by Analise Rivero, CalTrout Policy Associate
CalTrout is thrilled to see that California’s newest Senator is a public lands champion. On May 3, Senator Alex Padilla announced the introduction of the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act, which is complementary to the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act passed by the House of Representatives in February (from Representatives Huffman, Carbajal and Chu).
Co-sponsored by Senator Feinstein, the PUBLIC Lands Act would protect and increase access to over 1 million acres of public lands and more than 500 miles of rivers throughout California. Specifically, the bill will designate 424 miles of new Wild and Scenic Rivers and require management plans for an additional 101 miles of existing Wild and Scenic rivers to help ensure these watersheds continue to safeguard endangered salmon and steelhead populations, recreational opportunities, and drinking water for downstream communities.
CalTrout is excited to support this monumental legislation, not only for its protection of critical lands and waters but also for its emphasis on improving equitable access to the outdoors.
At the bill introduction press conference, Senator Padilla said, “Our public lands are one of our state’s greatest gifts – from the San Gabriel Mountains, to the Central Coast, and through Northwestern California’s forests and rivers. It is incumbent upon us to be thoughtful stewards of these special places so that our communities can enjoy them and benefit from America’s natural resources for generations to come and we must do so in a way that reverses racial and economic disparities in access to nature and parks. Some of the protected land in this bill serves densely populated areas of the state that don’t have equal access to nature, which will help rebalance this historic disparity in access to untouched wilderness.”
For example, the PUBLIC Lands Act safeguards places in the San Gabriel Mountains, which provide over 10 million Los Angeles County residents with more than 70% of their open space. It will also protect public lands and rivers near cities along the Central Coast, such as Santa Maria, and Fillmore, which have limited park access. For example, in Northwest California, it authorizes the creation of over 295 miles of new trails, including in rural areas, which will improve access to quality outdoor recreation experiences for all.
Further, this legislation will help achieve the goals in Governor Newsom and President Biden’s Executive Orders to protect 30% of our lands and waters by 2030 (an effort known as 30×30). California is currently in the process of putting together a statewide plan on how to implement and achieve this 30×30 goal.
The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) is soliciting feedback from all stakeholders around the state including the fishing community, outdoor access and environmental justice advocates, farmers, ranchers, and more. Although CNRA’s regional workshops on 30×30 have passed, there will still be additional opportunities to learn more and provide input.
This summer, CNRA will host additional virtual workshops around specific topics, rather than regions. These topics will range from ‘Equity’ to ‘Defining Conservation.’ Keep an eye on CNRA’s dedicated 30×30 website: www.californianature.ca.gov to see when these topical workshops are scheduled.
We encourage you to submit your feedback, attend these workshops and make sure to uplift the importance and value of California’s precious freshwater ecosystems.
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Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.