BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2336
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2336 ( Fuller)
As Amended March 17, 2010
Majority vote
WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE 10-1
APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Huffman, Fuller, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, |
| |Arambula, Blumenfield, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Caballero, Ruskin, | |Calderon, Coto, Davis, De |
| |Fletcher, Bonnie | |Leon, Hall, Harkey, |
| |Lowenthal, Salas, Fong | |Miller, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Solorio, Torlakson, |
| | | |Torrico |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Yamada | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Delta stewardship Council (DSC), in the
course of developing and adopting the Delta plan, to direct the
Delta Independent Science Board to conduct an assessment of
other stressors on populations of native fish species in the
Delta. Specifically, this bill :
1)States legislative intent that the DSC consider for inclusion
in the Delta plan, in addition to measures addressing the
impacts of the State Water Project (SWP) and the federal
Central Valley water project (CVP) operations, effective and
scientifically justified measures to reduce or eliminate the
impact of other significant stressors on native fish
populations.
2)Requires the DSC to direct the Delta Independent Science Board
to conduct an assessment of other stressors on Delta native
fish species and to recommend changes in statute and actions
by state agencies to remedy the situation in as timely a
manner as possible.
3)Requires that the assessment include, but not necessarily be
limited to, stressors identified in the Delta Vision Strategic
Plan, including the impacts of invasive species and non-native
species, water quality impairments, and predation on native
AB 2336
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species.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the DSC, with consists of seven members, including
four appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate,
two appointed by the Legislature, and the chair of the Delta
Protection Commission. Requires the DSC to develop and adopt
a Delta Plan by January 1, 2012 that furthers the coequal
goals of ecosystem restoration and water supply reliability.
2)SB 1 X7 (Simitian) Chapter 5, Statutes of 2009-10 Seventh
Extraordinary Session, requires DSC in developing the Delta
Plan to include, among other things, sub-goals and strategies
to promote self-sustaining populations of native and valued
species by reducing risk of take and harm from invasive
species, and by improving water quality. SB 1 X7 also
requires DSC in developing the Delta Plan, to consider each of
the strategies and actions in the Delta Strategic Plan. The
Delta Strategic Plan, among other things, recommends actions
to control invasive species, to re-evaluate wastewater
treatment plant discharges, to regulate discharges from
irrigated lands, and to reduce impacts from urban runoff.
3)Establishes the Delta Independent Science Board which shall
provide oversight of the scientific research, monitoring, and
assessment programs that support adaptive management of the
Delta.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee analysis, 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 : The sponsors of this bill, which include water
districts and agencies that benefit from operation of the SWP
and CVP, 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 in
addition to the pumps that export water out of the Delta,
including predation by invasive and nonnative fish species.
This bill is supported by numerous water agencies that receive
water from the Delta, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and a
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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.
Opponents, mostly fishing groups and some environmental
conservation organizations see this bill as an attempt to
distract attention from what they consider the main stressor on
native Delta fish populations - excessive pumping of Delta
water. As amended, this bill requires assessment and
consideration of other stressors identified in the Delta Vision
Strategic Plan, including but not limited to, both invasive and
nonnative species predation and water quality impairments.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0004370