The California Fish and Game Commission and California Department
of Fish and Wildlife are conducting the second webinar in their
series “Coyotes in the Urban Environment” on Friday, May 28,
2021, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.
The first webinar discussed the increase of reported conflicts
between humans and coyotes in California. The second is targeted
at local governments and will discuss coyote management plans,
outreach, and education strategies to help address potential
conflict.
This week, the Governor significantly expanded his
April 21 drought emergency proclamation to include Klamath
River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and Tulare Lake Watershed
counties, where accelerated action is needed to protect
public health, safety, and the environment. In total, 41 counties
and, representing 30 percent of the state population, are now
under a drought state of emergency.
The California Department of Water Resources has developed a
helpful
infographic to illustrate Drought Year State Water Project
Operations. Counties may find this graphic helpful to share with
interested parties, water systems, and partners.
CSAC’s AENR team continues to monitor the local and statewide
drought conditions and response. For questions, please contact
Catherine Freeman at cfreeman@counties.org.
Governor Newsom released a two-fold announcement today
to move towards a full ban on hydraulic fracturing
(fracking) by 2024 and study phasing out oil production in the
state. The Governor-directed Department of Conservation’s
Division of Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM) will initiate
regulatory action to end the issuance of new permits for fracking
by January 2024.
Governor Newsom recently named CSAC President James Gore to the
Executive Committee of the California Wildfire and Forest
Resilience Task Force. President Gore joins Cal-EPA Secretary
Jared Blumenfeld, Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot,
Office of Planning and Research Director Kate Gordon, CalFIRE
Chief Thom Porter, and local representatives Mono County
Supervisor Stacy Corless, Chair of the Rural County
Representatives of California, and Don Hankins with the
Intertribal Stewardship Project on the Executive Committee.
Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G.
Atkins (D-San Diego), and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon
(D-Lakewood) announced a $536
million funding plan to help improve
California’s resilience to wildfires.
Governor Newsom has tapped the California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFIRE) Emergency Fund to
authorize $80.74 million to accelerate action
on emerging fire season dangers.These actions align with the
Governor’s recently publishedWildfire
and Forest Resilience Action Plan and early action budget
proposals.
Well county folks, it is official, California counties are
heading into a drought year. Northern California has about 51
percent of average precipitation for this time of year;
statewide average snowpack levels are at 63 percent of
average. This CSAC bulletin outlines the current state and
federal water status including crop loss declarations, water
rights notices, and state and federal water project
announcements.
The Board of Forestry conducted a workshop on February 24
regarding the latest version of the proposed Fire Safe
Regulations. CSAC and other local government advocacy groups have
been closely monitoring the development of these regulations for
the past several months. This has included participation in
several workshops and a local government stakeholder meeting to
discuss the proposed changes and direct meetings with the Board
of Forestry members and staff.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a
decision on February 18 adopting wireline provider resiliency
strategies. The decision
(21-02-029) requires California’s facilities-based
wireline providers to develop comprehensive resiliency strategies
to prepare for catastrophic disasters and power outages. These
requirements are for wireline facilities in Tier 2 and Tier 3
High Fire Threat Districts (HFTDs). The decision:
