Amended in Assembly April 15, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 367

Introduced by Assembly Member Dodd

(Principal coauthor: Senator McGuire)

February 17, 2015

An act relating to Clear Lake, and making an appropriation therefor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 367, as amended, Dodd. Clear Lake.

begin delete Existing law creates in the State Treasury the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, and makes the revenue in the fund available for expenditure, upon appropriation, for particular purposes relating to the protection and preservation of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians. Existing law requires all moneys collected under the provisions of the Fish and Game Code to be deposited in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, unless otherwise provided end delete .

begin insert

Existing law requires $2,000,000 from the proceeds of bonds sold pursuant to the Costa-Machado Water Act of 2000 to be allocated, upon appropriation, to the State Water Resources Control Board to rehabilitate and improve the Clear Lake watershed by funding specified projects or activities.

end insert

This bill would appropriate $2,400,000 from begin delete the Fish and Game Preservation Fund end delete begin insert an unspecified fund end insert to the County of Lake for the purposes of restoring Clear Lake wetlands, maintaining the water quality of Clear Lake, preventing the spread of invasive species to Clear Lake, and controlling and eradicating invasive species in Clear Lake.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(1) Clear Lake, located in the County of Lake, is the largest
freshwater lake in California with 68 square miles of surface area.

(2) Clear Lake supports large fish populations including bass,
crappie, bluegill, carp, and catfish. In addition to fish, there are
year-round populations of ducks, pelicans, grebes, blue herons,
egrets, begin delete ospreys end delete begin insert ospreys, end insert and bald eagles. The lake basin also
supports deer, bears, mountain lions, and other animals.

(3) Clear Lake has a problem with the explosive growth of algae
blooms, which can create a dangerous condition for fish and
wildlife. Cyanobacteria blooms are trapped at the surface of the
water and die, creating unsightly slicks and odors. Some algae
may produce toxic cyanotoxins that pose a range of health risks
to both people and animals.

(4) Algae “mats” along the eastern and southern shores of the
lake have sometimes become so thick as to completely block
shoreline access and normal recreational use of the lake by
residents and visitors. Close contact with cyanobacteria can result
in rashes, irritated eyes, and respiratory problems.

(5) Clear Lake is contaminated by heavy metal pollutants, such
as mercury from the Superfund site of the Sulphur Bank Mercury
Mine site along the southeastern end of the lake.

(6) The State Water Resources Control Board has listed Clear
Lake as an impaired water body and has found that the forms of
pollution are real and that a great deal of work needs to be done
to restore the lake to a healthy balance.

(b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to assist the
County of Lake in restoring Clear Lake to healthier conditions so
as to protect fish and wildlife as well as to preserve the unique
recreational and economic opportunities that the lake provides.

SEC. 2.  

The sum of two million four hundred thousand dollars
($2,400,000) is hereby appropriated from begin delete the Fish and Game
Preservation Fund end delete begin insert ____ end insert to the County of Lake for the purposes of
restoring Clear Lake wetlands, maintaining the water quality of
Clear Lake, preventing the spread of invasive species to Clear
Lake, and controlling and eradicating invasive species in Clear
Lake.