BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2336
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 5, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2336 (Fuller) - As Amended: April 19, 2010
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 10-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC), as part
of the development of the Delta Plan, to direct the Delta
Independent Science Board to assess stressors, including the
impacts of invasive species and nonnative species other than the
State Water Resources Development System and the federal Central
Valley Project, on populations of native fish species in the
Delta, the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, and tributaries.
The bill further directs the science board to recommend changes
in statute and actions by state agencies to remedy the
situation.
FISCAL EFFECT
Because current law requires the Delta Plan to include methods
for promoting a viable and diverse population of native species,
DSC reports this bill represents no new costs to its operations.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The sponsors of this bill-water districts and
agencies that benefit from operation of the State Water
Project and the federal Central Valley Project-contend
protection of existing populations of the Delta's native fish
species requires considering scientifically justified measures
to reduce or eliminate the impact of significant stressors on
California's native fish populations other than the pumps that
export water out of the Delta, including nonnative fish
species.
2)Background . In November of last year, the Legislature passed
AB 2336
Page 2
SBX7 1 (Chapter 5, Simitian) to address the long troubled and
deteriorating Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Among other
things, the bill established the DSC-a seven member body
charged with developing, adopting, and commencing
implementation of a comprehensive management plan for the
Delta by January 1, 2012. The statute establishes the Delta
Independent Science Board to provide oversight of the
scientific research, monitoring, and assessment programs that
support adaptive management of the Delta.
3)Related Legislation . AB 1253 (Fuller, 2009) would have
required CALFED's Independent Science Board 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. The bill passed the Assembly
71-3 but was held in Senate Appropriations.
4)Support . This bill is supported by numerous water agencies
that receive water from the Delta, as well as the Chamber of
Commerce and a few other industry groups, who assert this bill
ensures a significant Delta stressor-predation on native
species-will be adequately considered in the Delta Plan
development and adoption, as a crucial part of an overall
Delta solution.
5)Opposition. Opponents mostly fishing enthusiasts see the bill
as an attempt to distract attention from what they consider
the main stressor on native Delta fish populations-excessive
pumping of Delta water.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081