Senate Bill 474 – a threat to area of origin water rights/Senate Bill-669 – an alternative to a water tax/Support for funding to Paradise Irrigation District
Senate Bill 474
In a recent letter to the Honorable Henry Stern, the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association (MCWRA) wrote to express opposition to SB 474, relating to the appropriation of water.
Under existing law, the Department of Water Resources is required to make and file with the State Water Resources Control Board applications for the appropriation of any water that, in the department’s judgment, is or may be required in the development and completion of all or part of a general or coordinated plan for the development, utilization, or conservation of the water resources of the state. Existing law gives those applications priority, as of the date of filing the application, over any subsequent application and exempts certain water rights diligence provisions from generally applying to the applications.
SB 474 would eliminate the exemption from the application of the diligence provisions as of January 1, 2021.
Letter: MCWRA – SB 474 Oppose
There will be a hearing of SB 474 on Changes in County of Origin Water Right Seniority by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 23rd. You are encouraged to watch for the Staff Analysis and consider attending the hearing to testify, as appropriate.
Committee Chair, Henry Stern
Senate Natural Resources Committee Agenda: https://sntr.senate.ca.gov/agenda
Senate Bill 669
In a recent letter to the Honorable Ana Caballero, MCWRA wrote to express support for SB 669, Water Quality, Safe Drinking Water Fund, a measure to provide a stable funding source for safe drinking water. SB 669 would establish the Safe Drinking Water Trust that is intended to be funded from the General Fund for safe drinking water projects. As opposed to a “water tax”, this measure is a better approach to addressing the human right to water and community water systems in disadvantaged communities.
Letter: MCWRA – SB 669 Support
Support for funding to Paradise Irrigation District
MCWRA sent a letter to the Honorable Senator Jim Nielsen and the Honorable Assemblyman James Gallagher to support their efforts to backfill funding for the Paradise Irrigation District help keep the district operating while Paradise recovers and rebuilds from the November 2018 Camp Fire.
Letter: Support for backfill funding for the PID
