CHAPTER 6. Protecting Rivers, Lakes, Streams, Coastal Waters, and Watersheds [79730. - 79738.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 6.
in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79730. Section 79730.

The sum of one billion four hundred ninety-five million dollars ($1,495,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature from the fund, in accordance with this chapter, for competitive grants for multibenefit ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration projects in accordance with statewide priorities.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79731. Section 79731.

Of the funds authorized by Section 79730, the sum of three hundred twenty-seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($327,500,000) shall be allocated for multibenefit water quality, water supply, and watershed protection and restoration projects for the watersheds of the state in accordance with the following schedule: (a) Baldwin Hills Conservancy, ten million dollars ($10,000,000). (b) California Tahoe Conservancy, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000). (c) Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, ten million dollars ($10,000,000). (d) Ocean Protection Council, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000). (e) San Diego River Conservancy, seventeen million dollars ($17,000,000). (f) San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000). (g) San Joaquin River Conservancy, ten million dollars ($10,000,000). (h) Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000). (i) Sierra Nevada Conservancy, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000). (j) State Coastal Conservancy, one hundred million five hundred thousand dollars ($100,500,000). Eligible watersheds for the funds allocated pursuant to this subdivision include, but are not limited to, those that are in the San Francisco Bay Conservancy region, the Santa Ana River watershed, the Tijuana River watershed, the Otay River watershed, Catalina Island, and the central coast region. (k) Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, fifty million dollars ($50,000,000).

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79732. Section 79732.

(a) In protecting and restoring California rivers, lakes, streams, and watersheds, the purposes of this chapter are to: (1) Protect and increase the economic benefits arising from healthy watersheds, fishery resources, and instream flow. (2) Implement watershed adaptation projects in order to reduce the impacts of climate change on California’s communities and ecosystems. (3) Restore river parkways throughout the state, including, but not limited to, projects pursuant to the California River Parkways Act of 2004 (Chapter 3.8 (commencing with Section 5750) of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code), in the Urban Streams Restoration Program established pursuant to Section 7048, and urban river greenways. (4) Protect and restore aquatic, wetland, and migratory bird ecosystems, including fish and wildlife corridors and the acquisition of water rights for instream flow. (5) Fulfill the obligations of the State of California in complying with the terms of multiparty settlement agreements related to water resources. (6) Remove barriers to fish passage. (7) Collaborate with federal agencies in the protection of fish native to California and wetlands in the central valley of California. (8) Implement fuel treatment projects to reduce wildfire risks, protect watersheds tributary to water storage facilities, and promote watershed health. (9) Protect and restore rural and urban watershed health to improve watershed storage capacity, forest health, protection of life and property, stormwater resource management, and greenhouse gas reduction. (10) Protect and restore coastal watersheds, including, but not limited to, bays, marine estuaries, and nearshore ecosystems. (11) Reduce pollution or contamination of rivers, lakes, streams, or coastal waters, prevent and remediate mercury contamination from legacy mines, and protect or restore natural system functions that contribute to water supply, water quality, or flood management. (12) Assist in the recovery of endangered, threatened, or migratory species by improving watershed health, instream flows, fish passage, coastal or inland wetland restoration, or other means, such as natural community conservation plan and habitat conservation plan implementation. (13) Assist in water-related agricultural sustainability projects. (b) Funds provided by this chapter shall only be used for projects that will provide fisheries or ecosystem benefits or improvements that are greater than required applicable environmental mitigation measures or compliance obligations.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79733. Section 79733.

Of the funds made available by Section 79730, the sum of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be administered by the Wildlife Conservation Board for projects that result in enhanced stream flows.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79734. Section 79734.

For restoration and ecosystem protection projects under this chapter, the services of the California Conservation Corps or a local conservation corps certified by the California Conservation Corps shall be used whenever feasible.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79735. Section 79735.

(a) Of the funds authorized by Section 79730, one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for projects to protect and enhance an urban creek, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 7048, and its tributaries, pursuant to Division 22.8 (commencing with Section 32600) of, and Division 23 (commencing with Section 33000) of, the Public Resources Code and Section 79508. (b) (1) Of the funds authorized by Section 79730, twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) shall be made available to the secretary for a competitive program to fund multibenefit watershed and urban rivers enhancement projects in urban watersheds that increase regional and local water self-sufficiency and that meet at least two of the following objectives: (A) Promote groundwater recharge and water reuse. (B) Reduce energy consumption. (C) Use soils, plants, and natural processes to treat runoff. (D) Create or restore native habitat. (E) Increase regional and local resiliency and adaptability to climate change. (2) The program under this subdivision shall be implemented by state conservancies, the Wildlife Conservation Board, the state board, or other entities whose jurisdiction includes urban watersheds, as designated by the secretary. Projects funded under the program shall be a part of a plan developed jointly by the conservancies, the Wildlife Conservation Board, the state board, or other designated entities in consultation with the secretary. (c) At least 25 percent of the funds available pursuant to this section shall be allocated for projects that benefit disadvantaged communities. (d) Up to 10 percent of the funds available pursuant to this section may be allocated for project planning.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79736. Section 79736.

