California Water Code 13198.3 – (a) Actions of any public agency that contracts with the United …
(a) Actions of any public agency that contracts with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, or is an entitlement holder under the 2006 consolidated decree in Arizona v. California (2006) 547 U.S. 150, for Colorado River water supplies, approved before December 31, 2026, that the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency concurs in writing are reasonably necessary to implement Colorado River water conservation agreements with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, as well as those water conservation agreements themselves, shall be deemed to be within the activities described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (b) of § 21080 of the Public Resources Code.
(b) Actions under this section shall not include the construction of new canals or major new infrastructure, but may include infrastructure improvements such as, without limitation, the installation of more efficient irrigation systems or the lining of canals, and shall be limited to projects that reduce or make more efficient the use or distribution of Colorado River water and shall not include projects that develop replacement water supplies.
Terms Used In California Water Code 13198.3
- Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
- United States: means the United States of America, and in relation to any particular matter includes the officers, agents, employees, agencies, or instrumentalities authorized to act in relation thereto. See California Water Code 20
(c) (1) The Natural Resources Agency shall promptly post any concurrences under this section on its internet website and shall annually report any such concurrences to the Legislature.
(2) The report required pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with § 9795 of the Government Code.
(d) This section does not waive or suspend any other permitting requirements applicable to the public agency actions described herein.
(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 51, Sec. 38. (SB 122) Effective July 10, 2023.)