Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria of Fresno has filed a measure to streamline environmental permitting for flood-managed aquifer recharge, or Flood-MAR. The legislation would grant temporary diversions for excess flood flows when a stream or river has reached flood monitor or flood stage.
The Merced Irrigation District is supporting the bill. Deputy General Manager Hicham ElTal said it would help the district achieve groundwater sustainability for the benefit of urban and ag users alike.
Soria noted that the storms currently saturating the state present an opportunity for on-farm recharge. “AB 2060 represents a common-sense step forward to both fighting floods and recharging our aquifer,” she said.
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Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, told Agri-Pulse recently that the organization has been pushing for cleanup legislation on groundwater recharge. Last year the Legislature amended state code relating to recharge when it passed a massive public resources trailer bill.
While the new language removed permitting requirements for excess flows, it did not thoroughly define such conditions, according to Pierre. This can lead to issues when considering the diverse and inconsistent hydrology across California’s landscape, particularly with small streams.
