Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits water transfers from desert groundwater basins.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the transfer of water through water conveyance facilities that come from groundwater basins under desert lands, which are in the vicinity of national monuments, national preserves, national parks, state or federal wilderness areas, or state lands, and are then transferred outside of the groundwater basin, unless the State Lands Commission finds that the transfer of water will not adversely affect the natural or cultural resources (Sec. 2).

• Requires a transferor of water to submit an application to the Commission for review for the proposed transfer before using a water conveyance facility to transfer water from a groundwater basin under desert lands (Sec. 2). 

• Requires the Commission to review an application submitted, and within 15 months of receipt of the application and in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, make a written finding available to the public on whether the proposed transfer will adversely affect natural or cultural resources (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that if the Commission finds that a proposed transfer of water under desert lands will not adversely affect natural or cultural resources of state or federal lands, the Commission must require the transferor of water to report on an annual basis, to the Commission, the condition of the groundwater basin (Sec. 2).

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits water transfers from desert groundwater basins.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the transfer of water through water conveyance facilities that come from groundwater basins under desert lands, which are in the vicinity of national monuments, national preserves, national parks, state or federal wilderness areas, or state lands, and are then transferred outside of the groundwater basin, unless the State Lands Commission finds that the transfer of water will not adversely affect the natural or cultural resources (Sec. 2).

• Requires a transferor of water to submit an application to the Commission for review for the proposed transfer before using a water conveyance facility to transfer water from a groundwater basin under desert lands (Sec. 2). 

• Requires the Commission to review an application submitted, and within 15 months of receipt of the application and in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, make a written finding available to the public on whether the proposed transfer will adversely affect natural or cultural resources (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that if the Commission finds that a proposed transfer of water under desert lands will not adversely affect natural or cultural resources of state or federal lands, the Commission must require the transferor of water to report on an annual basis, to the Commission, the condition of the groundwater basin (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text