ARTICLE 3. Bay-Delta Multipurpose Water Management Program [79190. - 79203.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 3.
in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79190. Section 79190.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this article: (a) “CALFED Bay-Delta Program” or “program” means the undertaking by CALFED pursuant to the Framework Agreement dated June 20, 1994, to develop a long-term solution to water management, environmental, and other problems in the bay-delta watershed by means of a programmatic environmental impact statement/environmental impact report. (b) “CALFED EIS/EIR” means the final programmatic environmental impact statement/environmental impact report prepared by CALFED. (c) “CALFED stage 1 action” means an action identified in the preferred alternative of the CALFED EIS/EIR as an action intended for implementation during stage 1 of Phase III of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. (d) (1) “Eligible project” means a demonstration project, subject to the CALFED adaptive management principle that requires an assessment of the performance of the demonstration projects in order to determine which projects are successful in achieving the goals of the program. (2) “Eligible project” means a project that meets both of the following requirements. (A) The project is identified in the CALFED EIS/EIR as a CALFED stage 1 action. (B) The project does one or more of the following: (i) Constructs treatment facilities or relocates discharge facilities for agricultural drainage generated within the delta to improve water quality in the delta or the quality of water that is transported from the delta. (ii) Constructs facilities to control waste discharges that contribute to low dissolved oxygen and other water quality problems in the lower San Joaquin River and the south delta. (iii) Constructs fish facilities for the State Water Project or the Central Valley Project intakes in the south delta, such as facilities for fish screens, fish handling, and fish passage, or modifications to intake structures or other facilities, to reduce losses of any life stages of fish to water diversions in the San Joaquin River and the delta in accordance with paragraph (1) of Section (C) of Chapter IV of the board’s 1995 water quality control plan. (iv) Constructs a permanent barrier at the head of Old River to improve fish migration and other permanent barriers in the south delta channels to improve water quality and water level for local diversions. (v) Constructs facilities to control drainage from abandoned mines that adversely affect water quality in the bay-delta. (vi) Constructs a permanent barrier at Grantline Canal to improve water quality and water levels for local diversion. (e) “Subaccount” means the Bay-Delta Multipurpose Water Management Subaccount created by Section 79194.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79191. Section 79191.

This article does not affect the authority of any agency pursuant to any other provision of law to expend funds for the purposes described in this article.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79192. Section 79192.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (a) CALFED is in the process of preparing a programmatic EIS/EIR for a long-term comprehensive plan that will resolve problems related to ecosystem restoration, including the recovery of endangered species such as chinook salmon, water quality, water supply, water management, and system integrity for the protection of beneficial uses of the bay-delta ecosystem. (b) The CALFED Bay-Delta Program is of statewide and national importance. The state should participate in the funding of eligible projects as a part of its ongoing program to improve conditions in the bay-delta ecosystem. (c) The programmatic EIS/EIR will include a schedule for funding and implementing all elements of the long-term comprehensive plan. (d) The elements of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program will achieve balanced solutions in all identified problem areas, including the ecosystem, water quality, water supply, and system integrity.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79193. Section 79193.

(a) This article does not authorize the implementation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program or any element of that program. The implementation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, or any element of that program, shall only be undertaken pursuant to authority provided by law other than this division. (b) Nothing in this article affects the obligation to comply with provisions of existing law in connection with the implementation of this article.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79195. Section 79195.

The sum of two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) is hereby transferred from the account to the subaccount.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79196. Section 79196.

(a) The money in the subaccount, upon appropriation by the Legislature to the department, may be used by the department to carry out eligible projects and for the purposes of Section 79202. (b) Money in the subaccount that is allocated to carry out eligible projects, as described in clauses (ii), (iv), and (vi) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 79190, and is not expended for those purposes, may be reallocated by the department to carry out other eligible projects, as described in clauses (i), (iii), and (v) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 79190. (c) No funds in the subaccount shall be used by the department unless and until the department has consulted, on an annual basis, with the state and federal agencies that participate in CALFED, as well as representatives of the public convened as a duly authorized advisory committee, with regard to the specific projects proposed for funding under this article. Decisions regarding specific expenditures of funds provided under this article shall be jointly determined, to the maximum extent possible, by the recommendations of the state and federal CALFED agencies with the advice of the advisory committee.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79196.5. Section 79196.5.

