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Committee moves bill to permanently maintain state protections for federally designated wild and scenic rivers in California
Summary
AB 43 would remove a sunset that currently limits the Natural Resources Agency's authority to add federally protected rivers to the state wild and scenic system if federal protections are rolled back; supporters said the change is a precaution in light of federal executive actions and congressional uncertainty.
Assemblymember Schultz presented AB 43 to make permanent the state authority that allows the Natural Resources Agency secretary to add federally designated wild and scenic river segments in California to the state system if federal protections are removed or weakened.
Ronald Stork of Friends of the River and Steven Evans of Cal Wild testified in support, describing the measure as a safeguard should the federal government reduce or rescind protections. Stork referenced recent federal executive actions directing agencies to identify regulatory hurdles to water projects and argued California should be prepared to provide continued protection of federally designated rivers.
Supporters emphasized AB 43 does not create new protections for rivers not already in the federal system; it simply enables state protection to continue if federal protections are rolled back. Multiple environmental organizations registered support. No opposition was recorded in the hearing room. The committee voted to refer AB 43 to Appropriations as amended.
