Water Quality and Supply Issues Monthly Update - July 2025
⛅ As California Heats Up, So Does Water Policy
July brings more than just summer temperatures. It brings critical developments in water policy and legislation that affect our industry statewide. CICWQ continues to advocate for the construction and building industry on the issues that matter most to you.
Here's what you need to know this month ⬇️
🔷 Delta Conveyance Project
Governor Newsom's Trailer Bill aims to streamline the DCP—California's most critical water infrastructure upgrade in 50 years. The bill remains alive as budget negotiations continue.
🔷 Opposition to SB 601 Grows
SB 601 proposes costly, sweeping water quality regulations. A strong coalition of public and private voices is working to prevent it from impacting permitting and project timelines.
🔷 CICWQ to Present at CASQA 2025
CICWQ will advocate for key CGP updates at the CASQA Annual Conference, addressing the flawed R-Factor rule that increases risk levels and costs for new property owners.
💬 Your Voice Matters.
Let's work together to protect California's water future—and the future of our industry.
👇Dive deeper below and take action today.
JULY NEWSWORTHY ITEMS
🚧 Governor Newsom Proposes Trailer Bill Legislation to Advance Construction of Delta Conveyance Project
Governor Newsom announced, as part of his May Revise, a significant proposal in the form of a Trailer Bill to streamline one of California's most crucial water management and climate adaptation projects, the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). The DCP advances much-needed and long-overdue modernization improvements to the State Water Project, which delivers water to more than 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland and is the engine of California's economic success.
In the last week of June, the governor and legislative leaders struck a three-party state budget agreement for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, extending the process and preserving the DCP Budget Trailer Bill while details are negotiated.
This is it. After 50 years of delay, we finally have a chance to modernize California's aging water infrastructure through the DCP. CICWQ is asking for your help to show Sacramento that builders, contractors, workers, and communities are united in support of California's water future.
⚠️ Legislative Alert! Public and Private Sector Opposition Grows to Stop SB 601 (Allen) – New Statewide Water Quality Regulations
As we've alerted our readership over the past several months, SB 601 (Allen) proposes sweeping new water quality regulations for California. If enacted, SB 601 will significantly increase permitting burdens related to wetlands and stormwater runoff via all types of municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permits and the Construction General Permit for stormwater.
The proposed regulatory changes SB 601 proposes are dramatic in terms of potential cost impacts and the new burden placed on our already overstretched regulators to enforce, causing significant concern among some of the most prominent voices in California water quality protection. The California Stormwater Quality Association (CICWQ is a member organization) has assembled a broad coalition of public and private interests to oppose SB 601 (Allen). CASQA has produced a vital Call to Action to help engage with and communicate to our legislators the harm this bill would cause if enacted.
👇 Read the Call to Action and get engaged now!
📢 Help protect the construction industry from costly and unnecessary regulation
🗓️ CICWQ Advocating for Changes to the Construction General Permit for Stormwater at CASQA Annual Conference in September
The Construction General Permit (CGP), which was last renewed in 2022, requires that when a new property owner of a construction site undergoing development applies for CGP coverage following property sale, the risk assessment R Factor must include time calculations for a prior owner's construction activity.
Specifically, a new property owner/permittee seeking CGP coverage must use the original project location start date (R Factor) to calculate the Risk Level (1 to 3) when a property is sold from an existing owner and permit holder (who has filed a Notice of Termination (NOT)) to a new owner who is applying for CGP coverage. The Risk Level of a project is a MAJOR site development cost factor for any public or private project owner.
Leading up to and since the adoption of the permit, the construction industry and many other CGP stakeholders have noted the inability to change the R-Factor as a problematic provision. Some have even suggested that it could be unlawful and contradict CGP requirements for permit coverage relative to risk.
CICWQ representatives Mark Grey and Russ Foster, who both serve on the CGP Training Team for the State, have been selected by the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) to present this issue at their Annual Conference this September in Pasadena, advocating for the R-Factor adjustment in complying with the CGP requirements.
📣 Attend the conference to support smart CGP reform and hear from our experts firsthand.
