET AT MOST.
SECOND, THE BILL STILL
UNDERMINES THE STATE WATER
BOARD'S ROLE IN OUR OPINION, AS
LEAD AGENCY IN PLANNING AND
MANAGING ALL WATER IN
CALIFORNIA. THE BILL
INAPPROPRIATELY PROPOSES THAT
DWR BE THE LEAD AGENCY. STATE
WATER BOARD IS CHARGED UNDER
EXISTING LAW WITH BALANCING AND
MANAGING ALL USES OF WATER. SO
IN OUR OPINION, THIS BILL
THREATENS TO UPEND THAT BALANCE.
AND THEN THIRD, WE BELIEVE THIS
BILL INAPPROPRIATELY PRIORITIZES
CHANGES TO THE WRONG PLAN FOR
CALIFORNIA WATER MANAGEMENT.
UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE STATE
WATER BOARD IS CHARGED WITH
MANAGING WATER RIGHTS AND WATER
QUALITY TO BALANCE ALL COMPETING
USES OF WATER AND THE STATE AND
REGIONAL BOARDS ACCOMPLISH THIS
GOAL THROUGH ADOPTION AND
PERIODIC UPDATE OF WATER QUALITY
CONTROL PLANS, INCLUDING THE BAY
DELTA WATER QUALITY CONTROL
PLAN. AFTER ALMOST 20 YEARS OF
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AN
UPDATED BAY DELTA PLAN WILL HELP
SET NEW IMPORTANT STANDARDS FOR
THE DELTA AND HELP STREAMLINE
THE APPROVAL OF NEW WATER
PROJECTS SUCH AS GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE AND HELP WATER
DISTRICTS DETERMINE WHICH
PROJECTS WILL ACTUALLY BE COST
EFFECTIVE WHILE SUBSTANTIALLY
STRENGTHENING ENVIRONMENTAL
FLOWS TO PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT. IF ANY PLANS SHOULD
BE GIVEN SUCH ATTENTION, IT
SHOULD BE THIS ONE PRIORITY
TREATMENT BY THE LEGISLATURE AND
THE BASELINE FOR SUCH BROAD,
SWEEPING CHANGES TO WATER
POLICY. IN SUMMARY, I BELIEVE
THE FUNDAMENTAL CONFLICT FOR US
HERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION
ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE LEADING SUCH
ACTION FOR WATER MANAGEMENT AND
HOW, FOR THESE REASONS, WE
OPPOSE THREE, SIX, SIX AND URGE
A NO VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. OKAY, SO DO WE HAVE
FOLKS FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE
ME TOO. AND YOU CAN SAY YES OR
NO. WE'LL DO THEM ALL AT THE
SAME TIME. MR. GLOTFELTY LEAD IT
OFF. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. ED MANNING, ON BEHALF
OF MOJAVE WATER AGENCY, WESTERN
MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT. AND I
THINK WESTERN GROWERS, IF
THEY'RE NOT HERE IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL, THANKS. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. DEAN
HUTCHINGS, ON BEHALF OF THE
CITIES OF CORONA AND SANTA ROSA
IN SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING,
CATHERINE FREEMAN, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION
OF COUNTIES IN SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, PAUL HILLIKER, GENERAL
MANAGER, SAN JUAN WATER
DISTRICT, STRONGLY SUPPORTING
THE BILL. JAMIE MINOR, ON BEHALF
OF EASTERN MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT, TURLOCK IRRIGATION
DISTRICT, SANTA MARGARITA WATER
DISTRICT AND WEST BASIN
MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, ALL IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. SENATOR,
NICE TO SEE YOU, PETER. ANSEL,
CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU, FORMER
STAFFER OF THE SENATOR, A BILL I
WORKED ON WHEN I WAS STAFF WITH
DANIELLE. REALLY HAPPY TO
SUPPORT. CHAIR AND MEMBERS
ASHLEY WALKER WITH NOSSAMAN ON
BEHALF OF OLIVENHAIN MUNICIPAL
WATER DISTRICT IN SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING. RYAN OJAKIAN ON BEHALF
OF RWA IN SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING,
LOU BRONSTEIN ON BEHALF OF
IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT, IN
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, SARAH
STIVERS FOR THE MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT OF ORANGE COUNTY, THE
COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
AND THE LAS VIRGENES MUNICIPAL
WATER DISTRICT IN SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, JARED MOSS, ON BEHALF
OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE,
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, ZACH
SEIFERT. THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES IN SUPPORT.
GOOD MORNING, KIERA RUSS, ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BURBANK
AND BURBANK. WATER AND POWER IN
SUPPORT, DENNIS ALBIANI ON
BEHALF OF SANTA CLARITA VALLEY
WATER AGENCY, SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
, MWD AND MESA WATER, AS WELL AS
SEVERAL AGRICULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS WE SUPPORT. THANK
YOU, AARON WOOLLEY ON BEHALF OF
SIERRA CLUB CALIFORNIA. IN
OPPOSITION, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
JAMES RICHTER WITH THE
CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL OF
LABORS AND STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, KEELY MORRIS WITH
EDELSTEIN, GILBERT, ROBSON AND
SMITH ON BEHALF OF RANCHO
CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT IN
SUPPORT. HELLO, SARAH BOUDREAU
WITH THE CITY OF ROSEVILLE IN
SUPPORT ABRAHAM MENDOZA ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY WATER
CENTER. WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN
OPPOSED UNLESS AMENDED POSITION,
BUT WE ARE REVIEWING THE
AMENDMENTS AND WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO THE SENATOR AND HER
AMAZING STAFF FOR WORKING WITH
US ON THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO
PARTNER MOVING FORWARD. GOOD
MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
BRENDA BASS WITH THE CALIFORNIA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS,
IVY BRITTON WITH THE NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA WATER ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. MORNING, JULIA HALL
WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES AND
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, BETH
ALASO ON BEHALF OF WATER REUSE,
CALIFORNIA INLAND EMPIRE
UTILITIES AGENCY, CUCAMONGA
VALLEY WATER DISTRICT, AND THE
SANTA ANA WATERSHED PROJECT
AUTHORITY IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU,
NATALIE BROWN WITH THE PLANNING
AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, TOM COLEMAN WITH
ROLLING WATER DISTRICT AND THE
PUBLIC WATER AGENCIES GROUP
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, JOHN
KOEPKE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC
BALANCE, PLEASED TO BE A
CO-SPONSOR AND STRONG SUPPORT.
MICHAEL ARNOLD, ON BEHALF OF THE
THREE VALLEYS MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THIS MUCH NEEDED LEGISLATION.
JIM FARREN, PRESIDENT,
CALIFORNIA LIONS FOR GOLF IN
STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING,
MARK SMITH, ON BEHALF OF THE EL
DORADO WATER AGENCY AND THE
GRASSLAND WATER DISTRICT IN
SUPPORT DILLONLIAM ON BEHALF OF
THE SOUTH SAN JOAQUIN IRRIGATION
DISTRICT IN SUPPORT MORGAN
SNYDER ON BEHALF OF RESTORE THE
DELTA IN OPPOSITION. HI. GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS
GLENN FARRELL WITH GF ADVOCACY
ON BEHALF OF THE STATE WATER
CONTRACTORS AND ON BEHALF OF CAL
DESAL, BOTH IN SUPPORT. MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS, KENDRA DIOGO WITH
THE WALKER GROUP ON BEHALF OF
SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY MUNICIPAL
WATER DISTRICT, MODESTO
IRRIGATION DISTRICT, KINGS RIVER
INTEREST AND KERN COUNTY WATER
AGENCY IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, GREAT. SO LET
ME BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE, FOR QUESTIONS. SOME
OF THEM ARE BENNETT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, FIRST, I'D LIKE TO
MOVE, MOVE THE BILL. AND SECOND,
I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLIMENT THE
AUTHOR. FOR, A BILL THAT FOCUSES
US ON ADDITIONAL PLANNING. AND I
HAVE RESPECT FOR THOSE IN
OPPOSITION THAT ARE CONCERNED.
AND IT'S HEALTHY THAT THERE IS
THAT CONCERN OUT THERE, BUT I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT A PLAN, WITH
THESE AMENDMENTS IN IT NOW
WEAKENS OUR OUR OTHER
COMMITMENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT,
ETC. THAT IS OUT THERE, THE
POINT THAT I THINK IS MOST
IMPORTANT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE TO
ANALYZE THIS IS THAT OF ALL THE
FIRST WORLD COUNTRIES IN THE
WORLD, CALIFORNIA HAS THE
FLASHIEST WATER SUPPLY OF ALL OF
THEM. IT'S THE JUST JUST LIKE
OUR BUDGET REVENUE IS CRADDICK
OF ANY IN THE STATE. OUR WATER
SUPPLY IS. AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE
FLASHIEST WATER SUPPLY, YOU NEED
THE MOST RESILIENT, WHICH IS
DIFFERENT THAN, THAN FOCUSING
JUST ON SUPPLY. BUT RESILIENCY
BUILT INTO THAT SYSTEM AND THE
ONE THING THAT I HAVE SEEN
LACKING IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE
SUFFICIENT PLANNING FOR THE
RESILIENCY THAT WE NEED IN THE
PROCESS BY SETTING A TARGET,
SAYING WE HAVE TO GET SOMEWHERE,
WHETHER IT'S 6.7 MILLION OR 9
MILLION OR 10 MILLION, SETTING A
TARGET AND THEN SAYING, WE NEED
THE RESILIENCY TO EVERY YEAR BE
ABLE TO HAVE THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS REALLY GOOD FOR
CALIFORNIANS. SO THAT'S WHY I
MAKE THE MOTION IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL AND APPRECIATE THAT
BOTH. THE AUTHOR IS SENSITIVE
AND WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT THESE
AMENDMENTS, AND THAT THERE ARE
STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WILL
BE MONITORING AND TRYING TO MAKE
SURE THIS PLAN DOES ENCOMPASS
ALL OF THE ISSUES WE NEED
RESILIENCY FOR, INCLUDING MAKING
SURE THE ECOSYSTEMS OF THE
RIVERS ARE PROTECTED, THAT WE
DON'T TAKE SO MUCH OUT OF THE
RIVERS THAT WE DESTROY THAT
THESE AMENDMENTS, I THINK,
REALLY HELP PROTECT THAT. SO I
COMPLIMENT THE COMMITTEE STAFF
AND THE COMMITTEE CHAIR. FOR
MAKING SURE WE HAD THOSE
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. SO, MEMBER BENNETT,
SIMILAR. GALLAGHER THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. I ALSO AM PROUD TO
SUPPORT THIS BILL, AND AGREE
WITH THE COMMENTS OF MY
COLLEAGUE. YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED
BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU KNOW,
BOTTOM LINE AND BUILDING IN THAT
RESILIENCY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE,
YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF
CALIFORNIA'S, YOU KNOW, FLOOD
AND FAMINE, ESSENTIALLY, YOU
KNOW, DROUGHT AND FLOOD, AND SO
WHEN WE HAVE LOTS OF WATER
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIND
WAYS TO INCREASE THAT SUPPLY,
AND SO THAT WE HAVE IT, YOU
KNOW, WHEN WE GO INTO DROUGHT
SEASON. RIGHT. AND, AND, AND THE
REALITY IS WE ARE STILL
OPERATING OFF OF A, LIKE A 1950S
INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, IN
CALIFORNIA, HAVEN'T DONE A WHOLE
LOT TO REALLY INCREASE THAT
OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE. I THINK
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS TRYING
TO ADDRESS. AND LOOK, THE OTHER
SAD REALITY THAT WE'RE FACING,
AND ANOTHER REASON WHY I THINK
THIS BILL IS NEEDED IS WE PASSED
A WATER BOND, YOU KNOW, OVER TEN
YEARS AGO NOW, TEN YEARS AGO.
