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 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 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

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

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 2025-26 Budget: State Mandates—Regional Water Quality Control Boards

May 30, 2025 - For example, CSM determined that requirements to develop certain monitoring and work plans; provide specific information in annual reports; and develop plans for various studies, such as investigations of sediment toxicity in streams, to be state-reimbursable mandates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5054

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Natural Resources and Environmental Protection

Oct 16, 2025 - These include $47  million for dam safety, $15  million for systemwide flood risk reduction, $11  million for flood management, and $5  million in the Urban Streams Restoration Program. (The impacts of the first two of these reductions will be somewhat offset by the new appropriations from Proposition  4.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5080

The 2024-25 Budget: Sustainable Funding for the Department of Pesticide Regulation

Mar 5, 2024 - For instance, a single tax rate is easier for the state to administer and offers a more predictable revenue stream. It  also is simpler and more predictable for the entities that pay the tax. A flat increase also aligns with the recommendations in the independent contractor ’s report.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4873

A Framework for Evaluating State-Level Green Stimulus Proposals

Jan 5, 2021 - For example, the 2020 wildfire season took lives, leveled homes, destroyed habitats, and worsened air quality throughout the state. Moreover, current estimates suggest the state’s wildfire protection costs will reach at least $3.1 billion in 2020‑21.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4308