(a) The department shall develop project solicitation and evaluation guidelines for the application of funds made available pursuant to Section 75026 of the Public Resources Code and all other funds that are or may become available for integrated regional water management plan implementation, including a future water bond, to enable broad and diverse participation in integrated regional water management plan development and refinement.

(b) The department shall conduct two public meetings to consider public comments prior to finalizing the guidelines. The department shall publish the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines on its Internet Web site at least 30 days before the public meetings. One meeting shall be conducted at a location in northern California and one meeting shall be conducted at a location in southern California. Upon adoption, the department shall transmit copies of the guidelines to the fiscal committees and the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. To the extent feasible, each state agency shall provide outreach to disadvantaged communities to promote access to and participation in those meetings.

(c) The department shall consult with the board, the California regional water quality control boards, the State Department of Public Health, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Bay-Delta Authority or its successor, and other state agencies with water management responsibility and authority in the development of the guidelines.

(d) The department may periodically review and update the guidelines to accommodate changes in funding sources, statutory requirements, new commonly accepted management practices, and changes in state water management policy. Any guideline changes shall be made with appropriate consultation with other state agencies and public review pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c).

(e) The guidelines shall require that integrated regional water management plans include all of the following:

(1) Consideration of all of the resource management strategies identified in the California Water Plan, as updated by department Bulletin No. 160-2005 and future updates.

(2) Consideration of objectives in the appropriate basin plan or plans and strategies to meet applicable water quality standards.

(3) Description of the major water-related objectives and conflicts within a region.

(4) To the extent possible, measurable regional objectives and criteria for developing regional project priorities.

(5) An integrated, collaborative, multibenefit approach to selection and design of projects and programs.

(6) Identification and consideration of the water-related needs of disadvantaged communities in the area within the boundaries of the plan.

(7) Performance measures and monitoring to demonstrate progress toward meeting regional objectives.

(8) A plan for implementation and financing of identified projects and programs.

(9) Consideration of greenhouse gas emissions of identified programs and projects.

(10) Evaluation of the adaptability to climate change of water management systems in the region.

(11) Documentation of data and technical analyses used in the development of the plan.

(12) A process to disseminate data and information related to the development and implementation of the plan.

(13) A process to coordinate water management projects and activities of participating local agencies and local stakeholders to avoid conflicts and take advantage of efficiencies.

(14) If an area within the boundaries of the plan has nitrate, arsenic, perchlorate, or hexavalent chromium contamination, the plan shall include a description of each of the following:

(A) The location and extent of that contamination in the region.

(B) The impacts caused by the contamination to communities within the region.

(C) Existing efforts being undertaken in the region to address the impacts.

(D) Any additional efforts needed to address the impacts.

(15) Any other matters identified by the department.

(f) The guidelines shall include standards for identifying a region for the purpose of developing or modifying an integrated regional water management plan. At a minimum, a region shall be a contiguous geographic area encompassing the service areas of multiple local agencies, and shall be defined to maximize opportunities for integration of water management activities. The department shall develop a process to approve the composition of a region for the purposes of Sections 75026, 75027, and 75028 of the Public Resources Code.

(g) The guidelines shall require that the development and implementation of an integrated regional water management plan include a public process that provides outreach and an opportunity to participate in plan development and implementation to appropriate local agencies and stakeholders, as applicable to the region, including all of the following:

(1) Wholesale and retail water purveyors, including a local agency, mutual water company, or a water corporation as defined in Section 241 of the Public Utilities Code.

(2) Wastewater agencies.

(3) Flood control agencies.

(4) Municipal and county governments and special districts.

(5) Electrical corporations, as defined in Section 218 of the Public Utilities Code.

(6) Native American tribes that have lands within the region.

(7) Self-supplied water users, including agricultural, industrial, residential, park districts, school districts, colleges and universities, and others.

(8) Environmental stewardship organizations, including watershed groups, fishing groups, land conservancies, and environmental groups.

(9) Community organizations, including landowner organizations, taxpayer groups, and recreational interests.

(10) Industry organizations representing agriculture, developers, and other industries appropriate to the region.

(11) State, federal, and regional agencies or universities, with specific responsibilities or knowledge within the region.

(12) Disadvantaged community members and representatives, including environmental justice organizations, neighborhood councils, and social justice organizations.

(13) Any other interested groups appropriate to the region.

(h) The guidelines shall require integrated regional water management plans to be developed through a collaborative process that makes public both of the following:

(1) The process by which decisions are made in consultation with the persons or entities identified in subdivision (g).

(2) The manner in which a balance of interested persons or entities representing different sectors and interests listed in subdivision (g) have been or will be engaged in the process described in this subdivision, regardless of their ability to contribute financially to the plan.

(i) The guidelines shall provide for a process for the development, periodic review, updating, and amending of integrated regional water management plans. The department shall establish eligibility requirements for the project funding, that provide sufficient time for the updating of plans as necessary to reflect changes in the guidelines.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 717, Sec. 1. (AB 1249) Effective January 1, 2015.)