The 2022-23 Budget: State Water Resources Control Board—Bay-Delta Plan Update

Jan 31, 2022 - In 2018, the board adopted Phase I of these new updates, which includes new water quality flow objectives for the lower San  Joaquin River and its tributaries (the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced Rivers), as well as updated salinity objectives for the South Delta.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4506

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

May 30, 2025 - San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board ’s Order in South Orange County. CSM determined that several of the requirements in the permit issued by the regional board in 2009 constitute state-reimbursable mandates for Orange County, Orange County Flood Control District, and the cities of South Orange County that are within the San Diego region.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5054

The 2025-26 Budget: May Revision Trailer Bill Proposals on the Delta Conveyance Project and Water Quality Control Plans

May 27, 2025 - Finally, it notes that years-long delays can result from the current requirements —highlighting the Bay-Delta Plan as an example —which can prevent projects to protect the environment from occurring.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5053

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Resources and Environmental Protection

Oct 10, 2022 - As highlighted above, DOC is also receiving General Fund across 2021-22 and 2022-23 from the Drought Response and Resilience ($40  million), Wildfire ($20  million), and Nature-Based Solutions ($14  million) budget packages.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4633

Overview of California's Ports

Aug 23, 2022 - However, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach remain some of the largest sources of air pollution in the South Coast Air Basin. These ports are responsible for about 10 percent of the basin’s total NOx emissions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4618

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposed Zero-Emission Vehicle Incentive

Feb 24, 2026 - California has two regions with the most critical air quality challenges in the nation —the South Coast Air Basin and the San Joaquin Valley. The regions need to make substantial reductions in criteria pollutants from all sources —specifically , nitrous oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter —to meet federal air quality standards.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

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

May 13, 2021 - As of May 10, 2021, precipitation levels were tracking at 48  p ercent of average for the year in the Northern Sierra region, 49 percent in the mid‑Sierra San Joaquin region, and 36 percent further south in the Tulare Basin region.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4429

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfires in California

Jan 28, 2025 - CalFire —Training Center Engines and Equipment. $16 million one ‑time in 2022 ‑23 for 13 new fire engines and other equipment for the Ventura Training Center and the California Fire Training Center South.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952

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

Feb 10, 2026 - We also highlight ways the Legislature could consider modifying certain proposals —such as by shifting their fund source or downsizing their scope —if it finds a compelling rationale for their support but is constrained by the General Fund condition.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposed Elimination of State Environmental Positions

Feb 17, 2026 - The final budget agreement instead eliminated fewer positions (4,994) and provided the Legislature additional time to review 1,009 additional positions which we refer to as “residual: ” (1)  those associated with implementing legislation chaptered in 2022 and 2023 across numerous departments, and (2)  all of those in nine specified departments which we highlight in Figure  1.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124