CalFed: Still Imperiled, Still Important

Little Hoover Commission | November 17th, 2005

The Little Hoover Commission on Thursday recommended overhauling how state and federal agencies are managing the massive, multibillion-dollar effort to restore the Bay-De

The Little Hoover Commission on Thursday recommended overhauling how state and federal agencies are managing the massive, multibillion-dollar effort to restore the Bay-Delta estuary. The Commission’s review affirmed the importance of the CALFED Bay-Delta program and the need to fundamentally change how the multi-agency effort is governed. The Commission recommended dissolving the Bay-Delta Authority, which was created in 2003, and creating a stronger management structure that could be held accountable for achieving the program’s four objectives: improving water supply reliability, levee stability, water quality and the ecosystem of the vast, yet fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Delta supplies water to 22 million Californians, irrigates 5 million acres of farmland and is home to 750 wildlife species. Through CALFED, 24 state and federal agencies were committed to working cooperatively and relying on science and public involvement to improve conditions in the Bay-Delta. But after five years and $3 billion, the Governor and the Legislature have questioned the progress and the ability of the Bay-Delta Authority to lead the effort. The Commission’s review was requested by Governor Schwarzenegger as part of an effort to revitalize CALFED. The Commission concluded that the current structure diffuses authority and fragments responsibility and lacks the focused leadership needed to get adversarial stakeholders and reluctant government agencies to cooperate. “Because of a faulty design, the Bay-Delta Authority cannot effectively coordinate activities, push agencies to perform, or provide rigorous oversight. It is unable to control or cajole,” said Michael E. Alpert, chairman of the Little Hoover Commission. The Commission found that growing disagreements about CALFED’s mission and the role of the Bay-Delta Authority are jeopardizing the critical water supply and restoration effort. The Commission recommended recreating a policy group of public officials, co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Interior and the California Secretary of Resources. It recommended deploying performance management techniques to improve progress toward specific goals. And it recommended refinements to the program’s use of a lead scientist and an independent science board to improve decision-making. “The most important factor in CALFED’s success will be leadership,” Alpert said. “One lesson of the last five years is that CALFED will require an amount of political capital and leadership that can only flow from the institution of the Governor.” The Commission’s report includes recommendations for reforming the governance structure of the CALFED program.

California Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | February 8th, 2008

Californians have benefited from the introduction to this state of various fish, plants and other species necessary for food or other human pursuits; however, there are m

Californians have benefited from the introduction to this state of various fish, plants and other species necessary for food or other human pursuits; however, there are many other introduced species that can wreak havoc on the state’s environment and economy. Those species that cause harm and spread quickly from their point of introduction are often called “invasive.” For these species, a single individual may produce thousands of seeds, masses of larvae or reproduce from nothing bigger than bits of stems, roots or leaves. Those that live in or near the water – aquatic invasive species – can be easily dispersed to distant water bodies or new ecosystems by currents, tides, river flows, streams, floods and other water flows. This plan proposes management actions for addressing aquatic invasive species (AIS) threats to the State of California. It focuses on the non-native algae, crabs, clams, fish, plants and other species that continue to invade California’s creeks, wetlands, rivers, bays and coastal waters. State surveys indicate that at least 607 species of aquatic invaders can be found in California’s estuarine waters. These invaders cause major impacts: disrupting agriculture, shipping, water delivery, recreational and commercial fishing; undermining levees, docks and environmental restoration activities; impeding navigation and enjoyment of the state’s waterways; and damaging native habitats and the species that depend on them. As the ease of transporting organisms across the Americas and around the globe has increased, so has the rate of AIS introductions. RELATED DOCUMENT: California Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan – Appendices

California Department of Fish and Game Biennial Report 1870-1873

California Fish and Game Commission | April 1st, 1933

California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project: A Strategy for Conserving a Connected California

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | March 2nd, 2010

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) commissioned the California Essential Habitat Connectivity Projec

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) commissioned the California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project because a functional network of connected wildlands is essential to the continued support of California’s diverse natural communities in the face of human development and climate change. This Report is also intended to make transportation and land-use planning more efficient and less costly, while helping reduce dangerous wildlife-vehicle collisions. This Essential Habitat Connectivity Report includes three primary products: (1) a statewide Essential Habitat Connectivity Map, (2) data characterizing areas delineated on the map, and (3) guidance for mitigating the fragmenting effects of roads and for developing and implementing local and regional connectivity plans. These products will be made available for public use on two websites—BIOS, managed by the California Department of Fish and Game [now Wildlife], and Data Basin, managed by the Conservation Biology Institute. Both are interactive web-based systems that allow users to download, print, combine, comment on, or otherwise use the maps, data layers, and other information.

California Fish and Game, Volume 15

California Fish and Game Commission | January 1st, 1929

California Fish and Game, Volume 16

California Fish and Game Commission | April 2nd, 1930

California Fish and Game, Volume 2

California Fish and Game Commission | January 31st, 1916

California Fish and Game, Volume 28

California Fish and Game Commission | July 15th, 1942

California Fish and Game, Volume 30

California Fish and Game Commission | January 3rd, 1944

California Fish and Game, Volume 32

California Fish and Game Commission | July 1st, 1946