Mar 14, 2025

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife U.S. Representatives Jim Costa and Adam Gray Urge Presidential and Gubernatorial Cooperation on Central Valley and State Water Projects

On March 10, U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Tulare) and Adam Gray (D-Madera) sent a letter urging President Trump and Governor Newsom to work together to address

Mar 14, 2025

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife FISH Act Reintroduced in Congress

On March 6, the Federally Integrated Species Health Act (FISH Act) was introduced by Representative Ken Calvert (R-Riverside County) in the 119th Congress. This measure seeks to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 by transferring certain functions from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the

Feb 07, 2025

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order on Water Ahead of Anticipated Storms

On January 31st, the Office of Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-16-25, which largely renews previous authorities from a prior executive order to allow local water agencies to more expeditiously recharge groundwater reservoirs during high precipitation...

Dec 13, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife U.S. House Approves Water Resources Development Act

On December 10, 2024, the House approved, by a vote of 399-18, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (S. 4367), which would improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife SGMA Implementation

Groundwater management law in California previously authorized certain local agencies to adopt and implement a groundwater management plan.  Local agencies seeking state funds from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for groundwater projects and groundwater...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Secure Rural Schools

Adopted in 1906, federal law requires the U.S. Forest Service to provide counties and schools with 25 percent of the revenues generated on federal forest lands from a variety of activities including timber harvesting, mining,...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Endangered Species Act (ESA)

The Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) was passed by Congress in 1973 to protect and recover at risk species and the ecosystems upon which they depend.  In 1984, California followed when the Legislature passed the...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Wildlife Policy Areas Affecting Local Government

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are the two primary agencies responsible for fish and wildlife issues impacting rural counties and their citizens. Some of...

Dec 10, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife Water: Supply and Demand

Nearly 75 percent of California’s available water originates in the northern one-third of the state (north of Sacramento), while more than 70 percent of the demand occurs in the southern two-thirds of the state and...

Nov 15, 2024

Advocacy   |   Water and Wildlife DOI Proposes Strengthened Protections for Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat

On November 8th, the Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published proposed updates to strengthen conservation and management of greater sage-grouse habitat on public lands in 10 Western states, including...