San Diego River Conservancy: San Diego Rivers Watershed Consortium Program.

Existing law establishes the San Diego River Conservancy to acquire and direct the management of specified public lands in the San Diego River area, as defined, and prescribes the management, powers, and duties of the conservancy. Existing law establishes the San Diego River Conservancy Fund, and requires that moneys in the fund be available, upon appropriation, for the purposes of the conservancy. This bill would require the conservancy to establish the San Diego Rivers Watershed Consortium Program to create advisory panels to work cooperatively with local public agencies and other entities to identify potential project funding, including grant funding, to be used to restore the watersheds of the Otay River, the Sweetwater River, and the parts of the Tijuana River within the state, and to improve access to public lands. The bill would require the conservancy, in administering the program, to create 3 advisory panels representing watersheds within the area, comprised of specified members, to offer advice, expertise, support, and service to the conservancy in those respective watershed areas. The bill would create the San Diego Rivers Watershed Consortium Program Account in the fund, and would authorize the conservancy, upon appropriation, to expend moneys from the account for purposes of the program. Existing law, on or before January 1, 2017, and on or before January 1 of every odd-numbered year thereafter, requires the conservancy to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report that includes specified information and recommendations relating to projects funded or undertaken by the conservancy, as provided. This bill would additionally require that the report include a summary of the program established by the bill.