Water policy: California tribal communities.

Assembly Member Ramos's water policy legislation establishes comprehensive protections for tribal water uses within California's water quality management framework. The bill requires state and regional water boards to incorporate tribal water uses as protected beneficial uses and mandates consultation with tribal communities on water quality standards and monitoring programs.

The legislation adds tribal ecological knowledge and co-management provisions to existing water quality programs. State agencies must assess impacts on tribal water uses in environmental reviews and regulatory decisions. By January 2027, the State Water Resources Control Board must propose water quality standards protecting tribal uses in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed, with tribal consultation required during development.

Regional water boards must define tribal beneficial uses in their water quality control plans during the next review cycle after January 2026. The bill exempts tribal water use provisions from California Environmental Quality Act requirements while maintaining voluntary participation by tribal communities. The California Water Quality Monitoring Council will expand to include tribal representatives by December 2026, with biennial implementation reports required thereafter.

The measure amends multiple Water Code sections to recognize tribal communities' historical connections to water resources and incorporate their input in policy decisions. New requirements direct agencies to evaluate both quantitative and qualitative impacts on tribal water uses when reviewing projects or programs. The legislation preserves tribal sovereignty by specifying that participation in water protection efforts does not subject tribes to additional state jurisdiction beyond federal authorizations.