blog post New State Budget Maintains Water and Natural Resources Funding in an Uncertain Economy By Gokce Sencan Aug 1, 2023 When it comes to state funding for water and natural resource projects, California has typically turned to general obligation bonds as the first resort. The historic budget surpluses of recent years have shaken up this long-standing arrangement, but is that funding source drying up?
Report California’s Natural Resource Programs: Where Does the Money Come From and Where Does It Go? By Fred Silva Jul 1, 2002 This report analyzes natural resource priorities by reviewing program expenditures and revenues between fiscal years 1978-79 and 2000-01. It finds that, with the exception of 2000-2001, the percentage of total state spending directed to natural resources has been declining. It also finds that, until 1999, allocations for resource conservation grew compared to those devoted to resource development and resource-related public safety. Finally, the data show that general fund allocations for natural resource programs declined over the study period, but that this funding was largely replaced by special funds earmarked for specific purposes.
event Replenishing Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley Jun 11, 2024 Groundwater recharge has emerged as an important way to replenish the San Joaquin Valley’s dwindling aquifers, particularly under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Last year, we asked dozens of urban and agricultural water managers to tell us how recharge was going—a reboot of our 2017 survey. How much progress has been made, and what’s needed next? Join us for a presentation of our findings and a panel discussion.
blog post Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Recent Ruling on the “Chevron Doctrine” By Sarah Bardeen, Brian Gray Jul 17, 2024 What is the Chevron doctrine, and why did the Supreme Court recently abolish it? We asked our senior fellow Brian Gray, a retired environmental law professor, to help us understand the implications of the US Supreme Court’s decision.
blog post A New Tool Could Help Protect 30% of the State’s Waters by 2030 By Sarah Bardeen Sep 12, 2022 California has set an ambitious goal of protecting 30% of the state’s lands and waters by 2030. We spoke with CalTrout’s legal and policy director Redgie Collins about a promising but underutilized tool that could help protect water bodies throughout the state: The Outstanding Natural Resource Waters designation.
blog post Video: Stewarding California’s Wet Years By Sarah Bardeen Nov 20, 2023 Wet weather brought relief to our parched state last winter. And while full reservoirs are great, is there room to improve California’s wet year management? At our fall conference last week, three panels of experts gave a resounding yes—and then offered insights on how to improve. Read our recap!
blog post California Continues to Prioritize Water and Climate Programs Despite Budget Cuts By Gokce Sencan Sep 3, 2024 Historic budget surpluses in 2021 and 2022 allowed the Newsom administration to invest $16.3 billion in water and climate projects. Decreased tax revenues in the last two years have necessitated significant budget cuts, however—check out our detailed look at what’s changed.
