CA SB985

Authorizes one or more public agencies to develop stormwater resource plans on a watershed basis to identify and prioritize capture projects for stormwater and dry weather runoff.

Requires stormwater resource plans to identify opportunities to use existing publicly owned lands and easements (parks, schoolsites, government buildings) to capture, clean, store, and use stormwater and dry weather runoff either onsite or offsite.

Mandates the State Water Resources Control Board establish guidance by July 1, 2016, for quantitative methods, appropriate watershed geographic scale, and consultation requirements for developing stormwater resource plans.

Requires development of a stormwater resource plan and compliance with these provisions to receive grants for stormwater and dry weather runoff capture projects from voter-approved bond acts after January 1, 2014, with exceptions for disadvantaged communities under 20,000 population and funds used to develop plans.

Defines "dry weather runoff" as surface water from irrigation, residential, commercial, and industrial activities and aligns the definition of "stormwater" with federal regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations.