Senator Atkins Introduces Bill to Allow San Diego River Conservancy to Serve 3 Other Local Waterways

SACRAMENTO—Today, Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) introduced SB 1367, legislation that authorizes the San Diego River Conservancy to help restore and enhance three other nearby rivers – the Otay, the Sweetwater and the Tijuana – and their watersheds.

SB 1367 requires the San Diego River Conservancy to establish the San Diego Rivers Watershed Consortium Program, under which new advisory bodies will work with local cities and other government agencies, tribal governments and nonprofit organizations to improve the Otay, Sweetwater and Tijuana Rivers. Specifically, these advisory bodies will help identify and pursue funding, develop strategic plans, remove invasive species and enhance public access to the rivers.

“The San Diego River Conservancy has established itself as a premier conservation organization in San Diego County, with the kind of expertise and leadership that can do for our other regional rivers what it has done so effectively for the San Diego River,” Atkins said. “This will give a significant boost to conservationists who are dedicated to enhancing the natural, recreational and cultural resources in our local watersheds”

SB 1367 builds on two previous bills authored by Atkins. In 2015, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 392, making the San Diego River Conservancy a permanent agency and giving it the same powers as California’s other nature conservancies. In 2017, Gov. Brown signed SB 214, strengthening the conservancy’s capacity to protect and enhance the San Diego River watershed.

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