MEDIA CONTACT:
Justin Caporusso
Executive Director/MCWRA
ExecutiveDirector.mcwra11@gmail.com
(916) 412-0571
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mountain Counties Water Resources Association
Board of Directors Adopts Positions on Legislative Proposals
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES, Calif. (MAY 01, 2023) – The Mountain Counties Water Resources Association (MCWRA) Board of Directors has adopted official positions on a number of proposals currently making their way through California’s legislative process. MCWRA is weighing in on proposals impacting the association’s strategic priorities, including California’s headwaters, water rights, and forest management.
“I’d like to thank the MCWRA Legislative Committee for their work in identifying the bills that most impact our members,” said Scott Ratterman, MCWRA President and Calaveras County Water District Director. “Our mission is to promote the statewide importance of Sierra Nevada water resources through advocacy and collaboration, and we look forward to engaging in the legislative process to advance this mission.”
A synopsis of the proposals that MCWRA is actively advocating on include:
ACA-2-Water and Wildfire Resiliency Act of 2023 – SUPPORT IF AMENDED
This bill seeks to appropriate 3% of General Fund revenues each year for the purpose of supporting water infrastructure, forest health and maintenance. MCWRA is supportive of this goal, and requests additional language be incorporated to specify that 50 percent of the water projects funding allocation be dedicated to forest wildfire suppression facilities in the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
AB 1554 – California Environmental Quality Act – SUPPORT
This bill exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act fuels reduction projects in areas with moderate, high, and very high hazard severity zones.
This bill was denied a hearing in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources (04/26/23).
AB 1337 – State Water Board Enforcement – OPPOSE
This bill restricts water diversions through regulation and enforces the regulations through orders to divert and use water under claims of right.
AB 460 – State Water Resources: Enforcement – OPPOSE
This bill provides new authority for the State Water Resources Control Board and allows for its motion, or upon the petition of an interested party, to apply or enforce items such as the Reasonable Use and Public Trust Doctrine. The bill would weaken the protected rights to judicial review of the Board.
SB 470 – Wildfires: Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program: Grant Eligibility: High Hazard and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones – SUPPORT
This bill includes projects that reduce the risk of wildfire for communities through water delivery system improvements within the list of projects eligible for block grants from the Department of Conservation’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program. This legislation would provide much needed additional funding for wildfire defense and protection of rural communities.
SB 389 – State Water Resources Control Board: Determination of Water Right – OPPOSE
This bill authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to investigate the diversion and use of water from a stream system to determine whether the diversion and use are based upon appropriation, riparian right, or other basis of right.
AB 338 – Public works: Definition – OPPOSE
This bill seeks to expand the definition of “public works” to include fuel reduction work paid for in whole or in part out of public funds performed as part of a fire mitigation project.
The health of Sierra Nevada’s watersheds and water resources are of value and critical importance to all Californians. MCWRA is committed to working to advance the following priorities on behalf of MCWRA Members:
- Protection of Water Rights and Preservation of Regional Water Supplies
- Increased Investment in California’s Headwaters
- Science-Based Forest Management Plans and Actions
- Increased Statewide Collaboration Regarding Water Resources
- Additional Water Storage Capacity
- Educating Target Audiences on Statewide Need of Protecting California’s Headwaters
Details on MCWRA’s legislative engagement can be accessed here.
Mountain Counties Water Resources Association Mission is to promote the statewide importance of Sierra Nevada water resources through advocacy and collaboration. This Mission is realized through strengthening Members’ regional leadership, collaboration, information sharing, issue awareness, education, advocacy, and potential legislative action or legal support.
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