Of the funds authorized by Section 79730, four hundred seventy-five million dollars ($475,000,000) shall be available to the Natural Resources Agency to support projects that fulfill the obligations of the State of California in complying with the terms of any of the following: (a) Subsection (d) of Section 3406 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Title 34 of Public Law 102-575). (b) Interstate compacts set forth in Section 66801 of the Government Code pursuant to Title 7.42 (commencing with Section 66905) of the Government Code. (c) Intrastate or multiparty water quantification settlement agreement provisions, including ecosystem restoration projects, as set forth in Chapters 611, 612, 613, and 614 of the Statutes of 2003. (d) The settlement agreement referenced in Section 2080.2 of the Fish and Game Code. (e) Any intrastate or multiparty settlement agreement related to water acted upon or before December 31, 2013. Priority shall be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria: (1) The project is of statewide significance. (2) The project restores natural aquatic or riparian functions, or wetlands habitat for birds and aquatic species. (3) The project protects or promotes the restoration of endangered or threatened species. (4) The project enhances the reliability of water supplies on a regional or interregional basis. (5) The project provides significant regional or statewide economic benefits.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79737. Section 79737.

(a) Of the funds authorized by Section 79730, two hundred eighty-five million dollars ($285,000,000) shall be available to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for watershed restoration projects statewide in accordance with this chapter. (b) For the purposes of this section, watershed restoration includes activities to fund coastal wetland habitat, improve forest health, restore mountain meadows, modernize stream crossings, culverts, and bridges, reconnect historical flood plains, install or improve fish screens, provide fish passages, restore river channels, restore or enhance riparian, aquatic, and terrestrial habitat, improve ecological functions, acquire from willing sellers conservation easements for riparian buffer strips, improve local watershed management, and remove sediment or trash. (c) For any funds available pursuant to this section that are used to provide grants under the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program, a priority shall be given to coastal waters. (d) In allocating funds for projects pursuant to this section, the Department of Fish and Wildlife shall only make funds available for water quality, river, and watershed protection and restoration projects of statewide importance outside of the Delta. (e) Funds provided by this section shall not be expended to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities. (f) Funds provided by this section shall only be used for projects that will provide fisheries or ecosystem benefits or improvements that are greater than required applicable environmental mitigation measures or compliance obligations, except for any water transfers for the benefit of subsection (d) of Section 3406 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Title 34 of Public Law 102-575). (g) In order to address the unique ecological, flood control, water quality, and hydrological conditions associated with urban creeks and watersheds on the California-Mexico border, the department shall consult with the California-Mexico Border Relations Council to establish criteria to fund projects that improve conditions for cross-border urban creeks and watersheds.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79738. Section 79738.

(a) Of the funds authorized by Section 79730, eighty-seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($87,500,000) shall be available to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for water quality, ecosystem restoration, and fish protection facilities that benefit the Delta, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Projects to improve water quality or that contribute to the improvement of water quality in the Delta, including projects in Delta counties that provide multiple public benefits and improve drinking and agricultural water quality or water supplies. (2) Habitat restoration, conservation, and enhancement projects to improve the condition of special status, at risk, endangered, or threatened species in the Delta and the Delta counties, including projects to eradicate invasive species, and projects that support the beneficial reuse of dredged material for habitat restoration and levee improvements. (3) Scientific studies and assessments that support the Delta Science Program, as described in Section 85280, or projects under this section. (b) In implementing this section, the department shall coordinate and consult with the Delta city or Delta county in which a grant is proposed to be expended or an interest in real property is proposed to be acquired. (c) Acquisitions pursuant to this section shall be from willing sellers only. (d) In implementing this section state agencies shall prioritize wildlife conservation objectives through projects on public lands or voluntary projects on private lands, to the extent feasible. (e) Funds available pursuant to this section shall not be used to acquire land via eminent domain. (f) Funds available pursuant to this section shall not be expended to pay the costs of the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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