Flood Prevention and Snowpack Management Act

Bill: 118-hr-4247
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
Introduced: 2023-06-21
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Advisory bodies

California

Community life and organization

Congressional oversight

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Floods and storm protection

Water storage

Water use and supply
Latest action: action_date: 2023-06-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4247 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 21, 2023 Mr. Harder of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Army to establish a task force on the California snowpack and flood mitigation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Flood Prevention and Snowpack Management Act . 2. Task force on California snowpack and flood mitigation (a) Establishment The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall establish a task force to be known as the Task Force on the California Snowpack and Flood Mitigation (in this section referred to as the Task Force ). (b) Membership (1) In general The Task Force shall consist of 17 members, to be appointed by the Chief of Engineers, as follows: (A) 1 member of the Senate representing the State of California. (B) 5 members of the House of Representatives, including— (i) 1 member who represents Northern California; (ii) 1 member who represents Northern San Joaquin Valley; (iii) 1 member who represents Central San Joaquin Valley; (iv) 1 member who represents Southern San Joaquin Valley; and (v) 1 member who represents Southern California. (C) A representative of the Corps of Engineers. (D) A representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (E) A representative of the Bureau of Reclamation. (F) A representative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (G) A representative of the California Office of Emergency Services. (H) A representative of the California Department of Water Resources. (I) 4 members from local community organizations that are impacted by, or provide resources or relief to individuals impacted by, flooding in California. (J) A representative of Tribal communities in California. (2) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Task Force shall be elected by the members of the Task Force. (c) Meetings (1) Initial meeting The Task Force shall meet on the day after any day on which the California Department of Resources determines that any portion of the snowpack in California is 150 percent above the average snowpack in California. (2) Subsequent meetings After conducting the initial meeting described under paragraph (1), the Task Force shall meet on a periodic basis until the plan of action required under subsection (d) is complete. (d) Duties The duties of the Task Force shall be to— (1) examine and assess the risks posed by the snowpack in California; (2) assess what local, State, and Federal actions may be taken to mitigate such risks; and (3) not later than 90 days after conducting an initial meeting under subsection (c)(1), develop a plan of action for snowpack melt, flood mitigation and recovery, and expediting water storage projects to capture water from the snowpack and alleviate future drought conditions. (e) Report Upon completion of a plan of action under subsection (d), the Task Force shall submit each such plan of action to— (1) the Governor of California; (2) the California Office of Emergency Services; (3) the California Department of Water Resources; (4) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (5) the Chief of Engineers; (6) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and (7) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.