AB 709

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature that the State of California undertake the restoration of the Salton Sea ecosystem and the permanent protection of fish and wildlife dependent on that ecosystem based on a restoration plan that provides for the maximum feasible attainment of fish and wildlife restoration objectives and, to the extent consistent with these objectives, the protection of recreational opportunities and the creation of opportunities for improved local economic conditions. Existing law authorizes the Salton Sea Authority, a joint powers authority formed by the County of Imperial, the County of Riverside, the Coachella Valley Water District, and the Imperial Irrigation District, to form an infrastructure financing district for the purpose of funding the construction of, and purchasing electrical power for, projects for the reclamation and environmental restoration of the Salton Sea. This bill would require the authority, by April 1, 2014, to develop a restoration plan that is financially feasible to accomplish specified goals that include, among other things, the restoration of long-term stable aquatic and shoreline habitat and the mitigation of air quality impacts from restoration projects. Beginning January 1, 2014, the bill would designate the authority as the lead agency for the restoration of the Salton Sea and would require the State Lands Commission and any other state agency to grant to the authority a 99-year lease of all state-owned lands existing within the Salton Sea ecosystem, including all state-owned lands that underlie the navigable and tidal waterways of the Salton Sea. (2) The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84) , an initiative statute approved by the voters at the November 7, 2006, statewide general election, makes approximately $5,388,000,000 in bond funds available for safe drinking water, water quality and supply, flood control, natural resource protection, and park improvements, of which $47,000,000 is available for deposit into the Salton Sea Restoration Fund, which is administered by the Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and requires that the moneys in the fund be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for, among other things, the implementation of conservation measures necessary to protect the fish and wildlife species dependent on the Salton Sea. This bill would require the Salton Sea authority to submit, on or before April 1, 2014, the restoration plan to the Legislative Analyst for review. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst to complete his or her review by June 1, 2014, and if the Legislative Analyst determines that the plan is financially feasible and that the authority is capable of implementing the plan, the bill would continuously appropriate from the Salton Sea Restoration Fund any moneys received under Proposition 84 to the authority to implement the plan. The bill would additionally require the Wildlife Conservation Board to review the restoration plan to determine whether it is eligible for federal matching funds and to seek those funds. The bill would require that these funds be deposited in the Salton Sea Restoration Fund and would continuously appropriate the moneys to the authority to implement the restoration plan.