Bill Text: CA SB1301 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Tijuana River Valley: watershed action plan.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-09-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 368, Statutes of 2020. [SB1301 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB1301-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  August 24, 2020

Amended  IN  Assembly  August 11, 2020

Amended  IN  Senate  June 18, 2020

Amended  IN  Senate  March 26, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1301

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Introduced by Senator Hueso

February 21, 2020

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An act to add Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 71107) to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, relating to public resources.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1301, as amended, Hueso. Tijuana River Valley: binational watershed development action plan.

Existing law establishes the California Environmental Protection Agency under the supervision of the Secretary for Environmental Protection, consisting of various departments, boards, commissions, and offices and vests the agency with authority over various environmental matters.

Existing law establishes in the Natural Resources Agency the San Diego River Conservancy to, among other purposes, acquire and manage public lands within the San Diego River area, and to provide recreational opportunities, open space, wildlife habitat and species restoration and protection, wetland protection and restoration, protection of historical and cultural resources, and protection, maintenance, and improvements of the quality of the waters in the San Diego River and its watershed, its tributaries, and historic flumes emanating from the river for all beneficial uses, lands for educational uses within the area, and natural floodwater conveyance.

Existing law requires the conservancy to establish the Tijuana River Watershed Advisory Panel, as specified, and requires the panel to prepare a strategic plan with specified information relating to the Tijuana River watershed.

This bill would require, upon an appropriation by the Legislature, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Agency to collaborate to create a Tijuana River Valley Watershed Action Plan, to be reviewed and updated on a 3-year cycle. The bill would require the plan to contain specified information. The bill would require, upon completion of the plan, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Agency to consult with specified governmental entities to develop a common watershed action plan to address issues in the Tijuana River and its entire watershed, as provided.

This bill would require the California Environmental Protection Agency, upon an appropriation by the Legislature, to work with the State Water Resources Control Board, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the San Diego River Conservancy to create, as prescribed, a binational watershed development plan for the Tijuana River Valley that contains certain information, as specified. The bill would require the California Environmental Protection Agency, while preparing the plan, to seek relevant information and advice by conducting appropriate public outreach and consulting appropriate and relevant state agencies, local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the federal government, including, but not limited to, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California-Mexico Border Relations Council, and the Tijuana River Watershed Advisory Panel. The bill would authorize the Tijuana River Watershed Advisory Panel to use the plan when preparing the above-specified strategic plan for the Tijuana River watershed.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 71107) is added to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

PART 2.6. Tijuana River Valley Watershed Action Plan

71107.

 (a) Upon an appropriation of funds from the Legislature for this purpose, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Agency, including their subsidiary agencies, shall collaborate to create a Tijuana River Valley Watershed Action Plan, known as the Tijuana River Plan. The Tijuana River Plan shall be drawn from existing and ongoing watershed planning efforts in both the United States and Mexico. The Tijuana River Plan shall be reviewed and updated on a three-year cycle. The Tijuana River Plan shall include, to the extent practicable, all of the following:

(1) Identification of key stakeholders and partnerships for data collection and information sharing.

(2) Identification of issues of concern and potential projects that may be implemented in the Tijuana River Valley watershed in both the United States and Mexico.

(3) Identification of short-term and long-term goals and targets for projects that may be implemented through the plan.

(4) Methods and strategies to restore water quality or water supply in degraded areas and to protect overall watershed health.

(5) Methods and strategies to protect the public health and limit beach closures.

(6) Methods and strategies, including target dates or milestones, interagency or public/private partnerships, and binational collaboration, to ensure implementation of the plan in Mexico and the United States, to the extent feasible.

(b) Upon completion of the Tijuana River Plan described in subdivision (a), the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Agency shall consult with the governments for the United States, the County of San Diego, the City of San Diego, the City of Imperial Beach, Mexico, the State of Baja California, the City of Tijuana, and the City of Tecate to develop a common watershed action plan to address issues in the Tijuana River and its entire watershed, on both sides of the border, including, but not limited to, issues relating to water quality, wildlife and fishery habitat, stormwater management, riverside development and management, wastewater discharge, and water supply.

(c) This section shall not require the expenditure of state funding or the development of any specific project without an appropriation from the Legislature.

SECTION 1.Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 71107) is added to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

2.6.Tijuana River Valley Binational Watershed Development Plan

71107.

(a)Upon an appropriation of funds from the Legislature to the California Environmental Protection Agency for this purpose, the California Environmental Protection Agency shall work with the State Water Resources Control Board, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the San Diego River Conservancy to create a binational watershed development plan for the Tijuana River Valley, which should be developed in coordination with the appropriate Mexican entities to encapsulate the whole watershed. The plan shall include all of the following:

(1)Identification of key stakeholders and partnerships for data collection.

(2)Identification of issues of concern for the Tijuana River Valley in both the United States and Mexican portions.

(3)Short-term and long-term goals and targets for the plan.

(4)Methods and strategies to restore water quality in degraded areas and to protect overall watershed health.

(5)Methods and strategies to protect the public health and limit beach closures.

(6)Methods and strategies to ensure implementation of the plan on the Mexican side, to the extent feasible.

(b)While preparing the plan required pursuant to subdivision (a), the California Environmental Protection Agency shall seek relevant information and advice by conducting appropriate public outreach and by consulting appropriate and relevant state agencies, local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the federal government, including, but not limited to, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California-Mexico Border Relations Council, and the Tijuana River Watershed Advisory Panel established pursuant to Section 32659.4.

(c)The binational watershed development plan prepared pursuant to this section may be used by the Tijuana River Watershed Advisory Panel when preparing the strategic plan pursuant to Section 32659.5.