CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1224Introduced by Senator Bates(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Nguyen)February 17, 2022 An act relating to watersheds, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1224, as introduced, Bates. Watersheds: wildlife habitat: Counties of Orange and San Diego.The Wildlife Conservation Law of 1947 establishes the Wildlife Conservation Board in the Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires the board to determine the areas in the state that are most essential and suitable for certain wildlife-related purposes. Under that law, the board may authorize the department to acquire real property, rights in real property, water, or water rights for the benefit of wildlife.This bill would appropriate $37,000,000 from the General Fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to acquire fee title or conservation easements or to perform restoration, or a combination thereof, in watersheds with habitats for sensitive wildlife populations in specified regions in the Counties of Orange and San Diego, as provided.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Orange and San Diego.Digest Key Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The southern region of the County of Orange and northern region of the County of San Diego are known for their beaches, but the area around the county line that separates the two counties is also home to magnificent ecologically intact habitats, including aquatic, riparian stream, oak woodland, grassland, and coastal sage scrub.(b) These large areas of undeveloped habitat, including portions of Camp Pendleton and the Cleveland National Forest, embrace elevational gradients from sea to mountaintops, essential for climate resilience.(c) A key component of this area is the 139 square mile San Mateo Creek Watershed, one of the last major watersheds in southern California that has no dams or channels. The San Mateo Creek Watersheds pristine drainages and high water quality support an unparalleled concentration of 11 endangered and threatened species, including southern steelhead trout, Pacific pocket mouse, arroyo southwestern toad, Least Bells vireo, California gnatcatcher, San Diego fairy shrimp, tidewater goby, southwestern willow flycatcher, and western snowy plover.(d) Other watersheds in this area boast similar important environmental traits.(e) The beaches in this area depend on the fresh water from these healthy watersheds for sand transport, which in turn works to maintain the condition of the beaches in this area.(f) The beaches provide unparalleled recreational opportunities for all Californians.(g) Restoring and conserving these unique watersheds near the county line of the Counties of Orange and San Diego has a direct correlation to the health of the coastline so that it can withstand the impacts from sea level rise resulting from changes to our climate.(h) Preserving these open spaces meets all three key objectives of Californias 30X30 Initiative, for biodiversity, equitable access, and climate adaptation. SEC. 2. Thirty-seven million dollars ($37,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to acquire fee title or conservation easements or to perform restoration, or a combination thereof, in watersheds with habitats for sensitive wildlife populations in the southern region of the County of Orange and the northern region of the County San Diego, east of Interstate 5, with highest priority for projects in the San Mateo Creek Watershed.SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique nature of watersheds within the Counties of Orange and San Diego.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1224Introduced by Senator Bates(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Nguyen)February 17, 2022 An act relating to watersheds, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1224, as introduced, Bates. Watersheds: wildlife habitat: Counties of Orange and San Diego.The Wildlife Conservation Law of 1947 establishes the Wildlife Conservation Board in the Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires the board to determine the areas in the state that are most essential and suitable for certain wildlife-related purposes. Under that law, the board may authorize the department to acquire real property, rights in real property, water, or water rights for the benefit of wildlife.This bill would appropriate $37,000,000 from the General Fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to acquire fee title or conservation easements or to perform restoration, or a combination thereof, in watersheds with habitats for sensitive wildlife populations in specified regions in the Counties of Orange and San Diego, as provided.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Orange and San Diego.Digest Key Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1224
Introduced by Senator Bates(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Nguyen)February 17, 2022
Introduced by Senator Bates(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Nguyen)
February 17, 2022
An act relating to watersheds, and making an appropriation therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1224, as introduced, Bates. Watersheds: wildlife habitat: Counties of Orange and San Diego.
The Wildlife Conservation Law of 1947 establishes the Wildlife Conservation Board in the Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires the board to determine the areas in the state that are most essential and suitable for certain wildlife-related purposes. Under that law, the board may authorize the department to acquire real property, rights in real property, water, or water rights for the benefit of wildlife.This bill would appropriate $37,000,000 from the General Fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to acquire fee title or conservation easements or to perform restoration, or a combination thereof, in watersheds with habitats for sensitive wildlife populations in specified regions in the Counties of Orange and San Diego, as provided.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Orange and San Diego.