AND WE STILL HAVE YET TO BUILD
ANY NEW WATER STORAGE. I MEAN,
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PROJECT
RIGHT NOW THAT HAS ACTUALLY
INCREASED OUR WATER STORAGE. NOT
ONE, THAT'S A PROBLEM WHEN YOU
HAVE A FLASHY WATER SYSTEM,
RIGHT? YOU KNOW, AND SO, WE NEED
TO KEEP WE NEED, I THINK THIS
BILL TO HELP REALLY FOCUS THAT
AND SAY, LOOK, WE'VE GOT TO MEET
THESE TARGETS. AND THAT CAN BE
DONE IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
WAYS THROUGH A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT PROJECTS. RIGHT. BUT,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO START
BUILDING SOME NEW WATER SUPPLY
AND WATER STORAGE FACILITIES TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RESILIENT
WHEN WE GO INTO THOSE DROUGHT
YEARS THAT WE KNOW WILL COME.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE REALITY OF
CALIFORNIA. SO APPRECIATE THE
AUTHOR AND HER WORK ON THIS, AND
I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT TODAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE
ELSE? ANYONE ELSE. SO WE'VE GOT
A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND
OKAY, GREAT. I JUST WANTED TO
MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS. FIRST OF
ALL, WANT TO THANK YOU, SENATOR
CAVALLARO, FOR YOUR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS. I WILL TELL
ALL OF YOU THAT THE FIRST PERSON
IN MY OFFICE IN JANUARY, WHEN I
BECAME CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE,
WAS SENATOR CABALLERO, AND I
VERY MUCH WANTED TO SERVE ON
THIS COMMITTEE BECAUSE, AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER GALLAGHER
MENTIONED, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS
REALLY LACKING. CLIMATE CHANGE
IS HERE NOW. AND YOU PUT IT SO
ELOQUENTLY, ASSEMBLYMEMBER
BENNETT, IT IS HERE NOW, AND WE
NEED RESILIENCE LIKE YESTERDAY,
ESPECIALLY FOR WHAT I CONSIDER
TO BE THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT
THAT WE ALL NEED. AND I
APPRECIATE THIS IS ONE BUT ONE
ASPECT. BUT IT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT ASPECT AND IT REALLY
IS WHY WE'RE HERE AS LEGISLATORS
. I THINK GOVERNMENT, ONE OF ITS
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS
THERE. AND WHEN WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WATER,
WE HAVE BEEN REMISS. AND CLIMATE
SWINGS ARE GETTING EVEN MORE
EGREGIOUS. AND IT'S
HEARTBREAKING WHEN WE HAVE THESE
DELUGES OF WATER AND WE'RE NOT
CAPTURING IT. WE'VE GOT TO GET
ON THE BALL. SO I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP. I'M PROUD TO
SUPPORT THE BILL AS WELL, IT
ENJOYS A DO PASS, AS AMENDED.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. AND
THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS AND,
OF THE COMMITTEE. AND FOR THE
OPPOSITION, QUITE FRANKLY. WATER
IS THE ONE WELL, ONE OF THE
ISSUES, THAT EVERYBODY HAS A
DIFFERENT OPINION ON, QUITE
FRANKLY. AND IT REALLY DEPENDS
ON WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE,
BECAUSE THE WATER SITUATION IS
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT DEPENDING
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE. AND
AT THE RISK OF LOSING HALF THE
PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, I'D LIKE TO
SEE NO FURTHER WATER DIVERSIONS
BECAUSE WE'VE COME UP WITH A
PLAN FOR HOW EACH REGION CAN
MEET ITS WATER NEEDS WITHOUT
HAVING TO TRANSFER WATER OUT OF
HABITATS THAT ARE AT RISK. THE
DELTA IS AT RISK, AND IT'S BEEN
THAT WAY FOREVER. BUT BUT AS
MENTIONED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GALLAGHER, WE NEED TO HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO
ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SAVE THIS
WATER WHEN IT FALLS. AND THAT'S
THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN MY DISTRICT
IS PEOPLE SAY HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER
WENT OUT TO THE OCEAN. WHEN WE
HAD A WET RAINY SEASON. AND
WE'RE RELEASING FROM DAMS AT THE
WRONG TIME IN THE EVENT, JUST TO
PROTECT OURSELVES. THE DAMS ARE
THERE FOR FLOOD CONTROL, NOT FOR
USE WHEN WE NEED IT. AND SO, SO
GIVING US THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT
OUR SYSTEM AND TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT SOME OF THE CHANGES MIGHT
BE, THAT WOULD HELP US TO MEET
OUR DEMANDS. IT MAY LOOK LIKE
THERE'S PLENTY OF WATER, WATER
IN SOME REGION, BUT IT'S BECAUSE
THEY'RE TAKING IT FROM SOMEWHERE
ELSE, AND THAT'S OKAY. AS LONG
AS WE HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE
GOING TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO
ALLOCATE, WATER AS, AS WE GROW
AND THE WATER NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES GROW, CONSERVATION
CAN GET AS PART OF THE WAY. BUT
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE
LEARNED DURING THE DROUGHT WAS
THAT THERE WERE SOME COMMUNITIES
THAT HAD BUILT RESERVOIRS DURING
A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN IT WAS
ALLOWED TO BUILD THEM. AND SO
THEY HAVE WATER RESILIENCY, AND
THEY DON'T WANT TO CONSERVE
BECAUSE THE RATEPAYERS ARE
PAYING FOR THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND SO YOU HAVE THIS INEQUALITY
ALL OVER THE STATE THAT WE NEED
TO TAKE A LOOK AT. AND WE NEED
TO UNDERSTAND BETTER. AND THE
MORE THAT WE CAN PROTECT
EVERYTHING, THE ENVIRONMENT,
BUSINESSES, FARMS, PEOPLE, THE
BETTER OFF WE'RE GOING TO BE. SO
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S
GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE. PAPPIN
I'M SORRY. ITEM NUMBER TWO, SB
366. MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATIONS.
PAPPIN I PAPPIN I ADDIS ALANIZ.
ALANIZ I ALVAREZ. BENNETT.
BENNETT I GALLAGHER. GALLAGHER I
DAVIES. DAVIES I GARCIA. HEART
HART I THREE OF US. SHIAVO
VILLA. LA. VILLA I WEBER. OKAY,
SO THAT'S GREAT. WE'LL LEAVE IT
OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL VOTES. BUT I
THINK YOU GOT ENOUGH. YOU DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH. GREAT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. SURE. YOU'LL GET THERE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
SENATOR. YOU GOT A COUPLE MORE
FOR A COUPLE MORE. CAN I? YES.
YOU WANT TO GO TO SIX, THREE?
TWO? YES. OKAY. GREAT GREAT.
THIS ONE I THINK IS A LITTLE
EASIER. SO, MADAM CHAIR, THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT SB 632, AN IMPORTANT
BILL TO CREATE CONNECTIVITY FOR
OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE OR OHV
RIDING AREAS AROUND RED ROCK
CANYON STATE PARK AND ADJACENT
STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS THAT
WILL ALSO ALLOW OHV RECREATION.
SO, FIRST, LET ME THANK THE
CHAIR AND THE COMMITTEE FOR
THEIR WORK ON THIS BILL. RED
ROCK CANYON STATE PARK IS
SITUATED BETWEEN BAKERSFIELD AND
THE MOJAVE DESERT, AND THE PARK
IS SANDWICHED BETWEEN STATE AND
FEDERAL LANDS, BOTH OF WHICH
ALLOW Ó VEHICLE RECREATION. RED
ROCK CANYON STATE PARK, HOWEVER,
DOES NOT ALLOW FOR OHV USE
WITHIN THE PARK AND WOULD LIKE A
DESIGNATED ROUTE THROUGH THE
PARK TO RETAIN CONNECTIVITY
BETWEEN THE TWO REGIONS THAT DO
ALLOW IT. THIS BILL WILL LEGALLY
RESTORE OHV USE ON THE SIERRA
VIEW ROAD IN RED ROCK STATE
PARK, MAINTAINING HISTORIC
CONNECTIVITY FOR OHV USERS. THE
LACK OF A DIRECT ROUTE THROUGH
THE STATE PARK TO ACCESS NEARBY
FEDERAL LANDS WILL RESULT IN
RIDERS CREATING. IF THEY'RE
PROHIBITED, THEY'LL CREATE
ILLEGAL ROUTES, WHICH COULD
CREATE RESOURCE PROTECTION
CONCERNS, PROVIDING A DESIGNATED
ROUTE WILL PRESERVE TRAFFIC
SAFETY, IMPROVE NATURAL AND
CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION,
AND REDUCE OHV TRESPASS ON
PRIVATE LANDS. THIS IS A PILOT
PROJECT TO ALLOW ACCESS THROUGH
THE PARK THAT WOULD NORMALLY NOT
BE ALLOWED WITH ME TODAY TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL
AND HELP ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS.
AS AMY GRANAT, THE MANAGING
DIRECTOR FOR THE CALIFORNIA OFF
ROAD VEHICLE ASSOCIATION. MADAM
CHAIR, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS
YOU ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE TO
US. AMY GRANAT I AM IN MANAGING
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA OFF
ROAD VEHICLE ASSOCIATION AND
ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
OUTDOOR RECREATION FOUNDATION.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
OFF ROAD VEHICLE LEGISLATIVE
COALITION, AND WE ARE ASKING YOU
TO SUPPORT THE PILOT PROGRAM,
WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE
LEGISLATIVELY APPROVED PILOT
PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF NEEDLES
AND THE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
PROJECT IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
THESE PROGRAMS HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY, SUCCESSFULLY
EXCUSE ME, INTEGRATED OHV TRAVEL
WITH STREET LEGAL VEHICLES. THIS
INTEGRATION ENHANCED, ENHANCES
PROTECTION OF PUBLIC LAND BY
KEEPING TRAVEL TO SAFELY
MONITORED AND SIGNED ROADS. RED
ROCK CANYON STATE PARK IS A
BEAUTIFUL AREA WITH PROTECTED
NATURAL AND CULTURAL PRESERVES
IN THE INTERIOR OF THE PARK, BUT
OUTSIDE OF THE PARK, DESIGNATED
OHV AREAS SURROUNDING THE PARK
AND SEE VISITATIONS OF OVER
100,000 PEOPLE ON BUSY WEEKENDS.
SUPPORTING SB 632 WOULD NOT ONLY
PROTECT THE IMPORTANT RESOURCES
IN RED ROCK, BUT ALSO ALLOW FOR
CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN OHV AREAS
WITH EVERY IMPORTANT SAFEGUARD
IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE LAND AND
RESOURCES AND ENHANCE RECREATION
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS. THE OFF ROAD
VEHICLE LEGISLATIVE COALITION
REQUESTS YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR
AYE VOTE. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION THAT ARE
GOING TO COME TESTIFY? NO.
SEEING NONE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT
WHERE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO COME
GIVE A YAY OR NAY. NOT SEEING
ANY. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS? WE'VE
GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. IF
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, LET ME
ASK YOU TO CLOSE, SENATOR
CAVALLERO, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, SB 632.
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
TRANSPORTATION. PAPINE. PAPINE.
AYE ADIS. ALANIS. ALANIS. AYE
ALVAREZ. BENNETT. BENNETT. AYE
GALLAGHER. GALLAGHER. AYE.
DAVIES GARCIA. HART. HART. AYE
THREE OF US. SHIAVO. VILLA LA.
VILLA. AYE. WEBBER OKAY. WE'LL
GO AHEAD AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND
LEAVE THAT OPEN. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. AND YOUR THIRD AND FINAL
BILL, SENATOR CABALLERO SB 1390.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, I'M PLEASED TO
PRESENT SB 1390, WHICH BUILDS
UPON THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE
PAST YEAR TO ENABLE CALIFORNIA
TO DIVERT FLOOD FLOWS FOR
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE, FIRST, LET
ME ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS AND THANK THE
COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIR FOR
THEIR WORK AND FLEXIBILITY TO
ENSURE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS ARE
KEPT IN THE BILL. I JUST AS A
FOOTNOTE, THE REASON FOR THE,
THE 30 DAY. YEAH, WAS BASICALLY
TO GIVE US FIVE YEARS OF A
WINTER TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT,
THIS. I'M, I'M TAKING THE
AMENDMENT, THIS MAY NEED TO BE
EXTENDED, LATER, BUT, WE HAVE
SEEN SUCH IRREGULAR WEATHER THAT
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS, KNOCK ON WOOD, THAT THIS
DOESN'T HAPPEN OUR DROUGHT
YEARS. AND SO WE DON'T REALLY
GET TO SEE THE FULL IMPACT OF
THIS BILL. SO I JUST LEAVE THAT
LEAVE THAT THERE. IN 2023,
CALIFORNIA EXPERIENCED A
DRAMATIC END TO EXTREME DROUGHT
CONDITIONS THROUGH A SERIES OF
ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS THAT BROUGHT
RECORD SNOWPACK AND RAINFALL,
CAUSING EXTENSIVE FLOODING AND
EXCESS FLOWS THAT ALLOWED RECORD
BREAKING WATER STORAGE
OPPORTUNITIES. I HAD TWO OF THE
WORST FLOOD FLOODED AREAS
UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES, BOTH
IN TERMS OF PAJARO AND THEN
ALSO, PLANADA AND PEOPLE LOOKED
AT THAT AND SAID, WHY COULDN'T
WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING WITH THAT
WATER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
PRODUCTIVE RATHER THAN FLOODING
OUT PEOPLE AND LEAVING THEM WITH
INCREDIBLE DAMAGE, WE BASICALLY
PUT $40 MILLION, 20 MILLION TO
EACH COMMUNITY TO, TO START
HELPING THEM TO DIG THEMSELVES
OUT AND REBUILD DECADES OF
DROUGHT, POPULATION GROWTH AND
OVEREXTRACTION OF GROUNDWATER
HAVE LEFT BASINS DANGEROUSLY
DEPLETED, RESULTING IN DRY WATER
WELLS, LOSS OF WILDLIFE HABITAT,
LAND SUBSIDENCE, FARM FALLOWING,
THE YEAR BEFORE, OVER 400,000
ACRES WERE FALLOWED AND SEAWATER
INTRUSION CONTAMINATED WATER
WELLS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND A
HOST OF OTHER THREATS TO
SUSTAINABLE WATER. RECOGNIZING
THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO
MANAGE DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD FLOWS
AND THE NEED TO UTILIZE EXCESS
WATER FOR THE LONG TERM HEALTH
OF GROUNDWATER BASIN, GOVERNOR
NEWSOM ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
WHICH AUTHORIZED WATER AGENCIES
TO DIVERT EXCESS FLOOD FLOWS FOR
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE WITHOUT THE
NEED TO OBTAIN A COSTLY AND TIME
CONSUMING PERMIT THAT WOULD HAVE
BASICALLY NEGATED THE
POSSIBILITY OF TAKING THOSE
FLOOD FLOWS. THE PROCESSES
ESTABLISHED BY THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER WAS LATER CODIFIED IN SB
122, WITH ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO BETTER
PROTECT GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND
DOWNSTREAM WATER USERS. THE
INITIAL WATER DIVERSIONS AND
SUBSEQUENT GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE WAKE OF
SB 122 HELPED TO REPLENISH
SEVERELY OVERDRAFTED GROUNDWATER
BASINS. HOWEVER MORE WORK MUST
BE DONE TO FULLY REALIZE THE
POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF THESE
OPPORTUNITIES. IT BECAME VERY
CLEAR THAT THE PROCESS NEEDED
CLEANING UP. SB 1390 BUILDS ON
THE PROGRESS OF THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER BY ALLOWING ADDITIONAL
RECHARGE PROJECTS TO BE
COMPLETED IN A SAFE AND
RESPONSIBLE MANNER, TO MOVE US
TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE WATER
FUTURE. I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK AND THANK
THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP FOR THEIR
INPUT ON THE BILL, THEY ARE THE
ONES THAT HAD THE PRACTICAL
RESEARCH ON THE GROUND AND SO
THEY WERE. LANGUAGE IS ALWAYS AN
ISSUE AND THEY WERE TREMENDOUSLY
IMPORTANT. AND I'D LIKE TO
ADDRESS RECENT AMENDMENTS, WHICH
ARE IN PRINT AS OF JUNE 18TH,
FOLLOWING THE APRIL 23RD STATE
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE HEARING, WE
IMMEDIATELY GOT TO WORK TO
IDENTIFY AMENDMENTS THAT
ADDRESSED THE COMMITTEE AND
STAKEHOLDERS MAIN CONCERNS
REGARDING THE DELTA PROVISION
THAT PROVIDES ASSURANCES THAT
DOWNSTREAM WATER RIGHTS WILL NOT
BE IMPACTED. WE ALSO WORKED WITH
THE LARGE STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO
ADDRESS SEVERAL OUTSTANDING
ISSUES THAT MAKE THE BILL
STRONGER AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
PROTECTIONS AND TRANSPARENCY.
