CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1581


Introduced by Assembly Member Kalra

February 17, 2023


An act to amend Section 29002 of the Public Resources Code, relating to public resources.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1581, as introduced, Kalra. Suisun Marsh: preservation.
Existing law, the Suisun Marsh Preservation Act of 1977, sets forth a comprehensive plan for the preservation and protection of the Suisun Marsh.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the act’s findings and declarations.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 29002 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

29002.
 The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the Suisun Marsh, consisting of approximately 55,000 acres of marshland and 30,000 acres of bays and sloughs, and comprising almost 10 percent of the remaining natural wetlands in California, plays an important role in providing wintering habitat for waterfowl of the Pacific Flyway; that during years of drought the area becomes particularly important to waterfowl by virtue of its large expanse of aquatic habitat and the scarcity of such habitat elsewhere; that the area provides critical habitat for other wildlife forms, including such endangered, rare, or unique species as the peregrine falcon, white-tailed kite, golden eagle, California clapper rail, black rail, salt-marsh harvest mouse, and Suisun shrew; that the existence of this wide variety of wildlife is due to the relatively large expanse of unbroken native habitat and the diversity of vegetation and acquatic aquatic conditions that prevail in the marsh; that man is humans are an integral part of the present marsh ecosystem and, to a significant extent, exercises exercise control over the widespread presence of water and the abundant source of waterfowl foods; that the Suisun Marsh represents a unique and irreplaceable resource to the people of the state and nation; that future residential, commercial, and industrial developments could adversely affect the wildlife value of the area; and that it is the policy of the state to preserve and protect resources of this nature for the enjoyment of the current and succeeding generations.