CA AB2736

Requires persons extracting groundwater within 20 miles of Joshua Tree National Park for closed-loop pumped hydroelectric energy storage systems to submit all groundwater-related plans, reports, and monitoring data to the State Water Resources Control Board on the same schedule as their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license.

Mandates site-specific groundwater level monitoring plans with baseline data collection, monthly to semiannual sampling, and provisions to maintain water levels at or above maximum allowable change thresholds.

Requires site-specific groundwater quality monitoring plans to track potential adverse effects from seepage and evaporation, including baseline data collection and ongoing monitoring over the license term.

Imposes penalties of up to $10,000 per day for failure to timely submit required materials, and civil liability up to $10 per gallon of excess groundwater extracted (capped at $1,000,000 total) for extraction exceeding allowable thresholds.

Establishes the Joshua Tree National Park Environmental Protection Fund to receive civil penalties, with funds available upon legislative appropriation to mitigate environmental harms from groundwater extraction near the national park.