SPECIFICALLY, THE AMENDMENTS IN
PRINT TODAY ADD AN ADDITIONAL
PATHWAY TO PLANNING ELIGIBILITY,
SUCH AS A HAZARD, A LOCAL HAZARD
MITIGATION PLAN PROVIDING
GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR WATER
MANAGEMENT MANAGERS ADJUST THE
DEFINITION OF IMMINENT TO MEAN
THE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER OR FLOOD
EVENT WILL BEGIN, OR IS
PROJECTED TO BEGIN WITHIN THE
NEXT 72 HOURS, ADDS DELTA
LANGUAGE WITH KEY CHANGES THAT
PROVIDE ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS AND ADDS TIMELINES
TO WEBSITE REPORTING TO ENHANCE
PLANNING AND TRANSPARENCY. I'D
LIKE TO ALSO ADDRESS THE
OPPOSITION LETTER SUBMITTED TO
COMMITTEE, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY
DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE
NUMEROUS AMENDMENTS WE HAVE
ACCEPTED OVER THE VARIOUS
ITERATIONS OF THE BILL TO
ADDRESS CONCERNS, I TAKE
AMENDMENTS THAT MAKE THE BILL
BETTER, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T
REMOVE THE OPPOSITION. WATER IS
COMPLICATED, AND WHILE I
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL NEVER
BE A PERFECT SOLUTION, WE REMAIN
COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE
OPPOSITION ON CHANGES THAT KEEP
THE INTENT OF THE BILL INTACT
AND ALLOW THE INTENT OF THE BILL
TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WE NEED TO
REPLENISH OUR AQUIFERS AND WE
NEED TO PREVENT FLOODING. AND
THIS BILL CAN DO BOTH AS
CALIFORNIA FACES MORE EXTREME
WEATHER EVENTS AND BUILDS ON ITS
STRATEGY FOR A SUSTAINABLE WATER
FUTURE, IT'S INCUMBENT TO
MAXIMIZE THE TOOLS WE HAVE
AVAILABLE AND TO ENSURE WE'RE
PUTTING WATER. PUTTING THE WATER
WE HAVE TO THE BEST AND HIGHEST
USE. FOR THAT REASON, I ASKED
FOR YOUR AYE VOTE WITH ME TODAY
TO TESTIFY AS CHARLES DELGADO,
POLICY DIRECTOR FOR SUSTAINABLE
CONSERVATION, AND CATHERINE
FRIEDMAN FRIEDMAN, LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCATE WITH THE CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
THANK YOU. SENATOR, GOOD
MORNING, CHAIR PAPAN AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
CHARLES DELGADO, POLICY DIRECTOR
FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION.
WE'RE AN ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO
COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
CALIFORNIA'S NATURAL RESOURCE
CHALLENGES. I'M HERE TODAY AS
SPONSOR OF SB 1390, A COMMON
SENSE FOLLOW UP MEASURE TO LAST
YEAR'S CODIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE
ORDER N 423, WHICH ESTABLISHED
THE AUTHORITY FOR DIVERSION OF
FLOOD FLOWS FOR GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE WITHOUT A WATER RIGHT
PERMIT. LAST YEAR'S ATMOSPHERIC
RIVERS BROUGHT HISTORIC AMOUNTS
OF PRECIPITATION TO THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, FILLING RESERVOIRS
AND RESULTING IN A RECORD
SNOWPACK IN THE SIERRAS. THIS
SUDDEN INFLUX OF WATER STOOD IN
STARK CONTRAST TO THE EXTREME
DROUGHT CONDITIONS OF 2020 TO
2022, AND HIGHLIGHTED THE MORE
EXTREME, UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER
EVENTS THAT WE CAN EXPECT IN THE
POST CLIMATE CHANGE WORLD. THE
ENSUING FLOODS FORCED
EVACUATIONS CAUSED POWER
OUTAGES, DAMAGED HOMES AND
BUSINESSES, AND ULTIMATELY
RESULTED IN 22 FATALITIES. THE
RISKS POSED BY FUTURE EXTREME
STORM EVENTS REQUIRE THE STATE
TO MAINTAIN AS MANY FLOOD
CONTROL OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE IN
ORDER TO MOVE WATER OFF
VULNERABLE RIVERS AND STREAMS,
AND AWAY FROM PLACES WHERE THESE
FLOWS POSE A RISK TO THE PUBLIC.
AND WHILE THESE FLOOD FLOWS
PRESENT GREAT RISK, THEY ALSO
REPRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BOLSTER DEPLETED GROUNDWATER
SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
AND HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
MEET THE STATE'S REQUIREMENTS.
UNDER THE SUSTAINABLE
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT.
SINCE LAST YEAR'S CODIFICATION,
HOWEVER, OUR PARTNERS HAVE
ENCOUNTERED HURDLES TO USING
THIS AUTHORITY AS IT WAS
INTENDED, WHICH IS TO BE A
FLEXIBLE TOOL FOR LOCAL AGENCIES
TO PURSUE RECHARGE PROJECTS IN A
MANNER PROTECTIVE OF PUBLIC
SAFETY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND
DOWNSTREAM WATER USERS.
AMBIGUITIES AROUND PLANNING
REQUIREMENTS FOR UTILIZATION OF
THIS AUTHORITY AND WHAT
CONSTITUTES FLOOD CONDITIONS,
HAVE PREVENTED AGENCIES FROM
CAPTURING FLOOD FLOWS WHERE THEY
OTHERWISE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO DO SO. TO SOLVE THIS, SB 1390
WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL OPTION
FOR LOCAL AGENCIES TO SATISFY
PLANNING REQUIREMENTS AND
CLARIFY WHEN AGENCIES MAY USE
THEIR SOPHISTICATED FLOW
MODELING TOOLS TO BEGIN
DIVERTING EXCESS FLOWS. THESE
CHANGES ARE FULLY IN KEEPING
WITH THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER IN SB 122 TO
PURSUE RECHARGE IN A TRANSPARENT
MANNER THAT MINIMIZES UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL WATER USERS
AND AFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND THE
ENVIRONMENT. WE'VE WORKED WITH
MANY DIFFERENT PARTNERS TO
ENSURE THIS BILL MEETS THE NEEDS
OF ALL COMMUNITIES. SUSTAINABLE
CONSERVATION VALUES A
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, AND WE
FEEL THIS BILL IS EMBLEMATIC OF
THAT. I'D LIKE TO THANK SENATOR
CABALLERO FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN
INTRODUCING THIS BILL AND OUR
DEDICATION TO PROMOTING WATER
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY AND BEYOND. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. GOOD MORNING, CATHERINE
FREEMAN WITH THE CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES,
WHICH REPRESENTS ALL 58
CALIFORNIA COUNTIES AND YOUR
COMMUNITIES. WE'RE PLEASED TO
SUPPORT SB 1390, WHICH BUILDS ON
THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE PAST
YEAR TO ENABLE CALIFORNIA TO
DIVERT FLOOD FLOWS FOR
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE BY
CLARIFYING WHEN THESE FLOWS MAY
BE CAPTURED FOR THE BENEFIT OF
AQUIFERS, AND WHAT PLANNING
REQUIREMENTS ARE NECESSARY FOR
LOCAL AGENCIES TO PURSUE
RECHARGE. FACING WHIPLASH FROM
DROUGHT, OUR COUNTIES ARE
EXPERIENCING HISTORIC FLOODING,
COASTAL EROSION AND RECORD
SNOWPACK, AND COUNTIES ARE ON
THE FRONT LINE OF SUPPORT WHEN
WATER EMERGENCIES HAPPEN,
WHETHER THEY ARE FLOOD OR
DROUGHT. WHILE RECENT YEARS HAVE
BEEN MARKED BY FLOOD AND
HISTORIC SNOWPACK LEVELS, THESE
TYPES OF WET YEARS ARE
UNRELIABLE AND CALIFORNIA WILL
NEED TO ADAPT TO EXTREMES IN
FUTURE. FLOOD AND DROUGHT
CYCLES. COUNTIES NEED ALL OF THE
TOOLS AVAILABLE TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITIES DURING THESE EXTREME
FLOOD EVENTS. THIS BILL DOES
THAT WITH APPROPRIATE
GUARDRAILS. WE WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR WORKING WITH
US ON THE INCLUSION OF THE LOCAL
HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS, WHICH
ARE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS FOR
DISASTER PLANNING. AS MANY MAY
KNOW, THESE PLANS DO A COUPLE OF
THINGS, BUT ONE IS THEY PUT THE
RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM MAKING
THE RIGHT DECISION. THE SECOND
IS THEY HAVE THEIR
COMPREHENSIVE. SO THEY HAVE
MAPS, THEY HAVE INUNDATION MAPS,
THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
TOOLS BUILT INTO THEM, BUT THEY
ALSO HAVE THE EXPERT THERE. SO A
COUPLE OF THINGS THAT GIVE US
SOME COMFORT WHEN WE MAKE THESE
BIG DECISIONS. SO WE'RE HERE TO
PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITIES. WE'RE
GRATEFUL TO OUR WATER LEADERS,
SENATOR CABALLERO, FOR CARRYING
THIS LEGISLATION. AND ON BEHALF
OF CALIFORNIA COUNTIES, WE URGE
YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO
WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES THAT WILL
BE TESTIFYING IN OPPOSITION?
COME ON. FORWARD WE'LL HAVE TWO
MINUTES PER WITNESS. GOOD
MORNING. ARE YOU GOING TO. OH,
ARE YOU THE TWO MINUTE OR. LET
ME LET THE TWO MONITORS GO
BEFORE WE DO THE. THERE'LL BE
TWO WITNESSES WITH TWO MINUTES
EACH. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE ME
TWO'S.
GO AHEAD WHEN YOU'RE READY. GOOD
MORNING AGAIN, CHAIR PAPPIN,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU FOR HAVING ME. ASHLEY
OBERHAUS. I'M THE WATER POLICY
ADVISOR FOR DEFENDERS OF
WILDLIFE, AND I'M GIVING MY
COMMENTS TODAY ON BEHALF OF
DEFENDERS AS WELL AS, AGAIN, THE
GOLDEN STATE SALMON ASSOCIATION.
WE RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE THIS BILL
UNLESS IT'S AMENDED FURTHER TO
ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS. BUT FIRST
AND FOREMOST, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO
THE SENATOR, HER STAFF AND
SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION FOR THE
TIME AND EFFORT THEY'VE TAKEN
WITH US AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
TO WORK ON THIS BILL. WE HAVE
GIVEN OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE, AND WE
APPRECIATE OUR COLLECTIVE
COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TOGETHER AND FOR THE SAKE OF
TIME, I'M GOING TO SUMMARIZE OUR
TOP LINE CONCERNS. FIRST, THIS
BILL WOULD ALLOW A LOCAL OR
REGIONAL AGENCY WITH FLOOD
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAKE A FLOOD DECLARATION. THESE
DECLARATIONS SHOULD BE LIMITED
TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY FLOOD
PROTECTION BOARD OR THE PRIMARY
LOCAL REGIONAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT
AGENCY WITH LITTLE. SO THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WOULD EXPAND
THAT DETERMINATION TO ALLOW
AGENCIES WITH POTENTIALLY LITTLE
FLOOD MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE OR
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THOSE
DECISIONS. BASICALLY, THIS
LANGUAGE WOULD ALLOW MULTIPLE
AGENCIES TO MAKE FLOOD
DECLARATIONS FOR SPECIFIC RIVER
REACH, CREATING THE POTENTIAL
FOR MULTIPLE CONFLICTING
DECLARATIONS, SECOND, THE NEWLY
AMENDED LANGUAGE TO ALLOW A
LOCAL OR REGIONAL AGENCY TO CITE
A GENERAL PLAN OR COUNTY
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
UNDERMINES OUR STATE'S EXISTING
FLOOD MANAGEMENT REGIME. GENERAL
PLANS AND OTHER LOCAL PLANS
OFTEN DO NOT INCLUDE SUFFICIENT
INFORMATION REGARDING FLOOD
ISSUES SUCH AS LIKE CHANNEL
CONVEYANCE CAPACITY. WE SUPPORT
THIS COMMITTEE'S PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO STRIKE AN EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS PLAN FROM THE BILL,
BUT BELIEVE THIS BILL SHOULD BE
AMENDED FURTHER TO REMOVE
GENERAL PLANS AND HAZARD
MITIGATION PLANS. THIRD, THIS
BILL COULD POTENTIALLY AUTHORIZE
WATER DIVERSIONS IN TULARE LAKE
BASIN, IF ANY. ONGOING
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN
QUOTES ARE INUNDATED. THIS COULD
BE READ AS AUTHORIZING NEW
DIVERSIONS IF A SINGLE
AGRICULTURAL FIELD IS INUNDATED,
EVEN IF THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE OR THREAT TO ROADWAYS,
RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL OR
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. FOR
EXAMPLE, IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY
OTHER FLOOD RISK, THE INUNDATION
OF AGRICULTURAL FIELDS ALONE
SHOULD NOT BE USED TO TRIGGER A
FLOOD DECLARATION UNDER THIS
SECTION. AND FINALLY, WE ALSO
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE EXTENDING
THE CURRENT SUNSET AND STATE LAW
FROM 2029 TO 2032. WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR THIS COMMITTEE'S
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. SUPPORTING
REVERSION OF THE SUNSET DATE
BACK TO 2029, AND ALSO SUPPORT
THE SENATOR TAKING THAT SUNSET,
AND ALSO HOPE WE DO NOT HAVE
FIVE YEARS OF DRY, DROUGHT FOR,
YEAH. SO OR FIVE. BOTH ARE
TERRIBLE. SO IF THESE CONCERNS
ARE NOT ADDRESSED, WE URGE A NO
VOTE. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION OF OUR
VIEWS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT
WITNESS. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME
IS MORGAN SNYDER, AND I AM A
DELTA RESIDENT INTERNING WITH
RESTORE THE DELTA AND A CURRENT
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY MASTER'S
STUDENT AT UC DAVIS. TODAY, I AM
HERE IN OPPOSITION TO SB 1390.
