BILL ANALYSIS �
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Fran Pavley, Chair |
| 2011-2012 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: AB 1540 HEARING DATE: June 12, 2012
AUTHOR: Buchanan URGENCY: No
VERSION: As introduced CONSULTANT: Alena Pribyl
DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: invasive weeds: South
American Spongeplant.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
Existing law
(HNC �64):
1) Legislative findings conclude that: the water hyacinth
Eichhornia crassipes and Brazilian elodea Egeria densa obstruct
navigation, impair recreational uses of waterways, have the
potential for damaging manmade facilities, and may threaten the
health and stability of fisheries and other ecosystems within
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Suisun Marsh. Thus, it
is necessary that the state undertake an aggressive program to
control water hyacinth and Brazilian elodea in the Delta, its
tributaries, and the marsh.
2) The Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is designated
as the lead agency for cooperating with other agencies in
controlling water hyacinth and Brazilian elodea in the Delta,
its tributaries, and the marsh.
3) DBW is authorized to spend up to $5,000 per year for the
control of water hyacinth and Brazilian elodea from the Harbors
and Watercraft Revolving Fund.
South American spongeplant
In addition to water hyacinth and Brazilian elodea, the invasive
South American spongeplant Limnobium laevigatum has become a
problem in the Delta over the last few years. The South American
spongeplant is a native of South America, Central America and
Central Mexico and is a prolific, floating, flowering plant.
Spongeplant was first identified in small ponds in Redding and
Arcata in 2003. In 2007, patchy populations were identified
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along several miles of the San Joaquin River by the California
Department of Food and Agriculture, and by 2008 spongeplant had
reached the Delta.
Spongeplant is an aquatic floating herb with a round, slightly
heart-shaped leaf. The underside of the leaf has a spongy,
air-filled tissue that helps the leaf float. Spongeplant can
spread very quickly; it can reproduce by sending out new plants
on runners (similar to strawberry plants), or by seed.
Spongeplant seeds germinate very quickly to produce small
floating seedlings (a handful of seedlings can contain over 60
plants). The seedlings can be dispersed by wind, currents, tidal
action, and even stick to watercraft and animals. Spongeplant
will form dense floating mats, which can completely cover the
water's surface. These mats will exclude growth of other native
plants, block access to the water, and reduce dissolved oxygen
concentrations below the mats. Lower dissolved oxygen levels
will negatively affect aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians,
and aquatic insects. Besides hurting the ecosystem, spongeplant
mats can also pile up wherever there is a barrier and clog
weirs, dams, gates, siphons, pumps, and other facilities.
Management of spongeplant involves removal by nets for small
patches, or canal excavation and herbicides for large mats. Once
a seed bank is established however, there is no known treatment
to eliminate the seed bank. The success of removing a population
of spongeplant appears to depend on whether a seed bank has been
established. Thus, it is important to act quickly once
spongeplant has been identified in a waterway.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would:
1) Designate the DBW as the lead agency in cooperating with
other agencies in controlling South American spongeplant in the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, its tributaries, and the Suisun
marsh.
2) Authorize the DBW to cooperate with other state agencies,
cities, counties and districts in controlling the South American
spongeplant in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, its
tributaries, and the Suisun marsh.
3) Add findings and declarations about the dangers of aquatic
invasive weeds in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author, aquatic weeds are a continuing problem
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in the Delta and have been growing at an unprecedented rate.
Invasive species of aquatic weeds obstruct navigation, impair
other recreational uses of the waterways and have the potential
of damaging manmade facilities, including federal and state
water pumping operations. Invasive aquatic weeds threaten the
health and stability of fisheries and other ecosystems, tourism,
water quality and increase flood risk. Early treatment of the
South American Sponge plant will reduce the need for more
extensive and costly later efforts to keep the sponge plant from
spreading in the Delta.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received
COMMENTS
Management of aquatic invasive species
Currently, eight different state agencies have direct statutory
responsibility to manage aquatic invasive species, and three
other state agencies are indirectly responsible for aquatic
invasive species issues. Additionally, many other local and
federal agencies as well as NGO's, universities, research
institutions and stakeholder groups play a role in dealing with
aquatic invasive species. In 2008, the Department of Fish and
Game, with inputs from various state agencies involved in
aquatic invasive species management, put together a
comprehensive and detailed management plan that explained the
state, national and international aquatic invasive species
policies, identified policy gaps, and made policy
recommendations (CA Aquatic Invasive Species Plan;
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/plan/). Work is underway to
implement some of the policy recommendations to better
coordinate management of aquatic invasive species and allow a
rapid response once a new threat is identified.
Cost to DBW
According to Assembly Appropriations, the costs to DBW are
likely no more than tens of thousands annually, mostly in the
form of increased herbicide use. DBW anticipates negligible
personnel or equipment costs, beyond herbicide costs, because
invasive spongeplant generally is found in waterways in which
DBW already operates to control invasive plant species.
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS
Use both common and scientific names of aquatic invasive plants
for consistency.
AMENDMENT 1
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Delete Page 2, Line 32: "?water hyacinth, Egeria densa,"
Replace with: "?water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes),
Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa),"
AMENDMENT 2
Delete Page 2, Line 36: "?water hyacinth, Egeria densa,"
Replace with: "?water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes),
Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa),"
AMENDMENT 3
Delete Page 3, Line 3: "?water hyacinth, Egeria densa,"
Replace with: "?water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes),
Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa),"
AMENDMENT 4
Delete Page 3, Lines 8-9: "?water hyacinth, Egeria densa,"
Replace with: "?water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes),
Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa),"
AMENDMENT 5
Delete Page 3, Lines 13-14: "?water hyacinth, Egeria
densa,"
Replace with: "?water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes),
Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa),"
SUPPORT
Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District,
Zone 7 (sponsor)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL-CIO
Association of California Water Agencies
California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association
California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains
California Central Valley Flood Control Association
California Delta Chambers
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Invasive Plant Council
California Marine Parks and Harbors Association
California Yacht Brokers Association
City of Brentwood, California
City of Oakley, California
Contra Costa County Farm Bureau
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Contra Costa Water District
Diablo Water District
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Ironhouse Sanitary District
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Marina Recreation Association
Northern California Marine Association
Reclamation District 800
Reclamation District 830 - Jersey Island
Recreational Boaters of California
Regional Council of Rural Counties
Town of Discovery Bay Community Services District
Western Boaters Safety Group
One individual
OPPOSITION
None Received
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