BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1253
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Date of Hearing: May 20, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 1253 (Fuller) - As Amended: May 11, 2009
Policy Committee: WPW Vote:8-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Independent Science Board (ISB) to
conduct an independent scientific review of literature on fish
predation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and to report to
the Legislature and the governor.
FISCAL EFFECT
One-time costs of at least $50,000 to the CALFED Bay-Delta
Program ISB to complete the study. (GF)
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. This bill amends a previous version of the bill
that would have removed all state protection from the
management of striped bass, a species that was introduced to
the state over 100 years ago as a sport fish and has been
managed as such ever since. That version of the bill
generated considerable controversy. Despite the input of
certain academic experts in the field of fisheries management,
in general, and Delta fisheries in particular, the author and
the sponsors of the bill, including Metropolitan Water
District and Modesto Irrigation District, feel that striped
bass are a threat to native fisheries and prey on a variety of
native fish. The author contends that additional study would
help the state to determine whether even more studies are
needed and to determine whether predator species are adversely
affecting native Delta fish populations, and, if so, whether
changes are needed in predatory fish management in the Delta.
AB 1253
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2)Background.
a) The CALFED Bay-Delta Program. CALFED encompasses
multiple state and federal agencies that have regulatory
authority over water and resource management
responsibilities in the Bay-Delta region. The objectives of
the program are to provide good water quality for all uses,
improve fish and wildlife habitat, reduce the gap between
water supplies and projected demand, and reduce the risks
from deteriorating levees. Natural Resources is the main
state agency that administers the program, with
responsibility for the overall program planning,
performance, and tracking.
b) Independent Science Board. The law creating CALFED
requires the creation of an independent board of scientific
experts. The ISB is a standing board of distinguished
experts (scientists and engineers) with a range of
multi-disciplinary expertise, including those with local
experience and those with external relevant expertise.
These experts are to help CALFED establish an independent
and objective view of the science issues that underlie
policy decisions.
3)Supporters , including the Metropolitan Water District and the
Modesto Irrigation District, argue that there is scientific
evidence indicating that striped bass are stressors to
threatened and endangered Delta fish. The study recommended
by this bill, supporters claim, will independently verify the
existence and quality of that evidence.
4)Opponents to an earlier version of the bill protested that the
bill was an attempt to distract from real threats to the Delta
ecosystem-a lack of fresh water flows, high levels of
pollution, and habitat deterioration. Opponents claim that
there is no scientific evidence indicating that striped bass
predation is significantly harming native fish populations in
the Delta. This lack of evidence is not the result of a lack
of data, opponent contend; rather it is because a wealth of
data does not lead to the proponents' contention. These
opponents are likely to continue to contend that the striped
bass is a red herring.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
AB 1253
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