AB 2849: Sierra Nevada Conservancy: watershed improvement: tribal organization.

Existing law, the Laird-Leslie Sierra Nevada Conservancy Act, establishes the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to undertake various activities related to protection and conservation of the Sierra Nevada Region, as defined, and prescribes the management, powers, and duties of the conservancy. The act authorizes the conservancy to make grants or loans to tribal organizations, among other entities, to carry out the purposes of the act. The act defines tribal organization for these purposes to mean an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, or a tribal agency authorized by a tribe, which is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians and is identified in the Federal Register, as provided. Existing law requires two members of the Senate and two members of the Assembly to be appointed, as provided, to meet with the conservancy and participate in its activities, as specified.

This bill would establish the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program, to be administered by the conservancy, to protect, conserve, and restore the health and resilience of the watersheds and communities of the region, as prescribed. The bill would define tribal organization as an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, or a tribal agency authorized by a tribe and either recognized by the United States and identified within the most current Federal Register, or listed on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission as a California Native American tribe, or both. The bill would require the members of the Legislature appointed to meet with conservancy to represent districts from specified geographic regions.

Existing law requires the conservancy to make an annual report to the Legislature and to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency regarding expenditures, land management costs, and administrative costs.

This bill would require the conservancy to include the activities of the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program in the annual report.