§ 10004.7. — 10004.7. (Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 624, Sec. 3.)

(a)
(1)
The department, as part of the 2028 update, and each subsequent update thereafter, to The California Water Plan required pursuant to Section 10004, shall utilize its expertise in sustainable groundwater management to provide actionable recommendations
to develop additional groundwater recharge opportunities that increase the recharge of the state’s groundwater basins without reducing the amount of water available for environmental purposes or any other purpose allowed under state law.
(2)
The department shall consult with the state board, the nine regional water quality control boards, and the advisory committee established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 10004 in carrying out this section.
(3)
The recommendations shall identify immediate opportunities and potential long-term solutions to increase the state’s groundwater supply, with a priority on multibenefit projects.
The recommendations shall include all of the following:
(A)
An estimate of the volume of recharge that could potentially be realized by the enactment of the recommendations.
(B)
A discussion of the variability of the quantities of water potentially available for recharge given varying hydrogeologic environments.
(C)
An identification of the legal and regulatory requirements for recharge projects.
(D)
A discussion of the possible financial or regulatory incentives that could support the development of recharge projects.
(E)
An identification of locations and a
description of how groundwater recharge at those locations can protect access to safe drinking water and provide water quality benefits.
(F)
An identification of best practices to advance all benefits of groundwater recharge, including, but not limited to:
(i)
Analysis regarding where groundwater recharge will be effective and protective of access to safe drinking water consistent with Section 106.3.
(ii)
Mapping that identifies areas where recharge is unlikely to degrade groundwater quality based on consideration of the quality and composition of the source water, the qualities of the soil upon which recharge will occur, and the proximity to drinking water wells.
(4)
The department
shall, to the extent feasible, evaluate the
potential economic and noneconomic costs and benefits of implementing the
recommendations.
(b)
Nothing in this section shall do any of the following:
(1)
Limit or reduce the existing surface storage of water.
(2)
Affect or change any water right.
(3)
Prioritize any one use of water over another use, define what is to be considered a beneficial use of water, or in any way influence how the increased supply of groundwater under this part shall be used.
(c)
For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)
“Groundwater recharge” means
a process where water moves down from the ground surface or the bottom of a waterway and infiltrates an underlying aquifer. Groundwater recharge
actions include increasing the amount of raw, treated, or recycled water in the groundwater basins through human-controlled means, including, but not limited to, use of aquifer storage and recovery wells, injection wells, surface spreading basins, field flooding, stormwater capture, flood managed basins, and in-lieu recharge.
(2)
“Groundwater supply” means water that at any point in time is being stored underground that is available for human use and environmental protection to sustain the state’s future.

Legislative History

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 624, Sec. 3. (SB 659) Effective January 1, 2024.