AB 1146 would let state water board seek court orders to block reservoir releases made under false pretenses

Summary

AB 1146 would allow the State Water Resources Control Board to ask a court to issue a temporary restraining order or injunction to halt a reservoir release made under false pretenses; author cited January releases to Tulare Lake as an example and supporters said the bill would stop 'political stunts.'

Assemblymember Pappan presented AB 1146 after recounting the federal release of water into the Tulare Lake basin earlier in the year. She said the bill would "prevent these games" by allowing the State Water Resources Control Board to petition a court for an injunction or temporary restraining order to stop a release that is not justified by an emergency or other lawful purpose. The bill provides enforcement penalties and potential misdemeanor liability under existing law.

Planning and Conservation League and other environmental groups testified in support, saying the bill protects state water resources against politically motivated releases that do not serve an operational water management purpose.

There was no registered opposition in committee after recent amendments removed objections, and the committee recorded a motion to refer AB 1146 to the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Tally recorded in the hearing: yes 7, no 0.)