SB 1390 WOULD ALLOW LOCAL
AGENCIES TO FREELY PUMP WATER
FROM CALIFORNIA'S ALREADY
FRAGILE RIVER SYSTEMS IN A
MISGUIDED EFFORT TO RECLAIM
FLOOD WATERS FOR GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE. THIS BILL SUPPORTS THE
CONTINUED OVERDRAFTING OF
CALIFORNIA'S AQUIFERS, AS THE
ORGANIZATION, SITUATED AT THE
INTERSECTION OF DROUGHT AND
FLOOD IMPACTS, WE ARE CONCERNED
SB 1390 WOULD EXACERBATE
CALIFORNIA'S UNSUSTAINABLE
DEPENDANCE ON DELTA WATER DURING
WET YEARS. OUR COMMUNITY FEARS
THEIR HOMES WILL FLOOD AND FEAR
EXPOSURE TO TOXIC ALGAL BLOOMS
IN DURING LOW FLOW YEARS. TO
PROTECT THE COMMUNITY, YOU MUST
STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN SAVING
PEOPLE'S HOMES FROM FLOODING AND
MAINTAINING ADEQUATE FLOW TO
PREVENT TOXIC ALGAL BLOOMS
FORMING. SB 1390 ADDRESSES
NEITHER. INSTEAD, IT EXACERBATES
IMPACTS TO THE COMMUNITY BY
REMOVING FLOWS THAT ARE VITAL
FOR REDUCING THE FORMATION OF
TOXIC ALGAL BLOOMS AND RESTORING
OUR NATIVE FISHERIES. FOR THESE
REASONS AND MORE, WE URGE YOU TO
VOTE NO ON SB 1390. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
THANK YOU. OKAY, FROM THE
AUDIENCE, DO WE HAVE ANY METOOS?
HI. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS GLENN FERRELL WITH GF
ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE STATE
WATER CONTRACTORS. WE JUST WANT
TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO
SENATOR CABALLERO, HER STAFF AND
THE SPONSORS FOR WORKING WITH
STAKEHOLDERS TO NAVIGATE A VERY
HIGHLY COMPLEX SET OF
INTERSECTION OF POLICY ISSUES,
AND WE'RE STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL TODAY. CHAIR MEMBERS
JAY JEFFERSON WITH THE
METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT,
AGAIN, GRATEFUL TO THE AUTHOR
FOR WORKING WITH US ON RECENT
AMENDMENTS AND URGE OUR AYE VOTE
ON THIS BILL. THANK YOU. IF YOU
COULD JUST LIMIT YOUR REMARKS TO
YES OR NO. ASHLEY WALKER WITH
NOSSAMAN ON BEHALF OF THE
MONTEREY COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS IN SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, PETER ANSEL, CALIFORNIA
FARM BUREAU AND SUPPORT. PAUL
HILLIKER, SAN JUAN WATER
DISTRICT IN SUPPORT GEORGE
QUINTO ON BEHALF OF THE ALMOND
ALLIANCE IN SUPPORT GREAT ANYONE
ELSE? OKAY, WE'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS? AS A MEMBER, BENNETT,
AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE
BILL, AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD
LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE, IS, A LOT
TRICKIER THAN SORT OF A SIMPLE.
OH, ALL THAT WATER WAS WASTED
GOING OUT TO THE OCEAN, THE
ENVIRONMENT, THE ECOSYSTEM WAS
BASED ON THAT WATER GOING OUT TO
THE OCEAN. AND SO WE HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL IN TERMS OF THE
DIVERSIONS. AND I APPLAUD THE
OPPOSITION AGAIN FOR POINTING
OUT SOME THINGS. AND I WOULD
ENCOURAGE, THE, THE AUTHOR TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM AND
SEE IF, IF YOU CAN WORK SOME OF
THOSE, SOME OF THOSE POINTS OUT,
IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD, BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS JUST TOO
CRITICAL WHEN YOU HAVE THE
FLASHIEST WATER SYSTEM IN THE
WORLD FOR A FIRST WORLD COUNTRY,
TO NOT HAVE A ROBUST, DIVERSION
DURING HIGH FLOOD FLOWS. AND SO
THIS BILL IS, OVERALL A
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS
OF OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT. AND
WE WILL LOSE THE SUPPORT OF THE
PUBLIC IF WE DON'T HAVE A WELL
IDENTIFIED PLAN FOR WHAT TO DO
WITH THESE FLOWS, BECAUSE THE
PUBLIC CAN HAVE A MORE SIMPLE
VERSION OF WHY DID YOU LET ALL
THAT WATER GO OUT TO THE OCEAN?
WELL, THERE'S SOMETIMES GOOD
REASONS, BUT WE NEED TO NOT HAVE
IT BE SO OBTUSE THAT AGENCIES
CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHEN CAN THEY
DIVERT? WHEN? WHEN CAN THEY NOT
DIVERT? THE ONE POINT THAT THE
OPPOSITION BROUGHT UP THAT I
THINK IS MOST LEGITIMATE FROM MY
MIND IS THE ISSUE OF WHO CAN
DECLARE THE DECLARATION OF AN
EMERGENCY BECAUSE YOU CAN GET
THAT BROKEN DOWN SO SMALL. IN
OUR COUNTY AND IN VENTURA COUNTY
, WE, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE
COULD HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT
AGENCIES THAT COULD END UP
DECLARING EMERGENCIES IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE RIVER,
AND THAT COULD REALLY
COMPLICATE, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD
HAVE PEOPLE PULLING OFF WATER
AND OTHER PEOPLE NOT BEING
PULLING OFF WATER. SO TO THE
EXTENT THAT THAT COULD BE WORKED
OUT, I THINK IT WOULD WOULD MAKE
SENSE. BUT OVERALL, I'M,
STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE BILL
AND APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR AND
THE STAKEHOLDERS WORKING WITH
THE AUTHOR TO TRY TO PULL THAT
FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. WE HAVE A
MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND
SECOND. THANK YOU. SO MUCH. WITH
THAT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE
BILL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AGAIN FOR
THE COMMENTS, I'M CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE OPPOSITION AS WE
HAVE IN THE PAST. THE SCRIPPS
INSTITUTE IS THE ENTITY THAT
COINED THE PHRASE ATMOSPHERIC
RIVERS. THEY'D BEEN STUDYING
OCEAN CURRENTS FOR DECADES, AND
THEY NOTICED THAT THE OCEAN WAS
GETTING WARMER AND THAT THE
CURRENTS WERE MOVING IN A
DIFFERENT WAY UP THE COAST. AND
SO THEY ARE DESIGNING A PROGRAM
THAT THEY BELIEVE WILL PREDICT
WHEN ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS WILL HIT
WHERE THEY HIT, AND HOW MUCH
WATER THEY'LL DROP, THAT'S NOT
IN THE BILL BECAUSE IT'S COST A
LOT OF MONEY TO ASK THEM TO
MODEL IT FOR US. I FORESEE THE
DAY THAT WE WILL HAVE THE MONEY
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT KIND OF
AN INVESTMENT, BECAUSE THEN
WE'LL HAVE EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED
IN TERMS OF WHICH. RIVERS, WHEN
IS IT LIKELY TO HIT AND HOW MUCH
WATER IS IT? IS IT PREDICTED TO
DROP. AND THAT'LL MAKE IT A LOT
EASIER TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE
THIS. BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO IS TO CREATE THE
FLEXIBILITY IN THE SYSTEM SO
THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THESE EXCESS WATER
FLOWS. AND I BELIEVE THERE'S
ENOUGH, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT WE'VE SET FOR DECIDING WHEN
AND WHERE IS STRICT ENOUGH. SO
THAT WE SHOULDN'T RUN INTO
PROBLEMS SO RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. AND I WOULD ADD AND
THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THE
DIVERSION IS OFFERED IS ANOTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S EXACTLY
RIGHT. STOPGAP, IF YOU WILL.
OKAY, WITH THAT, I THINK THE
RECOMMENDATION IS DO PASS AS
AMENDED. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND
TAKE A VOTE. ITEM NUMBER TEN SB
1390. MOTION IS Dð PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATIONS.
PAPPIN I HAPPEN I ADDIS ALANIS
ALANIS I ALVAREZ. BENNETT
BENNETT I GALLAGHER, GALLAGHER I
DAVIES. GARCIA. HEART, HEART I
THREE OF US CHAU. VILLA PHILIP I
WEBBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE THAT. ON CALL. THANK
YOU SENATOR CABALLERO. SENATOR
ASHBY, COME ON DOWN.
HELLO WE HAVE A QUICK ONE FOR
YOU. SO YOU WANT ME TO GET
STARTED THERE? CHAIRWOMAN YES.
ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO START
OFF BY THANKING YOUR COMMITTEE
STAFF. WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH.
THANKS FOR HELPING OUR TEAM. AND
WE WILL ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S
AMENDMENTS. WE'RE HERE TO
PRESENT SB 1110, WHICH WILL
PROVIDE CLARITY IN THE WATER
BOARD'S ENFORCEMENT AND
REPORTING POLICIES. 1110 WILL
ENHANCE THE CLARITY AND
EFFICIENCY OF WATER MANAGEMENT
POLICIES BY CONFIRMING THE WATER
BOARD'S ABILITY TO ADOPT AN
ENFORCEMENT POLICY AT ITS
DISCRETION. THE BILL ELIMINATES
ANY LEGAL AMBIGUITIES AND
REINFORCES THE BOARD'S
CAPABILITY TO IMPLEMENT AND
ENFORCE WATER REGULATIONS
EFFECTIVELY. 1110 WILL CLARIFY
CONFUSION REGARDING REPORTING
TIME FRAMES, ALLOWING REPORTING
TO OCCUR DURING EITHER CALENDAR
OR A FISCAL YEAR. THAT
FLEXIBILITY WILL STREAMLINE
REPORTING EFFORTS ACROSS
DIFFERENT AGENCIES, LEADING TO
MORE COHERENT DATA COLLECTION.
BILL ALSO ADDS A TWO YEAR
EXTENSION TO NGUYEN. THE BOARD
MAY ISSUE INFORMATIONAL ORDERS
RELATED TO WATER PRODUCTION, USE
AND CONSERVATION. 1110 WILL
PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDANCE, ENHANCE
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, AND
GENERATE COST SAVINGS,
CONTRIBUTING TO THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND OF THE
MANAGEMENT OF ALL OF OUR STATE
WATER RESOURCES. WITH ME, I HAVE
A TRUE WATER EXPERT, MR. RYAN
OJAKIAN, ON BEHALF OF THE
REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY. THANK
YOU, SENATOR. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR PAPPIN AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I THINK THE SENATOR
COVERED, ALL OF THE DETAILS IN
THE BILL. I SHOULD PROBABLY SAY
RYAN OJAKIAN WITH THE REGIONAL
WATER AUTHORITY. RWA IS
COMPRISED OF 22 DRINKING WATER
SUPPLIERS THAT SERVE 2.2 MILLION
PEOPLE IN THE GREATER SACRAMENTO
AREA. OUR MISSION IS TO HELP
THOSE MEMBERS ACHIEVE THE HUMAN
RIGHT TO WATER FOR THOSE PEOPLE
THAT THEY SERVE, RWA HAS BEEN
HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE WATER
EFFICIENCY PROCESS SINCE IT
STARTED SEVEN YEARS AGO. AT
LEAST THIS ITERATION, BOTH FROM
THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE AND THE
REGULATORY SIDE, AND WE'RE VERY
PROUD OF OUR WORK ON WATER USE
EFFICIENCY. WE HAVE NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED AWARD WINNING PROGRAM
HERE, AND WE HAVE ACHIEVED 23%
REDUCTION IN WATER USE OVER THE
LAST DECADE, WITH 15% POPULATION
INCREASE, THE SENATOR DESCRIBED
THE CHANGES IN IN STATUTE. I
WILL DESCRIBE THEM IN GREAT
DETAIL. I'LL JUST SAY THEY'RE
MODEST, BUT MEANINGFUL, AND THEY
WILL HELP US MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY
WHAT IS EXPECTED AND WHAT IS
PERMITTED IN IN SOME VERY
IMPORTANT WAYS THAT WILL HELP US
REDUCE COSTS AND IMPROVE
COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE OTHER
THAN TO SAY THANK YOU AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. OKAY, GREAT. IS THERE ANY
WITNESSES THAT WILL BE
TESTIFYING IN OPPOSITION NOT
SEEING ANY. WILL ANYBODY ME TO.
DANIELLE BASSETT WITH THE
CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT. OUR
LETTER WAS LATE. PAUL HILLIKER,
SAN JUAN WATER DISTRICT IN
STRONG SUPPORT. DENNIS O'CONNOR
WITH THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE.
WE'RE NOT SURE THE BILL WAS
AMENDED AFTER THE LETTER
DEADLINE. AND THEN WE JUST SAW
THE COMMITTEE. SO WE'RE GOING TO
WAIT UNTIL WE SEE THE BILL IN
PRINT TO DECIDE WHERE WHERE WE
ARE ON THIS. IVY BURTON WITH THE
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT THE
BRONSTEIN IRVINE RANCH WATER
DISTRICT IN SUPPORT JULIE HALL
WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES AND
SUPPORT. EXCELLENT. OKAY. WITH
THAT, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS?
SECOND. SECOND. GREAT. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? THANKS FOR YOUR
TIME URGE AND I VOTE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE. I THINK
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO PASS
THIS AMEND TO APPROPS. OKAY.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR SB 1110 MOTION
DO PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. PEPIN A, PEPIN I
ADDIS ALANIS ALANIS I ALVAREZ.
BENNETT. GALLAGHER GALLAGHER I
DAVIES. GARCIA. HEART. HEART I
THREE OF US SHIAVO. PHILLIPS.
VILLA I WEBER. OKAY, WE'LL LEAVE
THAT ON CALL. WE'LL GET MORE
MEMBERS IN. THANK YOU, SENATOR
ASHBY. THANKS, COLLEAGUE. THANK
YOU. LET ME SEE. WE DON'T. AND
SO MEMBER BENNETT JUST LEFT. ON
SOME. SO WE WILL CALL ALL
AUTHORS. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE,
SOME MEMBER BENNETT AND
ARCHULETA, SENATOR ALLEN AND
SENATOR MIN. MAYBE WE'LL. YEAH,
WE'LL DO CONSENT WHILE WE WAIT.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON CONSENT.
SENATOR DALI, 1163 SB 1163.
SENATOR NEWMAN, SB 1218, AND,
SENATOR LIMÓN A SENATE BILL
1324. WE'LL TAKE A CONSENT
CALENDAR AND THEN WE'LL GET TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER BENNETT VIÆT. DO
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND?
