CalTrout News
The Sierra Nevada provides roughly 60% of California’s domestic water, is home to 40 native fish species and over 400 terrestrial animals. Sierra headwaters, including meadows systems in particular, are a critical component of the broader Sierra Nevada environment providing critical ecological goods and services benefiting flora, fauna, local livelihoods and distant communities throughout California.
Unfortunately, the health of the Sierra Nevada ecosystems is not well and as a result, the benefits such as water, habitats, recreational opportunities etc., are in significant decline. Given the importance of the Sierra Nevada to California’s water infrastructure, plants, animals and regional communities there is an urgent need and opportunity to invest and support restoration of this iconic landscape.
Experts say that improvements to the Feather, McCloud, Pit, Trinity and Upper Sacramento watersheds could add an additional 5-20 percent to the state’s supply, which already accounts for the water that 25 million Californians enjoy.”
Mercury News Editorial, August 10
Assemblyman Richard Bloom’s AB 2480 is a significant step towards formally recognizing the importance of the Sierra Nevada watersheds for California’s water supplies as well as critical habitats for plants, animals, fish and people. We strongly support AB 2480 and encourage its passage.
For more on the bill, click to read the full editorial in the Mercury News.
You can read more about California’s source waters and the need to protect them in the The Current’s Summer Issue.
