BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1253
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1253 (Fuller and Gilmore)
As Amended June 1, 2009
Majority vote
WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 8-1APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Huffman, Fuller, |Ayes:|De Leon, Nielsen, |
| |Anderson, Arambula, | |Ammiano, |
| |Caballero, Fletcher, | |Charles Calderon, Davis, |
| |Bonnie Lowenthal, Salas | |Duvall, Fuentes, Hall, |
| | | |Harkey, Miller, Price, |
| | | |Skinner, Solorio, Audra |
| | | |Strickland, Torlakson, |
| | | |Krekorian |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Yamada | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Independent Science Board (ISB) to
conduct an independent scientific review of existing literature
and studies on fish predation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta and to make recommendations. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the ISB to conduct an independent scientific review
of existing literature and studies on fish predation in the
Delta, for the purpose of evaluating whether additional
studies are needed on the effects of predation on threatened
or endangered species, and to determine whether predator
species are adversely affecting, at a population level, native
salmonids and other pelagic species in the Delta, and, if so,
whether policy and operational changes are needed to reduce
the effects of predation.
2)Requires the review to also include a review of existing
studies on fish salvage methods and other mitigation protocols
at state and federal pumping facilities and recommendations
for changes in methodologies to improve survival.
3)Requires the ISB after completing the review to report to the
Legislature and Governor with recommendations on whether
additional studies are needed, and if so what the recommended
design, scope and estimated costs for the studies would be.
AB 1253
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4)Authorizes the ISB to enter into funding agreements with
public agencies and nongovernmental organizations to pay for
the cost of the independent scientific review.
EXISTING LAW : Establishes the Independent Science Board as part
of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, one-time costs of at least $50,000 to the CALFED
Bay-Delta Program ISB to complete the study, possibly paid from
non-state funds (General Fund or special funds).
COMMENTS : The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the source of much
of California's water supply and the largest estuary on the west
coast, is in crisis. Declines in the populations of fish
species, including threatened and endangered species such as
Delta Smelt, longfin smelt and Chinook salmon, have led to
reductions in water exports and the closure of the commercial
salmon season. In late 2004 a precipitous decline in several
pelagic (open-water) fish species in the Delta, including Delta
smelt, longfin smelt, juvenile striped bass, and threadfin shad,
generated significant concern within the scientific community.
The decline has become known as the Pelagic Organism Decline
(POD). In 2005 the Interagency Ecological Program, a
consortium of nine state and federal agencies, formed a
multi-agency POD Management Team, tasked with managing
comprehensive studies to evaluate the causes of the decline.
The POD studies have been examining a variety of multiple
factors, including, for example, habitat loss and water quality
deterioration, entrainment, reduced flows and other hydrodynamic
effects related to water diversions, toxic algae blooms,
predation, reductions in food supply and quality, and effects of
invasive species such as clams, plants and zooplankton.
Much of the focus of recent policy debates and judicial actions
has been on the impacts of the large pumps operated by the state
and federal water projects which export water from the Delta to
urban and agricultural water users in other parts of central and
southern California. The sponsors of this bill, which include
the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the
Modesto Irrigation District, believe that other stressors are
also contributing to declines in populations of native fish
species, but have not been receiving the focus or attention they
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deserve. One of those stressors is predation by other species
on native fish. In particular, the sponsors of this bill are
concerned with the impact of predation by striped bass, a
nonnative sport fish that was introduced into the Delta in the
mid-1800s. While striped bass are known to prey on other fish
species, whether they are having a population level impact on
species listed as threatened or endangered under state or
federal endangered species acts is less clear. In addition to
striped bass, other predator species, both native and nonnative,
are also known to prey on smelt, salmon and other native
species. This bill calls upon the ISB to conduct a review of
existing literature and studies, in order to evaluate whether
additional studies are needed on the effects of predation and to
determine whether predator species are having a population level
impact on native species. This bill also requires the board to
make recommendations to the Legislature and Governor as to
whether additional studies are needed and, if so, what the scope
and estimated costs of those studies should be.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0001326