The funds appropriated pursuant to Section 79196 shall be allocated as follows: (a) Seventeen million dollars ($17,000,000) for the purposes of the project described in clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 79190. (b) Forty million dollars ($40,000,000) for the purposes of the project described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 79190. (c) One hundred twenty million dollars ($120,000,000) for the purposes of the project described in clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 79190. (d) Forty million dollars ($40,000,000) for the purposes of the project described in clause (iv) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 79190. (e) Seventeen million dollars ($17,000,000) for the purposes of the project described in clause (v) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 79190. (f) Sixteen million dollars ($16,000,000) for the purposes of the project described in clause (vi) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 79190.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79197. Section 79197.

No funds in the subaccount may be expended until all of the following conditions have been met: (a) The CALFED EIS/EIR has been certified by the state lead agency and a notice of determination has been issued as required by Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code. (b) The CALFED EIS/EIR has been filed by the federal lead agencies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the required notice has been published in the Federal Register, and there has been federal approval of a program identical to the program approved by the state.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79198. Section 79198.

The state, to the greatest extent possible, shall secure federal and nonfederal funds to implement this article.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79199. Section 79199.

Due to the importance of issuing permits and otherwise expediting all elements of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program in a timely and balanced manner, the following procedures shall apply to the use of funds authorized by this article: (a) After the requirements set forth in Section 79197 are met, funds in the subaccount shall become available for use in accordance with the schedule for eligible projects set forth in the final programmatic EIS/EIR, unless the Secretary of the Resources Agency determines that the schedule established in the final programmatic EIS/EIR has not been substantially adhered to. (b) On or before November 15 of each year, the Secretary of the Resources Agency, in consultation with state and federal CALFED representatives and other interested persons and agencies, shall review adherence to the schedule. (c) The absence of funding from nonfederal or nonstate sources shall not be a basis for a determination that the schedule has not been adhered to. (d) If, at the conclusion of each annual review, the Secretary of the Resources Agency determines that the schedule established in the final programmatic EIS/EIR, or a revised schedule prepared pursuant to this subdivision, has not been substantially adhered to, the secretary, after notice to, and consultation with, state and federal CALFED representatives and other interested persons and agencies, shall prepare a revised schedule that ensures that balanced solutions in all identified problem areas, including ecosystem restoration, water supply, water quality, and system integrity are achieved, consistent with the intent of the final programmatic EIS/EIR. Funds shall be available for expenditure unless a revised schedule has not been developed within six months from the date on which the secretary determines that the prior schedule has not been substantially adhered to. Upon the preparation of any revised schedule under this subdivision, funds shall be expended in accordance with that revised schedule. (e) Funds in the subaccount shall become available in accordance with the cost-share agreement developed by the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, which shall describe the federal, state, and local share of funding for the programs, projects, and other CALFED stage 1 actions.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79200. Section 79200.

On or before December 15 of each year, the Secretary of the Resources Agency shall submit an annual report to the Legislature that describes the status of the implementation of all elements of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, any determinations made by the secretary pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (d) of Section 79199 and other significant scheduling issues. The report also shall include a detailed accounting of expenditures, descriptions of programs for which expenditures have been made, and a schedule of anticipated expenditures for the next year.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79201. Section 79201.

The report prepared pursuant to Section 79200 shall include both of the following: (a) A summary of the results achieved by the projects funded under this article. (b) An identification of any necessary modifications that should be made to eligible projects or other CALFED bay-delta projects, to ensure that the goals and objectives of CALFED are met.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79201.5. Section 79201.5.

Nothing in this article shall be construed to address the allocation of benefits from projects or programs funded by this article. It is anticipated that this issue will be settled in the CALFED process or by the Legislature by statute.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79202. Section 79202.

Not more than 5 percent of the total amount deposited in the subaccount may be used to pay the costs incurred in connection with the administration of this article.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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