THANK YOU. ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, SB
1163, MOTION IS DUE PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATIONS. ITEM
NUMBER SIX, SB 1218 MOTION IS
DUE. PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS. AND
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, SB 1324
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO NATURAL
RESOURCES OKAY PAPINE. PAPINE.
AYE. ADDIS ALANIS. ALANIS. AYE.
ALVAREZ. BENNETT AYE. BENNETT.
AYE. GALLAGHER. GALLAGHER. AYE
DAVIES. GARCIA. HEART HEART.
AYE. THREE OF US. CHAU SHIAVO.
AYE. VILLA. LA. VILLA AYE.
WEBBER. OKAY OKAY. WE'LL LEAVE
THE CONSENT CALENDAR OPEN.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER. BENNETT THANK
YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR AND THE MEMBERS, I WOULD
LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACCEPTING THE
AMENDMENTS ON PAGE FIVE OF THE
ANALYSIS. ACR 120 DECLARES THE
LEGISLATORS SUPPORT FOR NEW AND
EXISTING MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
AND URGES STATE AGENCIES,
COUNCILS AND COMMISSIONS TO
PRIORITIZE THESE AREAS, THE
LEGISLATION PASSED BY THE MARINE
LIFE PROTECTION ACT IN 1999,
WHICH SET UP A PROCESS TO
ESTABLISH MPAS USING SCIENTIFIC
DATA. THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGES THE
PROGRAM, AND EVERY TEN YEARS
SOLICITS INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS
TO UPDATE THE ACT. THE MOST
RECENT DECADAL REVIEW WAS
COMPLETED IN 2022. ACCORDING TO
THE NATIONAL CENTERS FOR COASTAL
OCEAN SCIENCE. MARINE PROTECTED
SANCTUARY AREAS ARE ONE OF THE
MOST USEFUL TOOLS TO PROTECT
SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AND CULTURAL
RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF
PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES LIKE
WHALES AND SHARKS ARE REGULAR
VISITORS TO MPA HABITATS, AND
MPA MAY SERVE A VARIETY OF
FUNCTIONS FOR THESE ANIMALS,
INCLUDING PROVIDING BREEDING AND
FORAGING HABITAT, AS WELL AS
TRANSIT TRANSITING CORRIDORS. AS
THE CLIMATE CONTINUES TO CHANGE,
WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO PROTECT
THE SENSITIVE AREAS AND
ECOSYSTEMS BOTH ON LAND AND IN
WATER, MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BOLSTER OCEAN
ECOSYSTEM HEALTH, IMPROVE THE
RESILIENCE OF FISHERIES AND
STORE CARBON, ALL OF WHICH
CREATES IT HELPS COMBAT CLIMATE
CHANGE. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
THIS IS SIMPLY A RESOLUTION,
THAT WE'RE ASKING, AND IT
RECOGNIZES THE VALUABLE ROLE OFF
THE COAST OF VENTURA AND SANTA
BARBARA COUNTIES. AREAS THAT
I'VE BEEN REPRESENTING, MARINE
SANCTUARIES HAVE HAD A DRAMATIC
IMPACT IN TERMS OF IMPROVING
FISH POPULATIONS AND ECOSYSTEM
HEALTH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
HAVE WITH ME TWO WITNESSES AND,
I'M GOING TO READ OUR NAMES AND
WHAT WE CAN READ OUR NAMES AND I
DON'T HAVE THEIR NAMES. OKAY.
GOOD. INTRO. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, CHAIR PAPPAN, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS
MARCELLA GUTIERREZ. I'M THE
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF AZUL, AN OCEAN JUSTICE
ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH LATINX
COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT OUR
COASTS AND OCEANS. I WILL SAY
ALSO THAT I WAS A STAKEHOLDER IN
THE SOUTH COAST, WORKING GROUP
AND THE MARINE PROTECTION ACT
PROCESS. THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BENNETT, FOR INTRODUCING
THE RESOLUTION, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS
THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN OUR
MARINE PROTECTIONS TO MEET THE
3030 GOAL, AS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE
RESOLUTION, DECADES OF SCIENCE
SHOW THAT FULLY PROTECTED AREAS
LIKE OUR STATE MARINE RESERVES
RESULT IN OCEANS WITH MORE AND
BIGGER FISH AND HIGHER LEVELS OF
BIODIVERSITY. THIS IS WHY OUR
MPA NETWORK WAS DESIGNED WITH
STATE MARINE RESERVES AS ITS
BACKBONE MEMBERS. AS OCEAN
ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS, YOU
KNOW THAT PROTECTING THE OCEAN
IS CRITICAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF
OUR COMMUNITIES. A RECENT POLL
OF OURS FOUND THAT 89% OF
LATINOS BELIEVE IN PROTECTING
THE ENVIRONMENT AS A MEANS OF
PROTECTING THEIR OWN
COMMUNITIES, AND THAT 85% OF
LATINOS AGREE THAT GOVERNMENTS
SHOULD IMPLEMENT THE STRONGEST
PROTECTION AVAILABLE FOR OCEAN
AREAS. MORE THAN HALF OF ALL
CALIFORNIANS VISIT THE COAST AT
LEAST ONCE A YEAR TO SPEND TIME
IN COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, SWIM,
SIGHTSEE, WALK, SURF, KAYAK, AND
SO MUCH MORE. STRONG MARINE
PROTECTIONS ARE TRULY A
PREREQUISITE OF EQUITABLE
COASTAL ACCESS. BY MAKING THE
OCEAN HEALTHIER AND MORE
RESILIENT. CLIMATE CHANGE,
STRONG MARINE PROTECTIONS
PRESERVE EVERYBODY'S ABILITY TO
ENJOY THE OCEAN THROUGH A
VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL,
CULTURAL, AND EDUCATIONAL
ACTIVITIES FAR INTO THE FUTURE.
CALIFORNIA IS A GLOBAL
CONSERVATION LEADER. AS THE
FIRST US STATE TO COMMIT TO THE
3030 GOAL, HOW WE GET THERE
MATTERS. OUR AGENCIES HAVE
LIMITED TIME AND RESOURCES, AND
WITH ONLY A LITTLE OVER FIVE AND
A HALF YEARS LEFT BEFORE THE
YEAR 2030, CALIFORNIA MUST
PRIORITIZE ACTIONS SUCH AS
STRENGTHENING OUR MPA NETWORK
WITH FULLY AND HIGHLY PROTECTED
AREAS TO MAXIMIZE BIODIVERSITY
AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE BENEFITS
TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
STRENGTHENING OUR MPA NETWORK IS
ONE OF THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES WE
HAVE TO PROTECT OUR STATE'S
COAST AND OCEAN AND INCREASE
RESILIENCY TO CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS US ALL HAS LONG
ADVOCATED THAT THE PURSUIT OF A
3030 GOAL MUST ADDRESS THE
DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN PLACED
ON LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO ENSURE
THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE
OCEAN AND ITS BENEFITS IN
STRENGTHENING MPAS, NETWORKS,
CALIFORNIA WILL CONTINUE SETTING
A GLOBAL STANDARD FOR EQUITABLE
COASTAL ACCESS AND EFFECTIVE
MARINE CONSERVATION MEASURES TO
SOUNDLY REALIZE THE GOALS OF A
3030 INITIATIVE. WITH THIS
RESOLUTION, CALIFORNIA IS ONCE
AGAIN SETTING A HIGH BAR. THANK
YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER BENNETT
CHAIR PAPAN, FOR BRINGING
ATTENTION TO THIS ADMINISTRATION
PRIORITY. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR AYE AYE VOTE. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR BABIN.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF AND
EVERYONE ELSE. MY NAME IS DOCTOR
NORA DALMAO. I'M A RESEARCHER AT
HOPKINS MARINE STATION AT
STANFORD. I'M ALSO THE CO-CHAIR
FOR THE IUCN SEAWEED SPECIALIST
GROUP, WHICH WE MAINLY FOCUS ON
KELP FORESTS. THANK YOU TO THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, BENNETT, FOR
AUTHORIZING ACR 210, WHICH
PROVIDES IMPORTANT GUIDANCE IN
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
GOVERNMENT. NEWSOM 30 BY 30
EXECUTIVE ORDER AND SB 337. THIS
IS A TIME WHEN EVERYONE HAS BEEN
SAYING THAT OF PROFOUND
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, WHERE WE
MUST WORK FOR HEALTHY OCEAN
ECOSYSTEMS, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE
BEAUTIFUL, WHICH WE ALL KNOW
THEY ARE, BUT BECAUSE OUR VERY
EXISTENCE AND WELL AND
WELL-BEING DEPEND ON THEM. THE
COMBINED IMPACTS OF OCEAN
INDUSTRIALIZATION, OVERFISHING,
AND CLIMATE CHANGE POSE PRESSING
THREATS TO CALIFORNIA'S COASTAL
AND OCEAN BIODIVERSITY.
CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA'S KELP
FORESTS, WHICH ARE THE PRIMARY
COASTAL ECOSYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA,
PROVIDE SHELTER AND FOOD FOR
THOUSANDS OF SPECIES OF FISH,
INVERTEBRATES, AND ALGAE THEY
HAVE INTEGRATED AND DEPLETED BY
HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND OVERFISHING
IN THE PAST DECADES. IN RECENT
YEARS, THEY HAVE SUFFERED
DECLINES IN DRAMATIC ECOLOGICAL
SHIFTS AS A RESULT OF MARINE
HEATWAVES AND SEA STAR WASTING
DISEASE. THIS LED TO THE LOSS IN
SOME LOSS OF IN SOME PARTS OF
CALIFORNIA OF OVER 95% OF THEIR
CAL FORESTS IN THIS PAST DECADE
IN THE OCEAN, CREATING MARINE
PROTECTED AREAS THAT LIMIT HUMAN
PRESSURES SUCH AS FISHING AND
HABITAT DESTRUCTION, EFFECTIVELY
PROTECTS BIODIVERSITY AND
RESTORES RESILIENCE OF
ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR CAPACITY TO
RECOVER FROM THIS CLIMATE.
IMPACTS TEN YEARS OF MONITORING
DATA ON CALIFORNIA'S MPA NETWORK
SHOWS ENHANCED ECOLOGICAL
RESILIENCE, RECOVERY OF FISH
POPULATIONS, AND GREATER
BIODIVERSITY FOR SOME OF ITS
ECOSYSTEMS, SUCH AS ROCKY
INTERTIDAL AND SANDY SURF
POPULATIONS. INSIDE NPS. MY OWN
RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT STANFORD
HAS FOUND CLEAR BENEFITS OF
FULLY PROTECTED MPAS. WE FOUND
THAT MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
ENHANCED CLIMATE RESILIENCE FOR
KELP FOREST ECOSYSTEMS BY
RECOVERING FISH AND
INVERTEBRATES THAT ARE KEY FOR
THE CORRECT FUNCTIONING OF THIS
ECOSYSTEM. THE FACT THAT NPS CAN
PROMOTE RESILIENCE FOR KELP
FORESTS IS VERY IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE OTHER RESEARCH THAT
WE'RE CONDUCTING IS SHOWING THAT
BASED ON CLIMATE PROJECTIONS,
CALIFORNIA IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE
OF THE MOST THREATENED BY FUTURE
MARINE HEAT WAVES, PARTICULARLY
KELP FORESTS. SO WE ARE IN A IN
A REALLY CRITICAL MOMENT TO ACT
AND EXPANDING THE NETWORK OF
MPAS IS THE RIGHT CHOICE WITH
THE RESOLUTION, CALIFORNIA IS
ONCE AGAIN SETTING THE HIGH BAR
AND INSPIRING THE WORLD AS IT
HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST DECADES IN
TERMS OF MPAS AND CONSERVATION.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BENNETT AND CHAIR PAPAN, AND FOR
BRINGING THE ATTENTION TO THIS
ADMINISTRATION PRIORITY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY
WITNESSES THAT WILL TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION?
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. MARK SMITH, ON BEHALF
OF A COALITION OF RECREATIONAL
ANGLING ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING
THE COASTAL CONSERVATION
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA, ALL
WATERS BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS AND
ANGLERS, AND OTHERS LISTED IN
OPPOSITION, I WAS ACTUALLY
REFLECTING. I DON'T THINK I'VE
EVER TESTIFIED IN OPPOSITION TO
A RESOLUTION BEFORE, AND I DO
ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS
A RESOLUTION, NOT A BILL, AND IT
PAINS ME TO BE HERE BECAUSE WE
HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE AUTHOR. BUT WE HAVE A
COUPLE COMMENTS WE'D LIKE TO
MAKE ABOUT THE RESOLUTION. THE
FISH AND GAME COMMISSION, THE
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE,
AND THE OCEAN PROTECTION COUNCIL
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, HAVE ALL
BEEN ENGAGED IN A MULTI YEAR
DIALOG AROUND THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF 30 BY 30. OUR GOAL OF
PROTECTING 30% OF THE STATE'S
LANDS AND WATERS BY 2030, AND
THE DECADAL REVIEW, WHICH IS
SUPPOSED TO BE THIS TEN YEAR
REVIEW OF THE MPA SYSTEM AND
THAT IS A SCIENTIFIC AND
REGULATORY PROCESS, WHICH IS
CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. IT INVOLVES
NUMEROUS WORKSHOPS,
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT, DISCUSSION,
OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND FORTH
ON ITEMS. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS
RESOLUTION IS UNNECESSARY AND IS
REALLY DESIGNED AND PUT FORWARD
BY THE SPONSORS AS AN ATTEMPT TO
PUT A THUMB ON THE SCALES TO
POLITICALLY INFLUENCE THE
REGULATORY PROCESS, WHICH IS
CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. AGAIN, IN A
FORMAT WHICH ALL STAKEHOLDERS
ARE INVITED TO THE TABLE AND
HAVE HAD AN OPEN DIALOG FOR A
VAST NUMBER OF YEARS. OUR
ORGANIZATIONS WANT TO TAKE THE
TIME TO THANK THE STAFF FOR THE
COMMITTEE WHO LISTENED TO OUR
CONCERNS AND HAVE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO THE RESOLUTION
THAT DEAL WITH WHAT WE CONSIDER
TO BE THE MOST CHALLENGING
PROBLEM IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE
RESOLUTION, WHICH IS A STATEMENT
AND A CALL FOR FULLY PROTECTED
AND HIGHLY PROTECTED MPAS. AND
TO CLARIFY WHAT THAT MEANS,
THOSE ARE MPAS THAT WOULD BE
NEARLY RESTRICTED OR VIRTUALLY
RESTRICTED FROM ALL ACCESS FOR
BOTH RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL
FISHING, AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES.
