Bill > AB2026

This bill aims to streamline and expand opportunities for groundwater recharge in California, particularly in response to increasing water scarcity and the need for flood management. It revises the conditions under which floodwaters can be diverted for groundwater recharge without requiring a full water right permit, extending the deadline for such diversions to January 1, 2034, and exempting them from certain environmental review requirements, provided tribal consultation is conducted. The bill also introduces new provisions for temporary permits to divert water for groundwater recharge, making it easier for local agencies, groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), and private entities working with GSAs to obtain these permits, especially in basins requiring a groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). It clarifies how water availability is determined for these diversions, often using methods like the "90/20 method" or "flood/recharge diversion criteria" to ensure existing water rights and environmental needs are protected. Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of a "minor application" to include private entities with agreements with GSAs and creates exceptions for field investigations for certain applications. It also aims to ensure that permits for diversions within or upstream of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) do not negatively impact the Central Valley Project or the State Water Project, and it adjusts fee structures for certain permit applications to encourage their submission.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2026