What AB 460 Means for California's Watersheds
AB 460 addresses a critical gap in our state's water management by substantially increasing the fines that the State Water Resources Control Board can impose on illegal water diverters. This is particularly important during critically dry years in sensitive watersheds, where every drop of water counts.
Previously, the penalties for illegal water diversion were so minimal that they could be easily disregarded, essentially creating a loophole in our water protection efforts. AB 460 closes this loophole, giving real teeth to existing laws and providing a powerful deterrent against harmful water use practices.
CalTrout's primary focus in supporting this bill was to discourage illegal water diversions during curtailment actions, which harm both fish and downstream water users. These diversions pose an existential threat to our state's already limited water resources, particularly during drought conditions when our rivers and streams are most vulnerable.
A Step Towards Sustainable Water Management
By providing the State Water Board with the ability to leverage meaningful deterrents against illegal water diversions, AB 460 helps secure water supplies for communities throughout California. This is a critical step towards more sustainable water management in our state.
We at CalTrout understand that effective restoration is not possible without supportive policy. AB 460 is a prime example of how we're working to elevate freshwater conservation priorities to state decision-makers, ensuring that our on-the-ground restoration efforts are backed by robust legislative support.
Check out this article by the LA Times to learn more: New California water measures aim to increase fines for violators, protect wetlands
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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.