PCL Insider: News from the Capitol

GOVERNOR PROVIDES FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP

After Hurricane Katrina, Governor Schwarzenegger committed to improving flood protection for California.  His first action was to work with the Legislature and others to enact Proposition 1E, the Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Act, which contains $4.1 billion for projects to improve protection for California residents and the environment. 

However, the Governor also recognized that there is an unacceptable gap between land use decision making and flood protection. 

His administration has just released its proposal to close that gap. The Schwarzenegger plan would require that new subdivisions in undeveloped high-risk areas of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys be approved only if the communities have a "reasonable plan" to achieve 200-year flood protection by 2022, or if new residential units are constructed 1 foot above the level of potential 200-year floodwaters.

The proposal also provides that cities and counties in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys be required to develop a strategy for providing 200-year flood protection by 2022 for existing properties in deep floodplains (areas that would flood 3 or more feet) that are protected by levees maintained by the State.

Such provisions would require legislative approval. Fortunately, the Governor’s attention to the land use gap has received strong support from several voices in the Legislature. 

"The critical and controversial issue has been land use," said Assemblymember Lois Wolk, a Democrat from Davis who tried unsuccessfully last year to pass legislation that would have limited development in flood-prone areas. "It's extremely significant that the Governor has chosen to engage in this conversation," she said. "It's a major step forward."

State Senator Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said it is critical for communities to start including flood concerns in land-use decisions.

"Flood protection must go hand in hand with development," said Steinberg, who is trying to help broker a compromise. He added that it is also important for state leaders to find ways to leverage the $5 billion in new bond funds because it could take three times that amount to make all the improvements needed in the state.

PCL is looking forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to enact prudent floodplain management legislation.

STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY TAKES ON SAN CLEMENTE DAM REMOVAL STUDY

On May 24th, the California Coastal Conservancy issued formal approval to undertake a major study to determine the feasibility of removing the seismically-unsafe San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River in Monterey County.

In an effort to secure the best environmental outcome for the Carmel River, PCLF has been working closely with California American Water, the Coastal Conservancy and NOAA Fisheries in a cooperative approach to determine the viability of a dam removal project.

Previous efforts to address seismic-safety by buttressing the dam stalled over concerns that buttressing would perpetuate significant impacts to the Carmel River ecosystem including long-term impacts to steelhead trout. 

PCLF believes that the broader gains and public benefits that would occur with dam removal merit consideration by the State. 

The Coastal Conservancy’s study will investigate the technical and environmental aspects of removing the dam and provide critically important information that will let the State determine whether the dam removal project is, in fact, technically feasible.

PCLF has played a key role in these developments and will continue to work with the local community, conservation groups, and others to advocate for the best environmental solution.

The Coastal Conservancy study should be completed by December 2007. For more information, or to receive a copy of PCLF's new Supplemental Carmel River Watershed Action Plan, contact Dr. Monica Hunter, mhunter@pcl.org.

PCLF BEGINS PREPARING “SIERRA NEVADA ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTORY”

In this atmosphere of increasing climate crisis and corporate control, it’s easy for individuals to feel powerless in the face of environmental destruction.  However, a vast number of environmental victories in California are the result of the hard work of concerned residents and citizen groups who have learned to make their voices heard.

That’s why the Planning and Conservation League Foundation is pleased to announce the preparation of our latest grassroots empowerment tool – our “Sierra Nevada Environmental Directory.”

With the new directory, readers from the Alpine regions of Plumas County to the Foothills of Tulare County can get involved with a local, regional, or state environmental group. The directory will also contain success stories from citizen groups in each Sierra county.

Whether you want to work on an environmental issue in the Sierra Nevada, or just want to instill the values of stewardship in your family, our directory can connect you to the resources you need.

Inclusion in the directory is free for non-profit groups. If you would like your group to be included or want to receive a copy, please contact Jason Avina at javina@pcl.org or (916) 318-9369.