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AB 1425

San Joaquin River Parkway: pit dewatering.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joaquin Arambula

Prohibits pit dewatering in the San Joaquin River Parkway where groundwater or river flow is shallower than 50 ft, limiting mining operations and protecting groundwater.

In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.
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Bill Summary · AB 1425

AB 1425 (Arambula) — San Joaquin River Parkway: pit dewatering

Status: In committee — Set, first hearing; failed passage April 25, 2025; reconsideration granted. Introduced February 21, 2025.

Purpose

AB 1425 would prohibit "pit dewatering" within the San Joaquin River Parkway where subsurface river flow or groundwater occurs less than 50 feet below ground, with the stated intent of protecting subsurface river flows, groundwater levels, and the Parkway’s resources. The bill also includes a legislative finding that a special statute is necessary for the Parkway.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 2770.2 to the Public Resources Code.
    • Prohibition: “A person shall not conduct pit dewatering in areas with subsurface river flow or groundwater levels shallower than 50 feet below ground anywhere within the San Joaquin River Parkway,” as defined by the San Joaquin River Parkway Master Plan Update (March 2018).
    • Definition of pit dewatering: “Any water that is impounded or that collects in the pit and is pumped, drained, or otherwise removed from the pit through the efforts of the pit operator.” The definition also states that the term includes “wet pit overflows caused by solely by direct rainfall or ground water seepage.”
  • Legislative finding: Declares a special statute is necessary under Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution due to unique local needs.
  • Nonsubstantive amendment to Section 2206 (State Geologist authority to prepare a mineral collection for expositions).

Where and when it applies

  • Geographic scope: limited to the San Joaquin River Parkway as defined in the March 2018 Master Plan Update.
  • Hydrogeologic threshold: applies where subsurface river flow or groundwater levels are shallower than 50 feet below ground.

Who would be affected

  • Surface mining and aggregate operators conducting pit dewatering within the Parkway boundaries.
  • Operators with existing or future permits under the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA), to the extent operations fall within the Parkway and the groundwater threshold.
  • Local communities, groundwater users, and ecological resources in and adjacent to the Parkway that could be affected by dewatering activities.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Operational: Could restrict common mining practices (pumping/draining water from pits) inside the Parkway where groundwater is shallow, potentially requiring operational changes, cessation of dewatering, or alternative water-management approaches.
  • Environmental: Aims to protect subsurface river flows and groundwater-dependent habitats by preventing lowering of water tables through dewatering.
  • Regulatory/Legal: The bill creates a site-specific prohibition; it does not explicitly address grandfathering of existing permits or interactions with SMARA, state water rights, or federal permits — those questions may be raised during implementation or legal review.
  • Fiscal: Author’s digest indicates no appropriations; fiscal committee involvement noted as “NOYES” (committee flagged), but no direct appropriation specified.

Legislative progress / next steps

  • Introduced 02/21/2025; read first time 02/24/2025.
  • Referred and re-referred to Assembly Natural Resources Committee; author amended and re-referred.
  • Committee hearing 04/25/2025: failed passage; reconsideration granted. If reconsidered and approved by committee, bill would proceed to the Assembly floor for further action.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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