Sacramento >> Funding approved earlier this month by the state legislature’s Budget Conference Committee for the protection and restoration of Clear Lake didn’t make Gov. Jerry Brown’s final budget signed on Wednesday.
Brown has instead directed the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to work with Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) and Rep. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) to identify sources of state or other funding to help address the significant water quality problems plaguing Clear Lake.
The two legislators successfully secured $1 million for Clear Lake in the state budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year during the legislative session, but Brown removed the appropriation from the budget.
The state departments have been tasked with providing technical assistance to the lawmakers and help Lake County residents develop grant applications for funding via Proposition 1 — the $7.5 billion water bond — and other sources, according to Ezrah Chaaban, of Dodd’s office.
“Clear Lake’s problems of deteriorating drinking water quality, loss of wetlands and threats of invasive species have been exacerbated by the ongoing drought. Voters recently approved Proposition 1, which provides significant amounts of funding for improving drinking water and ecosystem restoration,” the SWRCB and CDFW stated in a joint release. “Furthermore, SWRCB and CDFW have identified other funding sources, such as low interest loans, that could be combined with possible Proposition 1 allocations to provide up to 100 percent of drinking water quality improvement project costs, in addition to funding for projects qualified under the ecosystem restoration program.”
The funds, if secured, would be utilized by Lake County to provide wetland restoration, water quality improvement and manage invasive species.
McGuire and Dodd have been collaborating since early this year to secure greater investment in environmental protection and restoration of Clear Lake. While they are disappointed the funds won’t immediately be appropriated, Dodd and McGuire will continue to work for funds from another source.
“Both Assemblymember Dodd and myself have been working with the governor’s office as well as the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to advance Proposition 1 funding which will benefit the lake’s ecosystem and Lake County’s drinking water supply. We are committed to securing these resources and look forward to working with Governor Brown and the residents of Lake County in the months to come,” McGuire said.
“While we wanted to see the governor approve the allocation the legislature approved for Clear Lake, we’re encouraged by the governor’s direction to the appropriate state agencies to work this upcoming budget year to help secure needed funding. We’ve worked closely with Lake County residents to elevate the issue of resorting Clear Lake to a level that the state cannot continue to ignore,” Dodd said. “Senator McGuire and I will be working hard to hold the board and the department accountable for their commitment.”
Clear Lake is home to diverse wildlife and numerous species of fish, including bass, which makes the lake one of the top bass fishing destinations in the country. However, over time, Clear Lake has developed a number of environmental problems that threaten the fish and wildlife of the lake, diminish drinking water quality and hinder recreational opportunities. If unabated, these issues are likely to persist.
“The SWRCB and CDWF along with Senator McGuire and Assemblymember Dodd fully expect and intend that work will take place in fiscal year 2015-16 to help the communities of Lake County to address their water quality and ecosystem restoration problems as expeditiously as possible,” joint release stated.
