Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Assembly approves temporary flows for Shasta and Smith rivers while permanent regulations are developed
Summary
The Assembly passed AB 263 to extend temporary river flow requirements on the Shasta and Smith Rivers, a bill supporters said preserves tribal and fisheries protections while opponents called for more local stakeholder input and questioned effectiveness.
The California Assembly on Wednesday passed AB 263, a bill to keep temporary flow requirements in place on the Shasta and Smith rivers while state agencies and stakeholders work toward permanent regulations.
Assemblymember Rogers introduced the measure, saying the temporary flows have helped restore fish populations and provided certainty for fishermen and tribal communities. “These temporary regulations are the first time that we have ever had balance,” Rogers said on the floor, adding that the minimum flows help fish survive and support tribal and fishing economies.
Supporters, including tribal representatives and coauthors, said the short-term rules are the first significant inclusion of tribal input and the temporary flows protect coho and other salmon species during negotiations on long-term rules. Assemblymember Ramos, a principal coauthor, told the chamber that tribes have declared states of emergency over salmon declines and urged the Assembly to support continued protections while long-term regulation is developed.
Opponents argued the bill overrides local processes and was advanced without sufficient input from local farmers and water users. Assemblymember Hadwick said the emergency rules were designed as temporary drought measures and that much of the affected area had a strong water year; she urged the Assembly to allow local stakeholders and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to continue negotiations rather than lock in an extension by statute. Republican Leader Gallagher also said the measure risks undermining collaborative local processes and questioned whether increased flows alone restore salmon habitat.
Committee review and floor debate: AB 263 received extended debate on the floor and had been vetted in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, where the chair, Assemblymember Papan, said the bill was “substantially vetted” and that a multi-year window would allow stakeholders time to reach an equitable solution.
Formal action: After extended floor debate, the Assembly approved AB 263. The clerk recorded 51 ayes and 16 noes; the measure passed.
Clarifying details: Supporters described the bill as maintaining temporary flows until permanent regulations can be finalized, with multiple speakers describing the legislative window as roughly five years to allow stakeholder negotiations. Opponents said the extension applies despite improved water-year conditions in some parts of the region and warned the bill could set a precedent for legislative overrides of water-board processes.
Next steps and implementation: The bill preserves the temporary flow requirements while DWR completes rulemaking for long-term standards; supporters said the law ensures continuity while stakeholder negotiations continue. Implementation will depend on the Department of Water Resources and ongoing regional negotiations; the bill does not itself define final permanent flows.
Votes at a glance: Final roll vote on AB 263: 51 ayes, 16 noes (adopted).
Speakers quoted in this article are listed in the attribution roster below.
