BILL NUMBER: AB 1561 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Kelley FEBRUARY 23, 2001 An act relating to water. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1561, as introduced, Kelley. Colorado River. Under existing law, the state undertakes environmental and water supply planning with regard to the Colorado River. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations regarding the Colorado River. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (a) California will be required to reduce the amount of Colorado River water it uses. Beyond its basic apportionment of Colorado River water, California will no longer be assured of the availability of water apportioned to, but unused by, Arizona and Nevada, or the availability of surplus water under this surplus water apportionment. (b) California's Colorado River Water Use Plan is a framework document being developed to allow California to meet its Colorado River water needs from within its basic annual apportionment of 4.4 million acre feet. (c) Representatives from Arizona, California, Nevada, Native American tribes, the United States, local regional water and power management agencies, and other stakeholders have formed a partnership to develop a first-of-its-kind multispecies conservation program directed at protecting sensitive, threatened, and endangered species of fish and wildlife and their habitats. The plan will be implemented over a 50-year period following its planned adoption in early 2002. (d) The expeditious completion and implementation of California's Colorado River Water Use Plan is of paramount importance to California's economy, the seventh largest in the world, and to the continued health, safety, and welfare of all of its citizens.