California is set to spend hundreds of billions – if not trillions – of dollars over the coming decades on projects to adapt to a changing climate, deploy clean energy and upgrade aging infrastructure. It is crucial that these investments minimize their impact on natural resources and maximize high-quality conservation outcomes. Innovative conservation planning tools, […]
First Regional Conservation Investment Strategy Approved by CDFW
The first of its kind Santa Clara Regional Conservation Investment Strategy (RCIS) was approved by California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) last month. The Santa Clara RCIS covers the entirety of Santa Clara County and identifies conservation goals, priorities, and actions to protect endangered species such as the San Joaquin kit fox, Swainson’s hawk, […]
California Spends $2.7B on Surface and Groundwater Storage
In 2014, voters passed Proposition 1, a $7.545 billion general obligation bond to fund ecosystems and watershed protection, as well as restoration and water supply infrastructure projects. $2.7 billion was granted to the California Water Commission, who was tasked with allocating the money to surface and groundwater storage projects in California through the Water Storage […]
Proposition 68 Passed by California Voters!
Today, Californians made clear their support and commitment to protecting, enhancing, and growing our state’s environmental treasures by passing Proposition 68! Proposition 68 will address some of our most critical water and natural resource needs and, for the first time ever in a resources bond, prioritize environmental enhancements in disadvantaged communities. Over the past 15 […]
California Leads On The Environment
The 2017 legislative session came to a close in the predawn hours of September 16th with legislators already touting it as the most progressive and productive session in memory. Indeed, the Legislature passed a number of high-profile bills that were framed as a direct response or a form of resistance to the actions of the […]
Legislature Takes a Big Step Forward by Passing SB 5
In the final hours of this year’s legislative session, the Legislature took action to protect and restore California’s state and local parks; coastal, forest, and other natural resources; and water quality and supply by passing SB 5 (de León) The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018. […]
Implementing Advance Mitigation in California
On July 21st, Governor Brown signed into law SB 103, a budget trailer bill that builds upon recent efforts to improve advance mitigation in California by making several important modifications to AB 2087 (Levine, 2016). AB 2087 provided the legal authority for the creation of advance mitigation credits based on voluntary and non-regulatory Regional Conservation […]
Prop 64: Marijuana and the Environment
Last Tuesday, voters passed Proposition 64 – the measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana. One of the least known elements of this measure is funding to repair the damage from the illegal cultivation of marijuana and provide better on-going protection for California’s most important natural lands. Prop 64 allocates significant funding to three key […]
Legislature Adopts New Approach to Conservation Planning and Mitigation
Late last night the California Legislature passed AB 2087 (Levine), which provides the legal authority for the creation of advanced mitigation credits based on Regional Conservation Investment Strategies approved by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. These conservation strategies, while voluntary and non-regulatory, can be used to: Guide investments in resource conservation Guide infrastructure design […]