NOW, CALIFORNIA'S MPA NETWORK
TODAY HAS SOME OF THOSE HIGHLY
PROTECTED AREAS, BUT THEY ALSO
HAVE A LOT OF MPA LOCATIONS
WHERE RECREATIONAL ANGLING AND
OTHER OUTDOOR ACCESS
OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALLOWED TO
TAKE PLACE. AND WE'D LIKE TO
POINT OUT THAT HOOK AND LINE
FISHING IS NOT THE PROBLEM HERE,
RIGHT? IT HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF
THE ONLY THINGS THAT THE STATE
CAN ACTUALLY IMPACT, RIGHT?
BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS ARE THINGS
LIKE OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND
RISING TEMPERATURES AND
MICROPLASTICS IN WATERS AND
POLLUTION COMING FROM THE
TIJUANA RIVER SPILLS AND OFF OUR
OWN COASTAL SHORES AND
COMMUNITIES AND COUNTLESS OTHER
THINGS THAT ARE NOT THE RESULT
OF RECREATIONAL ANGLING
PRESSURE. I THINK WE AS A STATE,
HAVE DONE MORE THAN ANY OTHER
COUNTRY OR GLOBALLY TO CONTROL
AND TO IMPACT AND PREVENT THE
CHALLENGES THAT HAPPEN FROM
OVERFISHING. THE LAST THING I'D
LIKE TO SAY IS THAT THIS
CONVERSATION, AND IT WAS BROUGHT
UP BY THE SPONSORS OF THE
MEASURE, DEALS DIRECTLY WITH
ACCESS. THEY TALKED ABOUT MPAS
AS A PROTECTION OF ACCESS FOR
FOLKS TO THE WATER, BUT ACCESS
TO THE WATER TO FISH AND
RECREATE IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATION. WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT 30 BY 30, IT IS NOT JUST
CONSERVATION. I'M SORRY. IT'S
NOT JUST PRESERVATION. IT'S
CONSERVATION WITH ACCESS THAT IS
A FUNDAMENTAL TENET OF 30 BY 30.
IT IS PROVIDING PEOPLE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT INTO THOSE
SPACES AND TO HAVE ACCESS TO
THEM. AND SO FOR THESE REASONS,
WE OBJECT TO THE RESOLUTION AND
ARE IN OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DO WE HAVE
ANY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WHO
WISH TO COME EXPRESS SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION? HELLO THERE. MY NAME
IS LARA DIÆN. I'M THE STATE
DIRECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENT
CALIFORNIA. WE'RE REALLY PLEASED
TO BE CO-SPONSORS OF THE
RESOLUTION. SO THANK YOU. HI,
CARLA GARCIA ON BEHALF OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER OF SAN
DIEGO AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE
CENTER IN SUPPORT. HI, I'M MINA
KREBS WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTION COMMITTEE OF WEST MARIN
IN STRONG SUPPORT. HI. MY NAME
IS ISSA DIALLO. I'M A STUDENT AT
UC MERCED IN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND
I STRONGLY SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING
. SANDY AYLESWORTH, DIRECTOR OF
THE PACIFIC INITIATIVE WITH NRDC
OCEANS. WE ARE PROUD TO BE
CO-SPONSORS OF THE RESOLUTION.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS PABLO.
I'M FROM SAN CARLOS. I'M A
STUDENT, STUDYING ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE AT UC DAVIS. AND I'M IN
STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING. MY
NAME IS LEVI WACHOWSKI. I
STUDIED NATURAL SCIENCE AT
MINERVA UNIVERSITY IN SAN
FRANCISCO IN SUPPORT. HELLO. MY
NAME IS ANNA MACDONALD. I STUDY
PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS AND
ECONOMICS AT POMONA COLLEGE AND
I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS LENA SUZU.
I'M A POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT
AT UCLA, AND I'M IN SUPPORT.
GOOD MORNING, NICHOLAS SURIANI
FROM OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, IN
STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING.
I'M A POSTDOC AT HOPKINS MARINE
STATION IN FROM STANFORD
UNIVERSITY, AND I STRONG
SUPPORT. OKAY. WITH THAT, WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS? SO, MEMBER
DAVIES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. I DO HAVE A
QUESTION, A POINT THAT MR. SMITH
HAD BROUGHT UP WITH MY DISTRICT.
I HAVE DANA POINT, I HAVE SAN
CLEMENTE, I HAVE OCEANSIDE, WE
HAVE A LARGE, COMMERCIAL FISHING
AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL FISHING.
ENOUGH THAT THESE ARE TOURIST
TOWNS. AND SO WE COUNT ON THE
REVENUE QUITE A BIT, AS A MATTER
OF FACT, TO COME TO THE CITIES
THAT WILL COVER INFRASTRUCTURE,
WILL COVER PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WE
DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF AREA, I
UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE
OCEAN THAT WE COULD TAKE THE 30
BY 30, I THINK, IN, IN YOUR
RESOLUTION I'D LIKE TO SEE IS
BASICALLY SOMETHING PUT IN THERE
AMENDMENT OF SAYING, YOU KNOW
WHAT WE YOU KNOW, WE PROMISED TO
PROTECT THOSE AREAS THAT ARE
ECONOMICALLY USING, YOU KNOW,
FISHING BOATS AND SO FORTH,
TOURISM SO THAT IT'S NOT GOING
TO BE AFFECTING WE DON'T HAVE AN
ECONOMIC, REPERCUSSION COMING
FROM THIS BECAUSE WE'RE ALL
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ABOUT
OUR COASTS. WE DEAL WITH COASTAL
EROSION, QUITE A BIT. AND AGAIN,
WE'RE DEALING WITH LOSS OF BEACH
AND THAT ALSO HAS BEEN AFFECTING
TOURISM. AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW,
EVEN THOUGH IT'S DOWN IN OUR
AREA ANY TIME, ANY OF OUR AREAS
IN CALIFORNIA HAVE CONCERNS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE
ECONOMY, IF WE'RE NOT DOING
WELL, THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO
START LOOKING AT THE STATE
SOMETIMES TO BE ABLE TO HELP,
YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO
FINANCES, WHICH MEANS THEN WE'RE
TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM EVERYBODY
ELSE AND THEIR AREAS. SO I
REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME
PART OF AMENDMENT IN THERE. JUST
SAYING THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE
PROTECTING AS WELL OF THE
ECONOMIC, AREAS THAT HAVE, YOU
KNOW, COMMERCIAL AND FISHING AND
SO FORTH, THAT WHERE IT'S COMING
IN THERE. AND I WOULD LOVE TO
SEE YOUR COMMENT ON THAT. OKAY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GREAT I
DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE'LL BE
OTHER COMMENTS, SO I'LL, I'LL
WRAP UP MY I'LL, I'LL RESPOND TO
THE OPPOSITION AND TO YOU AT THE
SAME TIME. IF, IF THAT WORKS FOR
YOU. BUT NUMBER ONE, I HAVE A
LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE STATE
AGENCIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN
CREATING THE PLAN THAT THE
OPPOSITION HAS REFERRED TO, AND
THIS IS THE MILDEST FORM OF OUR
INVOLVEMENT BY COMING UP WITH
JUST SIMPLY A RESOLUTION THAT
RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF
THESE. SO I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT
THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE
COMMERCIAL FISHING IN YOUR
DISTRICT, IN MY DISTRICT, IN
SANTA BARBARA AND OTHER PLACES
WILL BE VERY CLEARLY REPRESENTED
IN THOSE AGENCIES DISCUSSIONS
AND CONSIDERATION. I DON'T THINK
THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ADD
THAT TO THIS RESOLUTION, BECAUSE
THIS RESOLUTION IS FOCUSED ON
THE VALUE OF THESE MARINE
PROTECTED SANCTUARIES. AND I
WOULD OFFER TO YOU THAT THEY
HAVE A TOURISM BENEFIT THAT'S
PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL. ALSO, MARINE
PROTECTED AREAS, YOU CAN THE
IMPLICATION IS THAT YOU CAN'T
RECREATE IN THEM. YOU CAN
RECREATE IN THEM. YOU JUST CAN'T
DO RECREATIONAL FISHING IN IN
THE MOST EXTREME ONES THAT ARE
OUT THERE, BUT ACTUALLY THE
AMOUNT OF SCUBA DIVING OFF THE
ISLANDS OF VENTURA TO THE
CHANNEL ISLANDS IS THE SCUBA
DIVING IS SO GREAT BECAUSE IT'S
A MARINE PROTECTED AREA AND THE
ECOSYSTEM IS SO ROBUST THAT IT
IS OUT THERE. SO I HAVE,
CERTAINLY RESPECT FOR THE
AGENCY'S ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO
DO THAT. AND WHEN IT COMES TO
THE ASSERTION THAT, THERE ARE
OTHER THINGS THAT ARE CAUSING
THE PROBLEMS FOR FISH
POPULATIONS AND THE ECOSYSTEMS,
THERE CERTAINLY ARE. AND THEY
WERE VERY WELL ARTICULATED
ACIDIFICATION, YOU KNOW, THIS
THE WARMER CLIMATE IN GENERAL,
THE WARMER WATER, ALL ALL OF THE
THINGS, THE PLASTICS THAT ARE
THERE THAT I WOULD OFFER TO YOU
SPEAKS TO EVEN A GREATER NEED
FOR SOME MARINE PROTECTED AREAS.
IMAGINE IF YOU HAVE A VERY
STRESSED POPULATION AND IT'S ON
EDGE. THIS STRESS POPULATION,
BECAUSE OF PLASTICS AND ALL OF
THESE OTHER THINGS. AND THEN YOU
ADD TO IT, WE'VE HAD TOO MANY
SITUATIONS OF OVERFISHING, AND
WE'VE SEEN COLLAPSE AFTER
COLLAPSE AROUND THE WORLD OF
VARIOUS FISH STOCKS. CERTAINLY
THE EAST COAST SAW THIS
TREMENDOUSLY WITH THE
OVERFISHING THAT HAPPENED THERE.
SO IF YOU HAVE A STRESS
POPULATION, AT LEAST HAVING SOME
PLACES WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE
ADDITIONAL PRESSURE OF THE
FISHING, IT JUST MAKES COMMON
SENSE. AND THAT'S WHY THESE I
DON'T KNOW OF A MARINE PROTECTED
AREA YET THAT AFTER IT WAS
CREATED, ANYBODY'S BEEN ABLE TO
MAKE A LOGICAL ARGUMENT WHY THAT
ONE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CREATED.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN JUST THE
OPPOSITE. LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED.
LOOK HOW MUCH IT'S HELPED THE
FISH POPULATION OUTSIDE OF THE
MARINE PROTECTED AREA, BECAUSE
THERE IS SOME PLACE WHERE YOU
HAVE THIS UNDISTURBED ABILITY
FOR THIS SPECIES TO BE ABLE TO
THRIVE. AND REPRODUCE, ETC. SO,
I JUST THE FISH POPULATIONS IN
THE WORLD ARE ON A DIET, BUT
IT'S A STARVATION DIET AND A FEW
PLACES WHERE WE CAN REALLY HELP
THEM. THE FINAL THING I WOULD
JUST LIKE TO OFFER, I SPENT A
LOT OF TIME WHEN I WAS ON THE
EAST COAST, STUDYING AND
WATCHING WHAT HAPPENED WITH,
FISH POPULATIONS. AND THIS WAS
THE NORMAL PATTERN. THE SCIENCE
WOULD ALL COME TOGETHER AND SAY,
IF WE DON'T DECREASE FISHING BY
40, DECREASE OUR TAKES BY 40.
THIS THIS POPULATION OF THIS
SPECIES IS GOING TO COLLAPSE.
AND ALL THE OPPOSITION FROM THE
PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO CONTINUE
TO COMMERCIALLY FISH THOSE AREAS
WAS NO, NO, NO, IT'S NOT THAT.
IT'S POLLUTION THAT'S CAUSING
THE POPULATION PROBLEMS. IT'S
ASPHYXIATION. IT'S PLASTIC.
THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME OTHER
REASON THAT YOU COULDN'T PUT THE
SCIENCE, COULDN'T PUT 100%
ALLOCATION OF THAT. THEN WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN IS THEY WOULD BE
ABLE TO BLOCK THAT AND THEY
WOULD TURN AROUND AND COME BACK,
A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER AND THE
POPULATION HAD DONE EXACTLY WHAT
THE SCIENTISTS SAID WAS GOING TO
DO. IT PLUNGED EVEN MORE. AND
NOW THE SCIENCE CAME AND SAID,
WE HAVE TO CUT BACK THE CATCH BY
80% IF WE WANT TO SAVE THIS
SPECIES. AND THE OPPOSITION
WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'LL
TAKE A 40% CUT RIGHT. AND
ACKNOWLEDGING NOW THAT IT WAS A
PROBLEM AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS
THEY WOULD GET THE 40% CUT AND
THEN THE POPULATION WOULD
CONTINUE TO DROP UNTIL THE
SPECIES WOULD COLLAPSE AND YOU
WOULD HAVE A REAL PROBLEM. SO
THAT'S THE MARINE PROTECTED
SANCTUARIES IS THE OPPOSITE OF
THAT. IT IS ERRING ON THE SIDE
OF MAKING SURE WE HAVE SOME
AREAS. AND I HAVE AGAIN, GREAT
RESPECT FOR THE AGENCIES. AND I
DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO
OVERLY CAUSE AGENCIES TO ADOPT
AREAS THAT SHOULD NOT BE ADOPTED
IN TERMS OF TERMS OF MARINE
PROTECTED AREAS, BUT IT DOES PUT
US ON RECORD AS RECOGNIZING THE
GREAT VALUE. SO WITH THAT, I'LL
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
UNLESS THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP AND
SAY THANK YOU. I THINK, YOU
KNOW, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO KNOW
THAT THAT WAS OUT THERE. YOU
MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT, YOU
KNOW, THE ECONOMIC BALANCE,
ESPECIALLY FOR CITIES THAT COUNT
ON THAT, ARE IS IN
CONSIDERATION. SO WHEN IT IS
PICKING TIME AND WHERE YOU'RE
GOING TO BE DOING THE 30 BY 30,
THAT MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T
LOSE JOBS OUT OF THIS STATE AND
REVENUE. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE
IN A BUDGET DEFICIT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. SO I APPRECIATE YOU
CLARIFYING THAT. AND IN THE LONG
RUN, I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE
MORE JOBS, THERE WILL BE MORE
RECREATION JOBS, THERE WILL BE
MORE RECREATIONAL FISHING
OPPORTUNITIES. IF WE DO A GOOD
JOB OF HAVING A GOOD BALANCE IN
TERMS OF THE ECOSYSTEM AND THE
OCEAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU SO MUCH. MEMBER
GALLAGHER. YEAH, THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, YEAH. I THINK FOR
ME, I, I GET THE INTENT, IT'S
IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE
PROTECTING THE BIODIVERSITY OF
OUR OF OUR COASTAL WATERS. I
JUST FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW, THAT
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF, LIKE,
PUTTING OUR THUMB ON THE SCALE
HERE WHEN THERE'S ALREADY A
PRETTY ROBUST PROCESS GOING
GOING ON RIGHT NOW, IN THE 30 BY
30, IT WAS SEVERAL AGENCIES AND
MANY STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED. I
GUESS FOR ME, WHY DON'T WE SEE
HOW THAT COMES OUT AND SEE WHAT
THEY'RE KIND OF DETERMINING IN
TERMS OF, MAYBE MPAS ARE A PART
OF THAT. YOU KNOW, IN CERTAIN
AREAS, BUT MAYBE IT'S, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF
THE FOLKS ARE POINTING OUT IS
NOT THE ONLY WAY TO PROVIDE FOR
CONSERVATION. AND THAT MANY
AREAS OF GLOBALLY HAVE FOUND
WAYS TO YOU KNOW, COMBINE, AND
MEET CONSERVATION GOALS WHILE
STILL ALLOWING FOR RECREATIONAL
FISHING, AND THESE ARE, YOU
KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT THESE ARE
LIVELIHOODS THAT NEED TO BE
PROTECTED AS WELL, AND SO TO ME,
I JUST FEEL LIKE, LET'S LET THAT
PROCESS KIND OF WORK ITSELF OUT.
