Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 715, Sec. 1.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Environmental Water Act of 1989.
Article 1 - General Provisions
California Water Code — §§ 12929-12929.2
Sections (10)
Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 715, Sec. 1.
It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this chapter, to prescribe the purposes of the Environmental Water Fund, and to create, and prescribe the purposes of, the Environmental Water Program and the Water Quality Program.
Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 715, Sec. 1.
As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a)“Department” means the Department of Water Resources.
(b)“Board” means the State Water Resources Control Board.
(c)“Mono Lake Basin” means Mono Lake and its watershed.
(d)“Environmental Water Program” means the Environmental Water Program created pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 12929.20).
(e)“Mono Lake Committee” means the California nonprofit citizens organization formed to save Mono Lake.
(f)“Water Quality Program” means the Water Quality program created pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 12929.30).
Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 716, Sec. 4.
The Environmental Water Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. There shall be deposited in the fund all moneys transferred or appropriated to the fund and all income derived from investment of moneys that are in the fund.
Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 715, Sec. 1.
The department shall expend the money appropriated to it from the Environmental Water Fund for projects or programs concerning the water resources of the state that will contribute significant environmental benefits.
Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 676. Effective January 1, 2007.
(a)It is the intent of the Legislature that sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000) of the funds that may be transferred, pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 12937, to the California Water Fund from the California Water Resources Development Bond Fund, shall be appropriated to the Environmental Water Fund. It is the intent of the Legislature, subject to subdivision (b), to appropriate to the Environmental Water Fund one million dollars ($1,000,000) in the 1990–91 fiscal year and eight million dollars ($8,000,000) per year in fiscal years 1991–92 to 1998–99, inclusive. However, the director, in consultation with the Department of Finance, may accelerate payments to the California Water Fund for appropriation to the Environmental Water Fund if the director deems it appropriate to do so.
(b)It is the further intent of the Legislature that if the director determines that all or any portion of the amount that would otherwise be appropriated in any fiscal year to the Environmental Water Fund in accordance with subdivision (a), or to the Delta Flood Protection Fund pursuant to Section 12303, is required for continued construction of the State Water Resources Development System pursuant to Section 12938, the entire amount that would otherwise be appropriated to the Environmental Fund for that fiscal year shall be reduced to zero before any reduction is made in the amount to be appropriated to the Delta Flood Protection Fund. It is also the intent of the Legislature that any reduction in funds appropriated to the Environmental Water Fund and the Delta Flood Protection Fund pursuant to this subdivision be made up from funds transferred to the California Water Fund pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 12937 in subsequent fiscal years.
Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 716, Sec. 6.
It is further the intent of the Legislature that the reductions and transfers described in Sections 11913, 12303, and 12929.12 shall continue until the obligation of the State Water Resources Development System to reimburse the California Water Fund pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 12937 is satisfied.
Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 626, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.
It is the intent of the Legislature that nine million dollars ($9,000,000) per year be appropriated in the annual Budget Act for the 1994–95 to 1997–98 fiscal years, inclusive, to pay for programs and projects included in the environmental water program.
Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 626, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1995.
From the funds appropriated to the department from the Environmental Water Fund, it is the intent of the Legislature that the department allocate at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) per year, in the 1995–96 to 1997–98 fiscal years, inclusive, to programs and projects included in the Water Quality Program. However, not more than five million dollars ($5,000,000) of the funds appropriated to the Environmental Water Fund pursuant to Section 12929.12 shall be appropriated for this purpose.
Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 715, Sec. 1.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares that diversions of water out of the Mono Lake Basin by the City of Los Angeles have lowered the water level of Mono Lake and that future water diversions need to be managed to protect Mono Lake and the Mono Lake Basin. The department, upon acceptance of an application or applications pursuant to Section 12929.21, shall expend money available from the Environmental Water Fund to preserve the wildlife and environment of the Mono Lake Basin.