(a) In addition to the statutory and regulatory policies and programs established pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.), Division 20.4 (commencing with Section 30901) and Chapter 1.696 (commencing with Section 5096.600) of Division 5, Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) and Division 26.5 (commencing with Section 79500) of the Water Code, and other statutes and regulations affecting watershed planning and protection, voluntary local collaborative partnerships that assist in improving the condition of the watershed as expeditiously as possible are in the state’s interest in terms of effectiveness, citizen involvement, and community responsibility.
(b) The use of local and regional watershed level planning and management can be an efficient and effective mechanism to improve the condition of the watershed.
(c) To the extent consistent with the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.), Division 20.4 (commencing with Section 30901) and Chapter 1.696 (commencing with Section 5096.600) of Division 5, Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) and Division 26.5 (commencing with Section 79500) of the Water Code, and other statutes and regulations affecting watershed planning and protection, the memorandum of understanding required under Section 30946, guidelines adopted by state agencies for use by local watershed partnerships shall provide flexible mechanisms to achieve quantifiable, and monitored watershed objectives.
(d) In addition to the statutory and regulatory policies and programs established pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.), Division 20.4 (commencing with Section 30901) and Chapter 1.696 (commencing with Section 5096.600) of Division 5, Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) and Division 26.5 (commencing with Section 79500) of the Water Code, and other statutes and regulations affecting watershed planning and protection, local governments, special districts, and other interested parties may participate in local watershed partnerships in order to ensure efficient, long-lasting, and effective watershed restoration and management and to improve the watershed.
(e) To the extent funds that are available for the purposes in subdivision (d), state agencies with jurisdiction over watershed planning and protection may provide technical assistance to watershed management partnerships through training, advice, and manuals describing assessments, plans, and monitoring activities that are consistent with watershed protection laws and regulations.
(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 693, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)