Water policy: California tribal communities.
- Establishes new protections for tribal water uses in California's water quality control programs.
- Requires state agencies to incorporate tribal ecological knowledge into water management decisions.
- Mandates water quality standards for tribal water uses in major watersheds by January 2027.
- Exempts tribal water use protections from environmental review requirements.
Assembly Member Ramos's water quality legislation establishes new protections for California tribal communities' water uses within the state's regulatory framework. The bill adds tribal water uses as protected beneficial uses under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and requires their incorporation into water quality control plans.
Under the legislation, projects requiring State Water Resources Control Board or Regional Water Quality Control Board approval must assess and document their impacts on tribal water uses through both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The boards must consult with tribal communities when developing water quality policies and incorporate tribal ecological knowledge into regulatory programs. By January 2027, the state board must include standards protecting tribal water uses in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed plan, with regional boards following suit for their jurisdictions by January 2029.
The bill modifies the California Water Quality Monitoring Council to include tribal participation and requires amendments to its governing memorandum of understanding by December 2026. These changes aim to facilitate tribal co-management of aquatic resources and protect confidential information about tribal practices. The State Water Board must report biennially on implementation progress starting December 2026, while adoption of tribal water use provisions in quality control plans receives exemption from California Environmental Quality Act review requirements.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
 James RamosD Assembly Member | Bill Author |  Not Contacted | |
 Laura RichardsonD Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted |
- Establishes new protections for tribal water uses in California's water quality control programs.
- Requires state agencies to incorporate tribal ecological knowledge into water management decisions.
- Mandates water quality standards for tribal water uses in major watersheds by January 2027.
- Exempts tribal water use protections from environmental review requirements.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Ramos's water quality legislation establishes new protections for California tribal communities' water uses within the state's regulatory framework. The bill adds tribal water uses as protected beneficial uses under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and requires their incorporation into water quality control plans.
Under the legislation, projects requiring State Water Resources Control Board or Regional Water Quality Control Board approval must assess and document their impacts on tribal water uses through both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The boards must consult with tribal communities when developing water quality policies and incorporate tribal ecological knowledge into regulatory programs. By January 2027, the state board must include standards protecting tribal water uses in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed plan, with regional boards following suit for their jurisdictions by January 2029.
The bill modifies the California Water Quality Monitoring Council to include tribal participation and requires amendments to its governing memorandum of understanding by December 2026. These changes aim to facilitate tribal co-management of aquatic resources and protect confidential information about tribal practices. The State Water Board must report biennially on implementation progress starting December 2026, while adoption of tribal water use provisions in quality control plans receives exemption from California Environmental Quality Act review requirements.
Latest Voting History
James RamosD Assembly Member | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Laura RichardsonD Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted |