Santa Ana River Conservancy Program: lower Santa Ana River region.

Assembly Member Valencia's proposal to modify the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program would direct 60% of project funding to heavily urbanized areas in the lower Santa Ana River region, specifically targeting disadvantaged communities and vulnerable populations. The legislation establishes new demographic and geographic criteria for fund allocation while maintaining the program's existing authority to undertake environmental preservation, recreational access, and cultural heritage projects.

The bill introduces precise definitions to guide resource distribution, classifying disadvantaged communities as those with median household incomes below 80% of area or statewide averages, severely disadvantaged communities below 60%, and heavily urbanized areas as cities with populations exceeding 300,000. It also defines vulnerable populations as subgroups facing heightened climate change risks without adequate adaptation resources. The lower Santa Ana River region encompasses lands west of the Santa Ana Mountains within one-half mile of the riverbed and its tributaries.

Under the amended framework, the conservancy must provide 30-day advance notice to local jurisdictions before acquiring property or initiating projects, unless jurisdictions agree to shorter timeframes. The legislation maintains existing provisions for property management, fee collection, and interagency coordination while adding the new funding allocation requirement. These changes apply to projects involving outdoor recreation, public access, natural resource protection, and historic preservation within the designated region.