AB 2528, a measure that incorporates four state watersheds into the triennial California’s Climate Adaptation Strategy report, has passed out Assembly Natural Resources on a 7-3 vote. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), will help the state create more climate resilient habitats and protect the state’s largest estuaries and most pristine river systems.
AB 2528 identifies climate resilient habitat areas that offer the best opportunity to remain ecologically productive and amends the Climate Adaptation Strategy to include definitions of four watershed zones: salmon and steelhead strongholds, spring-fed source watersheds, mountain meadows, and estuaries. By adding these zones, the bill would require the Natural Resources Agency to research the importance of these resilient watershed areas in its next Climate Adaptation Strategy. By maintaining resiliency and mitigating the impacts of climate change in certain resilient watersheds, California can continue to maintain ecological function and support abundant wildlife into the future.
“While we may not spend a lot of time thinking about watersheds on a daily basis, they continually help sustain our ecosystems. Although we may not be able to mitigate every single impact of climate change, it is essential that that we maintain the resiliency of our watersheds,” said Assemblymember Bloom.
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