The Wildlife Conservation Law of 1947 establishes the Wildlife Conservation Board in the Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires the board to determine the areas in the state that are most essential and suitable for certain wildlife-related purposes. Under that law, the board may authorize the department to acquire real property, rights in real property, water, or water rights for the benefit of wildlife.
This bill would appropriate $37,000,000 from the General Fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to acquire fee title or conservation easements or to perform restoration, or a combination thereof, in watersheds with habitats for sensitive wildlife populations in specified regions in the Counties of Orange and San Diego, as provided.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Orange and San Diego.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The southern region of the County of Orange and northern region of the County of San Diego are known for their beaches, but the area around the county line that separates the two counties is also home to magnificent ecologically intact habitats, including aquatic, riparian stream, oak woodland, grassland, and coastal sage scrub.(b) These large areas of undeveloped habitat, including portions of Camp Pendleton and the Cleveland National Forest, embrace elevational gradients from sea to mountaintops, essential for climate resilience.(c) A key component of this area is the 139 square mile San Mateo Creek Watershed, one of the last major watersheds in southern California that has no dams or channels. The San Mateo Creek Watersheds pristine drainages and high water quality support an unparalleled concentration of 11 endangered and threatened species, including southern steelhead trout, Pacific pocket mouse, arroyo southwestern toad, Least Bells vireo, California gnatcatcher, San Diego fairy shrimp, tidewater goby, southwestern willow flycatcher, and western snowy plover.(d) Other watersheds in this area boast similar important environmental traits.(e) The beaches in this area depend on the fresh water from these healthy watersheds for sand transport, which in turn works to maintain the condition of the beaches in this area.(f) The beaches provide unparalleled recreational opportunities for all Californians.(g) Restoring and conserving these unique watersheds near the county line of the Counties of Orange and San Diego has a direct correlation to the health of the coastline so that it can withstand the impacts from sea level rise resulting from changes to our climate.(h) Preserving these open spaces meets all three key objectives of Californias 30X30 Initiative, for biodiversity, equitable access, and climate adaptation. SEC. 2. Thirty-seven million dollars ($37,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to acquire fee title or conservation easements or to perform restoration, or a combination thereof, in watersheds with habitats for sensitive wildlife populations in the southern region of the County of Orange and the northern region of the County San Diego, east of Interstate 5, with highest priority for projects in the San Mateo Creek Watershed.SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique nature of watersheds within the Counties of Orange and San Diego.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The southern region of the County of Orange and northern region of the County of San Diego are known for their beaches, but the area around the county line that separates the two counties is also home to magnificent ecologically intact habitats, including aquatic, riparian stream, oak woodland, grassland, and coastal sage scrub.(b) These large areas of undeveloped habitat, including portions of Camp Pendleton and the Cleveland National Forest, embrace elevational gradients from sea to mountaintops, essential for climate resilience.(c) A key component of this area is the 139 square mile San Mateo Creek Watershed, one of the last major watersheds in southern California that has no dams or channels. The San Mateo Creek Watersheds pristine drainages and high water quality support an unparalleled concentration of 11 endangered and threatened species, including southern steelhead trout, Pacific pocket mouse, arroyo southwestern toad, Least Bells vireo, California gnatcatcher, San Diego fairy shrimp, tidewater goby, southwestern willow flycatcher, and western snowy plover.(d) Other watersheds in this area boast similar important environmental traits.(e) The beaches in this area depend on the fresh water from these healthy watersheds for sand transport, which in turn works to maintain the condition of the beaches in this area.(f) The beaches provide unparalleled recreational opportunities for all Californians.(g) Restoring and conserving these unique watersheds near the county line of the Counties of Orange and San Diego has a direct correlation to the health of the coastline so that it can withstand the impacts from sea level rise resulting from changes to our climate.(h) Preserving these open spaces meets all three key objectives of Californias 30X30 Initiative, for biodiversity, equitable access, and climate adaptation.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The southern region of the County of Orange and northern region of the County of San Diego are known for their beaches, but the area around the county line that separates the two counties is also home to magnificent ecologically intact habitats, including aquatic, riparian stream, oak woodland, grassland, and coastal sage scrub.(b) These large areas of undeveloped habitat, including portions of Camp Pendleton and the Cleveland National Forest, embrace elevational gradients from sea to mountaintops, essential for climate resilience.(c) A key component of this area is the 139 square mile San Mateo Creek Watershed, one of the last major watersheds in southern California that has no dams or channels. The San Mateo Creek Watersheds pristine drainages and high water quality support an unparalleled concentration of 11 endangered and threatened species, including southern steelhead trout, Pacific pocket mouse, arroyo southwestern toad, Least Bells vireo, California gnatcatcher, San Diego fairy shrimp, tidewater goby, southwestern willow flycatcher, and western snowy plover.(d) Other watersheds in this area boast similar important environmental traits.(e) The beaches in this area depend on the fresh water from these healthy watersheds for sand transport, which in turn works to maintain the condition of the beaches in this area.(f) The beaches provide unparalleled recreational opportunities for all Californians.(g) Restoring and conserving these unique watersheds near the county line of the Counties of Orange and San Diego has a direct correlation to the health of the coastline so that it can withstand the impacts from sea level rise resulting from changes to our climate.(h) Preserving these open spaces meets all three key objectives of Californias 30X30 Initiative, for biodiversity, equitable access, and climate adaptation.
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
### SECTION 1.
(a) The southern region of the County of Orange and northern region of the County of San Diego are known for their beaches, but the area around the county line that separates the two counties is also home to magnificent ecologically intact habitats, including aquatic, riparian stream, oak woodland, grassland, and coastal sage scrub.
(b) These large areas of undeveloped habitat, including portions of Camp Pendleton and the Cleveland National Forest, embrace elevational gradients from sea to mountaintops, essential for climate resilience.
(c) A key component of this area is the 139 square mile San Mateo Creek Watershed, one of the last major watersheds in southern California that has no dams or channels. The San Mateo Creek Watersheds pristine drainages and high water quality support an unparalleled concentration of 11 endangered and threatened species, including southern steelhead trout, Pacific pocket mouse, arroyo southwestern toad, Least Bells vireo, California gnatcatcher, San Diego fairy shrimp, tidewater goby, southwestern willow flycatcher, and western snowy plover.
(d) Other watersheds in this area boast similar important environmental traits.
(e) The beaches in this area depend on the fresh water from these healthy watersheds for sand transport, which in turn works to maintain the condition of the beaches in this area.
(f) The beaches provide unparalleled recreational opportunities for all Californians.
(g) Restoring and conserving these unique watersheds near the county line of the Counties of Orange and San Diego has a direct correlation to the health of the coastline so that it can withstand the impacts from sea level rise resulting from changes to our climate.
(h) Preserving these open spaces meets all three key objectives of Californias 30X30 Initiative, for biodiversity, equitable access, and climate adaptation.
SEC. 2. Thirty-seven million dollars ($37,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to acquire fee title or conservation easements or to perform restoration, or a combination thereof, in watersheds with habitats for sensitive wildlife populations in the southern region of the County of Orange and the northern region of the County San Diego, east of Interstate 5, with highest priority for projects in the San Mateo Creek Watershed.
SEC. 2. Thirty-seven million dollars ($37,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to acquire fee title or conservation easements or to perform restoration, or a combination thereof, in watersheds with habitats for sensitive wildlife populations in the southern region of the County of Orange and the northern region of the County San Diego, east of Interstate 5, with highest priority for projects in the San Mateo Creek Watershed.
SEC. 2. Thirty-seven million dollars ($37,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board for grants to acquire fee title or conservation easements or to perform restoration, or a combination thereof, in watersheds with habitats for sensitive wildlife populations in the southern region of the County of Orange and the northern region of the County San Diego, east of Interstate 5, with highest priority for projects in the San Mateo Creek Watershed.
### SEC. 2.
SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique nature of watersheds within the Counties of Orange and San Diego.
SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique nature of watersheds within the Counties of Orange and San Diego.
SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique nature of watersheds within the Counties of Orange and San Diego.
### SEC. 3.