The 2016-17 Budget: The State's Drought Response

Feb 5, 2016 - The statewide map the U.  S.  Drought Monitor produced for the last week of January 2016 still looks similar to the one displayed for October 2015 in Figure  2, with much of the state continuing in exceptional drought status.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3343

The 2019-20 Budget: Natural Resources and Environmental Protection

Feb 14, 2019 - We identify various issues for the Legislature to consider as it deliberates on the proposal, including ( 1)  c onsistency with the state ’s human right to water policy, ( 2)  u ncertainty about the estimated revenues that would be generated and the amount of funding needed to address the problem, ( 3)  c omparing the beneficiaries of the program with those who would pay the new charges, and ( 4)  t rade ‑offs associated with the proposal ’s safe harbor provisions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3933

Assessing Early Implementation of Urban Water Use Efficiency Requirements

Jan 4, 2024 - Legislation approved in 2018 established a long-term urban water use efficiency framework to “Make Conservation a California Way of Life,” creating new requirements for urban retail water suppliers across the state. This report responds to a requirement that our office assess implementation of the framework.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4823

Reducing the Destructiveness of Wildfires: Promoting Defensible Space in California

Sep 30, 2021 - To begin addressing the barriers of lack of resources, authority, and motivation, we recommend: ( 1) i ncreased ongoing resources for CalFire inspections, ( 2) p roviding CalFire with administrative fee authority, and ( 3) u sing oversight of reported compliance rates to improve transparency and help motivate agency actions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4457