Managing Floods in California

Mar 22, 2017 - Specifically, levees and weirs are used to direct waters out of river channels into large floodplains — “bypassing ” the normal path of the river —so the water can spread and the flow velocity can dissipate.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3571

The 2026-27 Budget: Permitting Support at the State Water Resources Control Board

Mar 2, 2026 - Same as above, but for non ‑WOTUS waters of the state (for example, isolated wetlands and ephemeral streams). Pollutant and Stormwater Discharge CWA Section 402 NPDES permit (federal discharge permit) State and Regional Water Boards For WOTUS, regulates point source discharges of pollutants, including stormwater.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Resources and Environmental Protection

Oct 16, 2023 - The SB 19 Plan , released in 2022, recommended several steps to improve the stream gage network: (1) integrating third-party gages, (2) improving and expanding the current state stream gage network (including reactivating historical stream gages and installing new ones), (3) prioritizing funding for stream gages, and (4) streamlining regulatory permitting.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4807

The Bay-Delta Plan and Voluntary Agreements: Ensuring Effective Legislative Oversight

Mar 18, 2026 - Other fish that migrate through or live in the Delta also are listed as threatened or endangered, including Central Valley steelhead and Delta smelt. State Failing to Meet Goal for Doubling Natural Salmon Population.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2023-24 Budget: CalRecycle’s Zero Waste Plan Proposal

Feb 28, 2023 - Recent Legislation Expanded CalRecycle ’s Responsibilities for Certain Waste Streams. Over the past several years, the Legislature has enacted legislation that has significantly expanded CalRecycle ’s responsibilities with regard to certain waste streams.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4719

Overview of California's Ports

Aug 23, 2022 - The Legislature has prioritized port issues through nonbudgetary channels as well, such as by convening the Assembly Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement for two hearings, one on congestion (November 2021) and another on the impact of port congestion on agriculture (February 2022).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4618

The 2024-25 Budget: Salton Sea Management Program

Feb 26, 2024 - USACE is leading a long ‑term feasibility study, the Imperial Streams Salton Sea and Tributaries Feasibility Study , to explore potential long‑term ecosystem restoration, flood management, or other land‑ and water‑resource projects.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4859

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - The budget package increases the annual allocation of credits available under the Film and Television Tax Credit from $330  million to $750  million. This increase applies to version 4.0 of the program from fiscal years 2025-26 through 2029-30 and is estimated to reduce state revenues by $209  million per year by 2028-29, and more than this in subsequent years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

Apr 5, 2022 - Low ‑income residents also are more likely to live in older housing that requires modifications —such as air conditioning or more fire ‑resistant exteriors —to adapt to increased risks. Notably, low ‑income residents also are more likely to live in rental housing, and thus more likely to be reliant on landlords to conduct modifications to their homes to mitigate the effects of climate change.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4575

What Can We Learn From How the State Responded to the Last Major Drought?

May 13, 2021 - For example, SWRCB ordered and enforced that less water be diverted from some of the state ’s rivers and streams, and CDFW closed some rivers and streams to fishing in order to protect fish in low water flows.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4429