LET'S SEE HOW THAT COMES OUT
WHEN WE HAVE SOME MORE
INFORMATION, RATHER THAN SAYING,
HEY, WE WANT YOU TO PRIORITIZE
MPAS. SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.
THAT'S WHY I CAN'T SUPPORT IT
TODAY. BUT I DO GET THE INTENT.
YES. OKAY AND YOU'VE ALREADY
CLOSED OR WOULD YOU LIKE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE? THANK YOU.
AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND?
YES. SINCE WE DID HAVE ANOTHER,
IF I COULD JUST JUST RESPOND TO
THAT. AGAIN, THIS IS A
RESOLUTION. I DON'T THINK IT,
UNDULY PLACES OUR THUMB ON THE
SCALE, BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS IT
GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS VALUE
OF THESE MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
AND THE SCIENCE JUST KEEPS
COMING IN MORE AND MORE POSITIVE
IN TERMS OF THAT. SO RECOGNIZING
THAT IS ALL THAT THAT WE AND THE
SPONSORS ARE ASKING FOR WITH
THIS RESOLUTION, AND IT
CERTAINLY DOES NOT BAN
RECREATIONAL FISHING. IT DOESN'T
DO ANYTHING. IT JUST SAYS, HEY,
WE AS A LEGISLATURE WANT YOU TO
KNOW, THIS IS THESE THESE THINGS
ARE REALLY WORKING. AND TO THE
EXTENT THAT YOU CAN PRIORITIZE
THEM, WE HOPE THAT YOU DO. AND I
ALSO WANT TO THANK AZUL. AND IF
I COULD JUST READ THIS, THEY ARE
A GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ORGANIZATION WORKING
WITH LATINO COMMUNITIES IN
PARTICULAR TO CONSERVE THE OCEAN
AND THE COAST, AND MY APOLOGIES
FOR NOT KNOWING YOU GUYS WERE
GOING TO BE HERE TODAY AS THE
SPONSORS TO SPEAK, BUT I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT
THEY'VE HAD IN TERMS OF DOING
THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MEMBER
BENNETT. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE. ITEM
NUMBER ONE, ACR 210. MOTION IS
DUE PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. PEPIN A, PEPIN I
ADDIS ALANIS ALANIS. NOT VOTING.
ALVAREZ. BENNETT I. BENNETT I
GALLAGHER. GALLAGHER. NO. DAVIES
DAVIES. NOT VOTING. GARCIA.
GARCIA I HEART. HART I THREE OF
US SHIAVO. SHIAVO I VILLA. LA.
VILLA I WEBER. OKAY, WE'LL LEAVE
THAT OPEN. AND WITH THAT I
BELIEVE I SAW SENATOR ARCHULETA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE
IT.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, SENATOR
ARCHULETA. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. TODAY, I'M PRESENTING
SENATE BILL 1330, WHICH WOULD
ENACT CHANGES TO THE 2018 LAW,
ALSO KNOWN AS MAKING WATER
CONSERVATION A WAY OF LIFE BASED
ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE,
THE SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND
WATER COMMITTEE, THE STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD STAFF
AND THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES. LET
ME BEGIN BY ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS AND
EXPRESSING MY APPRECIATION FOR
YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITTEE,
THE TIME THAT THEY'VE SPENT WITH
MY STAFF AND THE CO-SPONSORS ON
THIS BILL. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR
EFFORTS. THE 2018 LAW
ESTABLISHES A FRAMEWORK FOR LONG
TERM IMPROVEMENTS IN URBAN WATER
USE EFFICIENCY AND DROUGHT
PLANNING. AS CALIFORNIA ADAPTS
TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS,
THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES LONG
TERM URBAN WATER USE EFFICIENCY
STANDARDS THAT REQUIRE URBAN
RETAIL WATER SUPPLIERS TO EXCEED
THE STATEWIDE 2020 WATER
CONSERVATION TARGETS REQUIRED BY
THE 2007 LEGISLATION, THE STATE
BOARD, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES,
WAS REQUIRED TO ADAPT LONG TERM
STANDARDS VARIANCES, GUIDELINES,
AND METHODOLOGIES FOR
CALCULATING URBAN WATER USE.
OBJECTIVE BY JUNE 30TH, 2022,
MEMBERS. LET ME BE CLEAR. LOCAL
AND STATE ACTIONS HAVE LED TO
WATER USE EFFICIENCY GAINS TO
EXTEND, THAT ARE TO THE EXTENT
THAT OUR WATER AREAS USE ROUGHLY
THE SAME TOTAL AMOUNT OF WATER
TODAY AS THEY DID IN 1990.
DESPITE SIGNIFICANT POPULATION
GROWTH, ACHIEVING GREATER WATER
USE EFFICIENCY WILL BE COSTLY.
SOME ESTIMATE THAT THE COST FOR
WATER SUPPLIERS TO COMPLY WITH
THE 2018 LAWS WILL EXCEED $10
BILLION STATEWIDE, TO CONSERVE
ABOUT 400,000 ACRE FEET OF
WATER, OR ABOUT 1% OF OUR WATER
USAGE. THIS EFFORT WILL RESULT
IN HIGHER MONTHLY WATER BILLS
FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND YOURS
IS LIKE INCREASING WATER URBAN
USE EFFICIENCY WILL NOT ONLY BE
A SIMPLE TASK AND WILL RELY
HEAVILY ON OUR CONSTITUENTS
MAKING CHANGES INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOMES, OF THEIR
USAGE. THIS BILL, SENATE BILL
1330, EXTENDS DEADLINES IN THE
2018 LAWS TO MATCH CURRENT
SCHEDULE IN THE STATE WATER
BOARD. FINAL REGULATION REQUIRES
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES TO UPDATE LANDSCAPE
DATA IN THE FUTURE AND REQUIRE
THE DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT
ADDITIONAL STUDIES OVER TIME,
AND THE WATER SUPPLIERS COMPLY
WITH THE REGULATION BEGINNING
NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND. 2040
SENATE BILL 1330 WILL NOT ALTER
THE PENDING FINAL STATE BOARD
REGULATION, WHICH IS SCHEDULED
TO FOR ADOPTION FOR ADOPTION
NEXT WEEK. BOTH SENATE BILL 1330
AND THE FINAL REGULATION WILL
PROVIDE WATER SUPPLIERS THE TIME
NEEDED TO COLLABORATE WITH THEIR
WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS TO ACHIEVE
MEANINGFUL WATER SAVINGS WHILE
CONSIDERING COST, AFFORDABILITY
AND SUPPLIERS GOOD FAITH EFFORTS
ON THEIR PART TO MEET WATER USE
OBJECTIVES. AND IT IS AMAZING
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, AND I THINK ALL OF
US ARE TRYING TO CONSERVE. AND
THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD. FOR
THESE REASONS, I WOULD
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE,
VOTE WITH ME TODAY. I HAVE TOM
COLEMAN, GENERAL MANAGER OF
ROSELAND WATER DISTRICT, AND BOB
REEB, THE REEB GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
OF SENATE BILL 1330 AND ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, WHICH WITNESS
WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS, MY NAME IS TOM
COLEMAN. I'M REPRESENTING THE
CO-SPONSORS OF SB 1330, WHICH
ARE ROLLING WATER DISTRICT,
WALNUT VALLEY WATER DISTRICT,
AND BELLFLOWER, SOMERSET MUTUAL
WATER COMPANY. WE ACKNOWLEDGE
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING
WATER RESOURCES AND REMAIN
COMMITTED TO THE GOAL OF MAKING
CONSERVATION A WAY OF LIFE. OUR
THREE AGENCIES HAVE LONG BEEN AT
THE FOREFRONT OF URBAN WATER
CONSERVATION EFFORTS. MY
DISTRICT ALONE HAS REDUCED 27%
OF OUR WATER DEMAND OVER THE
PAST DECADE. THE PROPOSED STATE
BOARD REGULATIONS WILL REQUIRE
US TO REDUCE WATER USE BY AN
ADDITIONAL 29. FOR A 50%
REDUCTION IN WATER USE FROM
2013. THAT WILL REQUIRE
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN OUR RATE
STRUCTURE AND THE RECOVERY OF
FIXED COSTS. WE APPRECIATE THE
EFFORTS OF THE STATE BOARD TO
INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM WATER
AGENCIES AND ADJUST CONSERVATION
MANDATES IN THEIR REGULATORY
PROCEEDINGS THROUGH SB 1330, WE
SEEK FUTURE REVIEW OF EFFICIENCY
STANDARDS AND REPORTING TO THE
LEGISLATURE TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
REGULATION. SB 1330 WILL WILL
HELP REDUCE THE COST IMPACTS OF
THE CURRENT TIMELINE ESTABLISHED
BY THE 2018 LAWS AND ENABLE
REGULATORS RETAIL WATER
SUPPLIERS AND CONSULTANTS TO
DEVELOP COST EFFECTIVE
APPROACHES TO ACHIEVING GREATER
REDUCTIONS IN WATER USE. OUR
GOAL IS TO IMPROVE DATA
COLLECTION AND ANALYTICS, AND
REFINE METHODOLOGIES AND
APPROACHES TO IMPLEMENT A
CONSERVATION PROGRAM OVER TIME
THAT COSTS LESS FOR ALL WATER
RATEPAYERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT RESIDE IN DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES WHERE WATER
AFFORDABILITY IS ALREADY A
CONCERN. SB 1330 AIMS TO STRIKE
A BALANCE BETWEEN ACHIEVING
CONSERVATION GOALS THROUGH RIGID
MANDATES AND FINANCIAL COST AND
LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT WILL BE
REQUIRED TO DO SO. FOR THIS
REASON, WE SUPPORT SB 1330 AND
URGE AND I VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS,
FIRST WANT TO START OFF BY
THANKING THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR
THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY
THAT THEY POURED INTO THE
AMENDMENTS THAT THE WERE
ACCEPTED. AND, ALWAYS ENJOY
WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANT. I
KNOW IT'S GOING TO TURN A LITTLE
RED RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S THE
ONLY WAY I CAN REALLY GET TO
THEM, SO LET ME JUST MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT THE STATE BOARD IS
SCHEDULED TO ADOPT THE FINAL
REGULATION NEXT ON JULY THE 3RD,
THIS BILL IS NOT GOING TO BE ON
THE GOVERNOR'S DESK NEXT
THURSDAY. ALTHOUGH WE WOULD
PREFER THAT. BUT WE'VE STILL GOT
SOME WORK TO DO, THE SECOND
POINT IS THAT NOTHING IN THIS
BILL CONFLICTS WITH ANYTHING IN
THE STATE BOARD REGULATION. THIS
BILL TRULY IS FORWARD LOOKING.
THE 2018 LAWS WERE ENACTED EIGHT
YEARS AGO, AND A LOT OF THE
STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE WILL
HAPPEN AS FAR AS 8 TO 15 YEARS
IN THE FUTURE. A LOT CHANGES IN
THAT TIME. CLIMATE CHANGES,
TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, THE HABITS
OF PEOPLE WITH THEIR HOMES AND
WHAT THEY HAVE IN TERMS OF
LANDSCAPE AND, AND, AND
IRRIGATION. AND I MEAN, PEOPLE
ARE TURNING OFF THE WATER WHEN
THEY BRUSH THEIR TEETH AND WHEN
THEY SHAVE AND ALL THIS STUFF
THAT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, BIG,
BIG THING, YOU KNOW, 30 OR 40
YEARS AGO. SO AS, AS THINGS
CHANGE, AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS
VERY COMPLEX REGULATION, THIS
BILL ASKS THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES AND THE STATE
BOARD TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW
LANDSCAPE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS
WORKING IN TERMS OF THE
EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR OUTDOOR
LANDSCAPE. IF THERE NEEDS TO BE
CHANGES, THEN THE LEGISLATURE
WILL HEAR FROM THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE. BECAUSE OF
THIS BILL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES AND FROM THE
DIRECTOR AND THE CHAIR OF THE
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL
BOARD, AGAIN, FORWARD LOOKING,
NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE
REGULATION. THERE'S BEEN SOME
CONCERN BY THE OPPOSITION ABOUT
THE EMERGENCY REGULATION
PROVISION IN THIS BILL THAT WAS
PUT IN AT THE REQUEST OF STATE
BOARD STAFF. AGAIN, THE BILL
DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE
THE REGULATION AT THIS POINT IN
TIME, BUT SHOULD IT BEFORE WE
GET IT, HOPEFULLY DOWNSTAIRS OR
I GUESS I'M SHOWING MY AGE
UPSTAIRS TO THE GOVERNOR, WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE
ARE CHANGES, THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO FORCE THE STATE BOARD INTO
ANOTHER VERY LENGTHY REGULATORY
PROCESS. SO EMERGENCY
REGULATIONS FOR THIS BILL ONLY
WILL PROVIDE A QUICKER AND
CHEAPER PATH TO GETTING THIS,
REFLECTED IN REGULATIONS GOING
FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES
IN OPPOSITION? LAST SLIDE RIGHT
HERE.
MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS DENIS
O'CONNOR WITH THE MONO LAKE
COMMITTEE, THIS BILL WE
ORIGINALLY OPPOSED AND THEN THE,
NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
AMENDED IT TO CHANGE IT TO JUST
DELAYING THE DATES, AND THEN IT
WAS AMENDED AGAIN AND WE WENT
OPPOSED. AND NOW THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS LARGELY TAKE CARE OF
OUR ISSUES, BUT WE STILL ARE
CONCERNED THAT IT IS PERHAPS
PREMATURE. AND GIVEN THE
CONTENTIOUS NATURE OF THE,
REGULATORY PROCESS, AS WE'VE
GONE THROUGH THIS MULTIPLE
TIMES, IT SUGGESTS THAT AT ANY
FUTURE CHANGE THROUGH REGULATION
WOULD LIKELY BE SIMILARLY
CONTENTIOUS AND WOULD NEED TO GO
THROUGH AND HAVE A THOROUGH
VETTING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL
THE ALL THE ISSUES ARE BALANCED.
SO, I UNDERSTAND WHY THE STATE
BOARD STAFF WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
EMERGENCY REGS, BUT, YOU KNOW,
THE STATUTES HAVE BEEN IN PLACE
SINCE, 2018. I HAVE THE SCARS
FROM, FROM WORKING ON THOSE
BILLS. AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO
ARE ADOPTING THE REGULATIONS
NOW. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO, TO
MANAGE A, A FUTURE REGULATORY
PROCESS IN A SIMILAR SORT OF A
WAY. SO FOR THOSE REASONS, WE
REMAIN OPPOSED. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. ANY MEMBERS OF THE
AUDIENCE WISH TO TELL US YAY OR
NAY, PLEASE. PAUL HILLIKER, SAN
JUAN IN STRONG SUPPORT. ASHLEY
WALKER WITH OLIVENHAIN MUNICIPAL
WATER DISTRICT IN SUPPORT. JULIE
HALL WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES IN
SUPPORT. ZACH SOFULU WITH THE
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES IN
SUPPORT. OKAY, WITH THAT, I'LL
BRING IT TO THE COMMITTEE. ANY
QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
WE DID HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND. GREAT. SO THE
RECOMMENDATION IS Dð PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROVES. WITH THAT,
LET'S TAKE A VOTE. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU.
SENATOR IT'S THE BEST CLOSE,
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, SB 1330,
MOTION DO PASS, AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. PAPPIN I PAPPIN
I ADDIS. ADDIS I ALANIZ. ALANIZ
I ALVAREZ. BENNETT GALLAGHER.
DAVIES. DAVIES. I GARCIA. GARCIA
I HART. HART I THREE OF US.
THREE OF US I. SCHIAVO. SCHIAVO
I. VILLA LA. VILLA I. OKAY.
WE'LL LEAVE THAT OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL VOTES. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, SENATOR MIN. THANK
YOU. CLERK GOOD MORNING. THIS
MORNING TO YOU WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY, SENATOR. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, I WANT TO JUST START BY
NOTING THAT WE ARE ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE'S PROPOSED AMENDMENTS,
AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF
FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK ON THE
LANGUAGE HERE, SB 1402 WOULD
REQUIRE ALL STATE AGENCIES TO
CONSIDER THE 30 BY 30 GOAL WHEN
ADOPTING, REVISITING OR
ESTABLISHING THEIR PLANS,
POLICIES OR REGULATIONS. IN
2020, GOVERNOR NEWSOM ISSUED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ADOPT A GOAL
TO CONSERVE AT LEAST 30% OF
CALIFORNIA'S LAND AND COASTAL
WATERS BY THE YEAR 2030. TO
ENSURE THAT THIS GOAL REMAINED A
COMMITMENT FOR FUTURE
ADMINISTRATIONS, THE LEGISLATURE
PASSED MY BILL, SB 337, TO
CODIFY THE 30 BY 30 GOAL.
CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO ONE OF 25
GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS,
BUT THIS BIODIVERSITY IS UNDER
THREAT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE,
HABIT LOSS AND POLLUTION. WE
KNOW THAT CONSERVATION AND 30 BY
30 ARE THE BEST TOOLS WE HAVE TO
PREVENT FUTURE EXTINCTIONS,
PROTECT OUR BIODIVERSITY AND
ECOSYSTEMS. AND WHILE CALIFORNIA
HAS MADE SOME INVESTMENTS IN
CONSERVATION TO FURTHER THIS 30
BY 30 GOAL, IT IS CRITICAL THAT
THIS GOAL ALSO BE SOMETHING
THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE PLANS,
POLICIES AND REGULATIONS OF OUR
STATE AGENCIES. I HAVE NO
WITNESSES TODAY AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. PULL THE BILL. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE
HAVE A SECOND. GREAT. DO WE HAVE
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? NOT
SEEING ANY. DO WE HAVE ANY
METOOS? GOOD MORNING. TASHA
NEWMAN. ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL
ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING BOLSA
CHICA LAND TRUST, BIG SUR LAND
TRUST, THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF
LAND TRUSTS, CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF RESOURCE
CONSERVATION DISTRICTS,
PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST, AND
THE WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY ALL IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. HELLO, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS, CHI COOPER, ON
BEHALF OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT,
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
FOUNDATION, SEMPERVIRENS FUND,
EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT,
AND LAND TRUST OF SANTA CRUZ
COUNTY IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU,
AARON WOOLLEY ON BEHALF OF
SIERRA CLUB CALIFORNIA AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, DENNIS
O'CONNOR WITH THE MONO LAKE
COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT. WE WANTED
TO BE ON THE PLUS SIDE ON ONE OF
THESE BILLS. MICHAEL JARRETT, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
INSTITUTE FOR BIODIVERSITY AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
EXCELLENT. BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS? WE
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I
RESPECTFULLY ASK YOUR AYE VOTE.
ITEM NUMBER 11 SB 1402. MOTION
IS DUE. PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS PAPPIN I PAPPIN I
ADDIS. ADDIS I ALANIS. ALVAREZ.
BENNETT GALLAGHER. DAVIES DAVIES
I GARCIA. GARCIA I HART. HART I
THREE OF US. RIVAS I. SCHIAVO.
SCHIAVO I. VILA PHILLIPS I WEBER
. WEBER I OKAY, OKAY WE'LL LEAVE
THAT OPEN. THANK YOU. SENATOR, I
WANT TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL
VOTES THAT FOLKS HAVE MISSED.
WE'LL START WITH THE CONSENT
CALENDAR WHILE WE WAIT FOR
SENATOR ALLEN ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. ADDIS. ADDIS I ALVAREZ
. DAVIES. DAVIES. I. GARCIA
GARCIA I THREE OF US. THREE OF
US I WEBER. WEBER I OKAY, OKAY.
WE'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF THE
OTHER BILLS OKAY. ITEM NUMBER
ONE ACR 210 ADDIS. ADDIS I
ALVAREZ THREE OF US THREE OF US
I WEBER WEBER I OKAY. AND ITEM
NUMBER TWO SB 366 ADDIS ADDIS I
ALVAREZ GARCIA GARCIA I THREE OF
US RIVAS I SCHIAVO SCHIAVO I
WEBER. WEBER I OKAY. ITEM NUMBER
THREE SB 632 ADDIS ADDIS I
ALVAREZ. DAVIES. DAVIES I
GARCIA. GARCIA I THREE OF US
RIVAS I SCHIAVO SCHIAVO I WEBER.
WEBER I OKAY. ITEM NUMBER FOUR
SB 1110 ADDIS. ADDIS I ALVAREZ
OKAY. AND THEN LET'S SEE.
BENNETT. DAVIES. DAVIES I
GARCIA. GARCIA I THREE OF US.
THREE OF US I SCHIAVO SCHIAVO I
WEBER. WEBER I OKAY. CONSENT
CONSENT. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT
SB 1330. ALVAREZ BENNETT.
GALLAGHER. WEBER WEBER. I ITEM
NUMBER NINE SB 13. OH, SORRY, WE
HAVEN'T DONE THAT ONE. ITEM
NUMBER TEN, SB 1390. ADDIS I
ADDIS I ALVAREZ DAVIES. DAVIES I
GARCIA. GARCIA I THREE OF US
THREE OF US I SCHIAVO SCHIAVO I
WEBER. WEBER I OKAY. AND THAT'S
IT FOR NOW. CAUGHT UP SENATOR
ALLEN I'M HOPEFUL IS ON HIS WAY.
I HAVE TO GO PRESENT A BILL. SO
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER ALLEN'S. DO THAT
REAL QUICK. SECOND. GOOD TIMING.
TAKE IT AWAY, SENATOR ALLEN.
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS
ALL ABOUT PROVIDING A VOLUNTARY
FUND TO HELP OUR STATE PARKS
THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED.
HAPPY TO ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS,
BUT RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A VOTE.
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A WITNESS?
YES LIZ FORSBERG FROM THE NATURE
CONSERVANCY. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LIZ
FORSBERG, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR
OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND POLICY
FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY. AND
WE'RE HERE TODAY IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF SB 1332. CALIFORNIA'S
MORE THAN 280 STATE PARKS ARE
RICH IN BIODIVERSITY, SUPPORT
HEALTHY AND RESILIENT
ECOSYSTEMS, AND OFFER MANY
IMPORTANT BENEFITS TO ALL
CALIFORNIANS, SUCH PROVIDING
OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR RECREATION
OPPORTUNITIES AND PROTECTING
CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITAT.
CALIFORNIA HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENTS TO PROTECT AND
CONSERVE THESE LANDS. HOWEVER
DEDICATED RESOURCES FOR
STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGEMENT ARE
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THEY
REMAIN HEALTHY LANDSCAPES AND
CONTINUE TO BENEFIT ALL
CALIFORNIANS. AND WHILE WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
A CLIMATE BOND, THANKS TO
SENATOR ALLEN AND ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GARCIA'S LEADERSHIP
GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND TO
FUNDING CAN ONLY BE USED TO
ACQUIRE AND PROTECT LANDS.
STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
BOND FUNDING. THE LACK OF
FUNDING FOR STEWARDSHIP HAS
RESULTED IN A DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE BACKLOG TOTALING
MORE THAN 1 BILLION FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION ALONE. AS THE IMPACTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE INTENSIFY,
MANAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP OF
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS AND
CONSERVATION LANDS WILL BECOME
INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT. SB 1332
WOULD ESTABLISH THE CONSERVATION
STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND TO
PROVIDE DEDICATED RESOURCES FOR
THE MANAGEMENT OF CALIFORNIA
STATE PARK LANDS. THE CREATION
OF ENDOWMENT FUND WOULD ALLOW
CALIFORNIA TO PROTECT ITS
INVESTMENTS IN STATE PARKS BY
ESSENTIALLY CREATING AN
INVESTMENT ACCOUNT TO POOL
TOGETHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
DOLLARS THAT CAN PAY FOR
STEWARDSHIP OVER TIME. AS SUCH,
SB 1332 WILL ENSURE THAT OUR
STATE PARKS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
IMPORTANT BENEFITS TO ALL
CALIFORNIANS FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME, AND WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR AYE VOTE. AND LET
ME JUST CLARIFY. I AM ACCEPTING
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, AND I
APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE
COMMITTEE, AND WE'RE JUST
GETTING TO THAT. THANK YOU.
SENATOR, DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? SEEING
NONE, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE IN
FAVOR OR OPPOSED? TASHA NEWMAN
ON BEHALF OF BOLSA CHICA LAND
TRUST AND SUPPORT MICHAEL GERARD
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
INSTITUTE FOR BIODIVERSITY AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM
THE COMMITTEE? COMMENTS. WE HAD
A MOTION AND A SECOND. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? APPRECIATE YOUR
YOUR INTEREST IN THIS IMPORTANT
ISSUE. OUR PARKS ARE REALLY IN
DEEP NEED OF SOME TLC FOR A LOT
OF REASONS. I'D LOVE TO TALK
MORE WITH FOLKS ABOUT IT, BUT
THIS IS A STEP IN THAT HELPING
TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY VOTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
BILL, SENATOR. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. THIS WILL BE DO
PASS AS AMENDED TO APPROACH. SO
WE'LL GO AND TAKE A VOTE OKAY.
ITEM NUMBER TEN SB 1332 PAPIN A
PAPIN A ADUS ADUS I ALANIS
ALANIS I ALVAREZ. BENNETT
GALLAGHER DAVIES. DAVIES I
GARCIA. GARCIA I HEART, HEART I
THREE OF US THREE OF US I SHIAVO
SHIAVO I VILA. WEBER. WEBER I.
THANK YOU MEMBERS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THIS
IS OUR. THANKS. SURE. OF COURSE.
WE.
OKAY. ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
MISSING MEMBERS. ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ, I, ON ITEM NUMBER ONE,
ACR 210. ALVAREZ ALVAREZ I ITEM
NUMBER TWO, SB 366. ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ I. ITEM NUMBER THREE. SB
632. ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ I. ITEM
NUMBER FOUR SB 1110 ALVAREZ I
ALVAREZ I OKAY. 678 SB I'M. ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT SB 1330 ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ I. ITEM NUMBER NINE SB
1332 ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ I. ITEM
NUMBER TEN SB 1390 ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ I. ITEM NUMBER 11 SB
1402 ALANIS. YES. YEAH NO.
ALANIS. NO. ALVAREZ ALVAREZ I
OKAY. DID. ALAN. ALAN YES. WAIT,
WAIT. DID YOU DO. ALAN. NO OKAY.
ITEM NUMBER NINE, SB 1332,
VILLA. VILLA PADUA. I WITH THAT,
WE'LL ADJOURN. THANK YOU. I
DON'T MIND, THIS IS MY NEXT DOOR
NEIGHBOR. OH.