Lake and streambed alteration agreements: exemptions.

Existing law prohibits a person, a state or local governmental agency, or a public utility from substantially diverting or obstructing the natural flow of, or substantially changing or using any material from the bed, channel, or bank of, any river, stream, or lake, or depositing or disposing of debris, waste, or other material containing crumbled, flaked, or ground pavement where it may pass into any river, stream, or lake, unless prescribed requirements are met, including written notification to the Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding the activity. Existing law requires the department to determine whether the activity may substantially adversely affect an existing fish and wildlife resource and, if so, to provide a draft lake or streambed alteration agreement to the person, agency, or utility. Existing law prescribes various requirements for lake and streambed alteration agreements. Existing law also establishes various exemptions from these provisions, including, until January 1, 2029, an exemption for the diversion of floodflows for groundwater recharge, as provided. This bill would, until January 1, 2029, exempt from these provisions the temporary operation of existing infrastructure or temporary pumps being used to divert water to groundwater recharge as long as certain conditions are met, including the use of protective screens on temporary pump intakes, as provided, for diversions directly from rivers or streams, and implementation of appropriate species protection measures, as provided. The bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board to, on or before January 1, 2027, compile information on the diversions, and permits issued for diversions, and post the information on its internet website.