SACRAMENTO, Calif. (September 30, 2014) – Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 2193, the first statewide effort to accelerate voluntary restoration on private lands through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Authored by Assemblyman Richard Gordon (D-Menlo Park), the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act, establishes a simplified permitting process through the Department of Fish and Wildlife to empower landowners, government agencies and conservation organizations to take on small-scale, voluntary habitat restoration across California. AB 2193, ultimately, enables the Department of Fish and Wildlife to significantly boost the number of critical restoration projects it authorizes each year in California.
Among the many benefits of this landmark legislation is helping landowners restore habitat for endangered species, reduce sediment and pollutants in urban and rural waterways, increase native vegetation, and restore fish habitat in streams and rivers much more easily and cost-effectively. The legislation also aligns the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s permitting process with those of other state agencies, increasing inter-agency coordination, and enabling landowners and government to partner on conservation efforts, including those on public lands.
“The bipartisan nature of AB 2193, which passed through the legislative process without a single ‘no’ vote, exemplifies the strength of California’s Legislature when it unites to address issues impacting the state,” said Assemblyman Rich Gordon. “Tremendous demand exists in California for environmental restoration projects spearheaded by private landowners and non-profit land managers. Unfortunately, many choose to forego much-needed restoration projects because of the lengthy permitting process. This legislation creates a smooth and accessible permitting process, empowering local land stewards to undertake voluntary restoration projects and help reverse the decline of California’s many threatened and endangered species.”
AB 2193, sponsored by Sustainable Conservation, a nonprofit with a long history of promoting voluntary restoration on private lands, comes at a crucial time for the state. Currently, more than 350 species of wildlife and plants in California are considered threatened or endangered under state and federal law, and many others are experiencing declining numbers. Populations of the state’s majestic salmon, steelhead and other native fish have reached critically low numbers throughout California – from rivers in the Mt. Shasta area in the north to the streams of Southern California and the Central Valley.
More than two-thirds of the assessed lakes, rivers and other water bodies in California fail clean-water standards, so the legislation offers hope for restoring clean water for both wildlife and people. AB 2193 will make it easier to carry out restoration projects that boost water quality by protecting waterways from sediment, and restore wetlands and floodplains, which are natural pollutant buffers.
“More than 50% of California is privately owned, and a majority of California’s imperiled wildlife and the habitat they depend on for survival – including rivers and streams – make their homes on private property,” said Ashley Boren, Executive Director of Sustainable Conservation “Making it easier and faster for private landowners to restore their land in ways that benefit wildlife and clean water is of vital importance. The legislation the Governor signed does just that – and does so in a way that supports the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s mission.”
“As the larger challenges to California birds mount every day, we cannot overestimate the value of restoration projects that support local birds and habitat,” said Brigid McCormack, Executive Director of Audubon California, which works to conserve and restore habitat for birds and other wildlife. “Not only will Assembly Bill 2193 help further the mission of Audubon California, but it will also enable local Audubon chapters and other conservation-minded groups to engage in restoration that will have tremendous value for California birds as a whole.”
“AB 2193 is poised to help landowners who want to restore land and waterways and boost the populations of endangered species, and do their part to improve water quality,” said Karen Buhr, Executive Director of the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, which oversees the efforts of the state’s nearly 100 Resource Conservation Districts in working with landowners to implement restoration and conservation projects statewide. “This bill, which safeguards environmental quality while making restoration projects more attainable, ultimately benefits not just our natural resources, habitat and wildlife, but California’s communities as well.”
About Assemblyman Rich Gordon
Assemblyman Rich Gordon represents the 24th Assembly District on the San Francisco Peninsula in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, which includes the communities of: North Fair Oaks, Atherton, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Woodside, Portola Valley, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, a portion of Cupertino, and the San Mateo County coast side – from El Granada to the Santa Cruz County border. www.assembly.ca.gov/Gordon
About Audubon California
Audubon California is building a better future for California by bringing people together to appreciate, enjoy and protect our spectacular outdoor treasures. Audubon California is a field program of the National Audubon Society, which has more than 200,000 members and supporters in California and an affiliated 48 local chapters dedicated to protecting birds, wildlife and the habitats that support them. More information is available at www.ca.audubon.org.
About the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
Resources Conservation Districts are your partner in local conservation. The California Association of Resource Conservation Districts’ mission is to support and enhance the effectiveness of local Resource Conservation Districts’ implementation of strong, locally led conservation and stewardship of natural resources and agriculture in California. RCDs are a leader in on-the-ground conservation efforts. The 98 districts statewide are the center of locally led conservation in their communities and accomplish thousands of practical, hands-on conservation projects every year. www.carcd.org
About Sustainable Conservation
Sustainable Conservation helps California thrive by uniting people to solve the toughest challenges facing our land, air and water. Since 1993, it has brought together business, landowners and government to steward the resources that we all depend on in ways that make economic sense. Sustainable Conservation believes common ground is California’s most important resource. www.suscon.org
California Governor Jerry Brown Signs Law Accelerating Restoration on Private Lands to Benefit Waterways, Wildlife
- Details
