California Code, Water Code - WAT § 13198.3

(a) Actions of any public agency that contracts with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, or is an entitlement holder under the 2006 consolidated decree in Arizona v. California (2006) 547 U.S. 150, for Colorado River water supplies, approved before December 31, 2026, that the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency concurs in writing are reasonably necessary to implement Colorado River water conservation agreements with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, as well as those water conservation agreements themselves, shall be deemed to be within the activities described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 21080 of the Public Resources Code.

(b) Actions under this section shall not include the construction of new canals or major new infrastructure, but may include infrastructure improvements such as, without limitation, the installation of more efficient irrigation systems or the lining of canals, and shall be limited to projects that reduce or make more efficient the use or distribution of Colorado River water and shall not include projects that develop replacement water supplies.

(d) This section does not waive or suspend any other permitting requirements applicable to the public agency actions described herein.