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Environment and Natural Resources Publications

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Report

Improving the Appraisal Function in Resources Land Acquisitions

October 18, 2007 - With the billions of dollars of state funds spent in recent years or available for expenditure (from existing bond funds) for land acquisitions for resource conservation purposes, it is important that the purchase price of these acquisitions be supported by a sound appraisal process. However, our review found that the quality and objectivity of state resource-related appraisals are impeded by both a lack of comprehensive standards and insufficient independence of the appraisal function from the land-acquiring agencies. We also found that limits on the public disclosure of appraisal-related information make public and legislative oversight of resource acquisitions difficult. In this report, we make several recommendations to improve the appraisal function for resource acquisitions, ultimately to protect taxpayers from being overcharged in these transactions.

Handout

Financing Water Projects

October 4, 2007 - Presented to Assembly Special Committte on Water Hon. Lois Wolk, Chair

Handout

Department of Water Resources—LAO Issues for Legislative Oversight

March 28, 2007 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources

Report

Baldwin Hills Conservancy: Meeting Objectives; More Work to Be Done

March 27, 2007 - To promote conservation of its natural resources, the state has created a number of conservancies to acquire and protect undeveloped land within specific geographic regions. In 2000, the Legislature created one such conservancy for the Baldwin Hills area of the Los Angeles Basin, which is scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2008. As statute requires, this report reviews the conservancy’s progress and considers the merits of extending the conservancy’s sunset date. We find that, generally, the conservancy has operated in a manner consistent with its statutory role, and while the conservancy has made progress, more remains to be done to meet statutory objectives. We recommend extending the conservancy’s sunset date by five years, preceded by a sunset review of its performance and its relevance at this later time to the state’s overall conservation goals.

Handout

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: State’s Wildland Firefighting Costs Continue to Escalate

March 26, 2007 - Presented to Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy

Handout

Governor’s Budget Proposal to Implement The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (“AB 32”)

March 26, 2007 - Presented to Assembly Natural Resources Committee and Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources

Other

Governor’s Budget Proposal to Implement The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (“AB 32”)

March 15, 2007 - Presented to The Environmental Justice Advisory Committee on Implementation of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006

Handout

Bond Funding for Flood Protection and Delta-Related Issues

March 13, 2007 - Presented to Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife

Handout

Propositions 1C and 84 Bond Implementation: Issues for Legislation

March 13, 2007 - Presented to Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water

Handout

2007-08 Budget Overview: Resources Agency Departments (Including an Overview of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program)

March 7, 2007 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources

Handout

Proposition 84 Bond Implementation:Water, Parks and Wildlife Policy/Budget Issues

March 6, 2007 - Presented to Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife

Handout

2007-08 Budget Overview: Resources and Environmental Protection (Including an Overview of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program)

March 5, 2007 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2

Handout

Propositions 1E and 84: Flood Management Provisions

February 27, 2007 - Presented to Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water

Report

Information Technology at the Water Boards

February 21, 2007 - On numerous occasions, the Legislature has stressed the fundamental role that management of data—including permitting, enforcement, and water quality—plays in assisting the State Water Resources Control Board carry out its mission. Legislative oversight of the board’s information technology (IT) projects is critical, as we find that the board has been developing information technology systems outside of the budget process and that the board lacks an up-to-date strategic plan to guide its IT activity. We make a number of recommendations to provide the necessary oversight.

Report

CALFED Bay-Delta Program

February 21, 2007 - The budget proposes $473.6 million across eight state agencies for the CALFED Bay-Delta Program in 2007-08. We recommend tying the use of performance measures (currently under development) to the budget process, and raise concerns about a number of CALFED’s budget proposals. Specifically, we find that the funding proposal for the South Delta Improvements program is premature, matching funds are lacking to allow the surface storage feasibility study work to practically proceed, and that the budget inappropriately proposes bond funds to replace water user funding contributions that have run out to support a conservation planning effort that benefits the water users.

Environment and Natural Resources Staff
Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Forestry, Parks, and High Speed Rail
 
Sonja Petek
(916) 319-8340
Water, Coastal Development, and Fish and Wildlife
 
Frank Jimenez
(916) 319-8324
Highways and Roads, Recycling, Agriculture, and Toxics
 
Luke Koushmaro
(916) 319-8355
Mass Transportation, Traffic Enforcement, Statewide Planning and Infrastructure
 
Sarah Cornett
(916) 319-8329
Air Quality, Energy, and Climate Change
 
Rachel Ehlers
(916) 319-8330
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation