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

Mar 18, 2026 - The last comprehensive update occurred in 1995 and largely guides management today. (The 1995  update concerned the entire Bay ‑Delta watershed and included substantive changes to water quality objectives for fish and wildlife beneficial uses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2026-27 Budget: Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Budget

Feb 10, 2026 - Recommended Framework for Approaching Environment Budget Decisions Below, we offer a framework for approaching environment budget decisions in today ’s challenging fiscal circumstances —namely , how to evaluate the Governor ’s new spending proposals across CNRA, CalEPA, and CDFA in the context of a General Fund condition that is only precariously balanced in the near term and faces significant deficits in the coming years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - The underlying budget dynamics today are particularly challenging for three reasons. First, revenues have not caught up with expenditures. Second, under our estimates, expenditure growth exceeds estimated revenue growth.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2023 - (That is, in our view, these costs would not have occurred absent legislative action and as a result do not contribute to the budget problem the Legislature faces today.) Comparison to LAO November Outlook.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4662

Evaluating California's Pursuit of Zero Net Energy State Buildings

Nov 14, 2017 - The analyses should apply a reasonable discount rate that takes into account that dollars in the future are worth less than those today. Evaluate Key Alternatives. The analyses should compare a reasonable set of alternatives.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3711

Cap-and-Trade Extension: Issues for Legislative Oversight

Dec 12, 2017 - An allowance issued today can be purchased today and used to cover emissions in a future year —a design feature commonly known as banking. Since the annual cap on emissions becomes more stringent in later years, banking gives firms an incentive to obtain extra allowances in early years as a way to protect against the risk of higher prices in later years when allowances are more scarce.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3719

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

Apr 5, 2022 - Moreover, many existing structures were built to different standards than are commonplace today, making them less resilient to the effects of climate change. For instance, many older homes were built with features —such as wood shake roofs, cedar siding, or single ‑paned windows —that make them more vulnerable to igniting during wildfires.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4575

Living Under Smoky Skies—Understanding the Challenges Posed by Wildfire Smoke in California

Nov 14, 2022 - This reduced the acreage burned and associated emissions, but also has contributed to the poor forest health that exists across the state today. Wildland Fire Smoke Prevalent Before European Settlement Wildland Fires Burned Large Areas Before Modern Fire Exclusion Policies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4644

Cap-and-Trade Revenues: Strategies to Promote Legislative Priorities

Jan 21, 2016 - Regulatory uncertainty about long –term GHG limits and regulations can make it difficult for covered entities today to make cost –effective long –term investments. For example, a company might have an opportunity to purchase a more expensive, but more efficient, technology that reduces GHGs reductions beyond 2020.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3328

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

Oct 16, 2023 - Geological Survey and DWR formerly operated as many as 3,600 stream gages in California, the number in operation has declined since the 1970s —down to about 1,000 today —due to reduced funding over time.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4807