Bill Text: CA AB64 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Beaver restoration.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB64 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB64-Amended.html
NOYES
Local Program:
NOYES
SEC. 2.
Bill Title: Beaver restoration.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB64 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB64-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
February 17, 2023 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 64
| Introduced by Assembly Member Mathis |
December 06, 2022 |
An act relating to fish and wildlife. to add Article 2 (commencing with Section 4030) to Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 4 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to beaver.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 64, as amended, Mathis.
Fish and wildlife: beaver. Wild beaver: release.
Existing law, except as provided, authorizes any owner or tenant of land or property that is being damaged or destroyed or is in danger of being damaged or destroyed by certain animals, including, among others, the beaver, to apply to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for a permit to kill the animals. Under existing law, it is unlawful for any person to trap any fur-bearing mammal for purposes of recreation or commerce in fur. Under existing law, a violation of the Fish and Game Code is a crime.
This bill would require the department to allow the release of the wild beaver onto public lands and would authorize the department to partner with specified entities for the express purpose of capturing, handling, or releasing the wild beaver onto public lands, as
provided. The bill would, where a released wild beaver migrates naturally onto private property, authorize a private landowner to request the department to relocate the beaver, as provided. The bill would require the department to be liable for damage done to private property that can be directly tied to the presence of the released wild beaver.
The bill would authorize the department to allow the release of the wild beaver onto private lands with a written agreement from the landowner, as provided. The bill would establish a procedure for a landowner needing to remove, breach, or modify a beaver dam utilized by the relocated beaver and would authorize the landowner to apply for a depredation permit when the beaver causes damage to the landowner’s property or is at risk of damaging property, as specified.
The bill would authorize the department to allow the release of the wild beaver onto lands held by California recognized
tribal nations with a written agreement from the tribal government containing specified information. The bill would require the department to be liable for damage done to structures that can be directly tied to the presence of the wild beaver released onto private lands or onto lands held by California recognized tribal nations, as provided.
The bill would require the department to only allow the release of the wild beaver to an area of the state where there is a low probability of the released beaver becoming a nuisance or causing damage, there is evidence of historic endemic beaver populations, and conditions exist for the released beaver to improve, maintain, or manage stream or riparian ecosystem functions. The bill would authorize the department to consider certain factors when relocating the wild beaver, including, among others, the adequacy of a food source.
Because a violation of these new provisions would be a
crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law defines the beaver as a furbearing mammal. Existing law provides various programs related to habitat protection and wildlife conservation.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would improve beaver management and conservation across the state. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) is a keystone species that is native to California and was once prevalent in watersheds throughout the state.
(b) A legacy of beaver trapping, exploitation, and eradication has significantly diminished the beaver population across California, reducing the ecological benefits beavers provide to California’s watersheds, wildlife, and climate.
(c) Beavers
provide habitat for a myriad of species, increase biodiversity, and are integral to the conservation and recovery of imperiled species.
(d) Beavers are ecosystem engineers who improve climate change resiliency and watershed health, thereby providing essential ecosystem services to both wildlife and human communities.
(e) Beaver-created dams, ponds, and associated wetlands help mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, drought, and wildfire by enhancing carbon sequestration, increasing water storage, maintaining stream flows, providing flood and erosion control, and establishing riparian corridors that serve as critical fire refugia.
(f) Beaver dams also improve water quality, repair degraded channels, reconnect
floodplains, and create and expand diverse wetland and aquatic habitats that support a multitude of species.
(g) Recognizing that beavers are one of the most cost-efficient, sustainable solutions for ecological restoration and climate change resilience, Native American tribes, state and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private landowners, ranchers, scientists, restoration practitioners, and academics are working in partnership to successfully implement beaver restoration projects throughout California.
(h) A proactive, modernized approach to beaver management with a focus on coexistence strategies and high-impact, low-disturbance techniques to bring beavers back to the landscape will enhance the ongoing efforts to restore ecological function to California’s
watersheds and increase community resilience to climate change.
(i) Facilitating beaver restoration projects will greatly accelerate stream and wetland restoration and thus would be an enormous asset in achieving California’s goals for wildfire and drought
resiliency, 30x30 protections, and nature-based solutions to climate change.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would improve beaver management and conservation across California.
SEC. 2.
Article 2 (commencing with Section 4030) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 4 of the Fish and Game Code, to read:Article 2. Release Provisions
4030.
(a) The department shall allow the release of the wild beaver onto public lands. The department shall notify potentially affected, adjacent landowners in writing before permitting the release of the wild beaver onto public lands.(b) The department shall require specific training for a person involved with capturing, handling, or releasing the wild beaver onto public lands.
(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may partner with federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, academic programs, and other entities for the express purpose of capturing, handling, or releasing the wild beaver onto public lands. The department shall issue permits,
maintain the permit system, and develop reporting requirements for the purposes of this subdivision that are applicable to all partners except federal agencies.
(2) The department shall require each partner, excluding federal agencies, to complete a training course created and administered by the department before the department issues a permit authorizing the partner to conduct work in the state related to this article.
(3) Excluding federal agencies, each partner shall complete the required training course and receive a permit from the department before conducting work in the state related to this article.
(d) The department may identify a nuisance beaver or areas with a thriving beaver population as a source population for capturing and relocating the wild beaver onto public lands.
(e) (1) If a wild beaver that is released onto public lands pursuant to this section migrates naturally onto private property, the private landowner of the property where the beaver now resides may request that the department relocate the beaver. The department shall comply with the landowner’s request in a timely manner.
(2) If a wild beaver that is released onto public lands pursuant to this section migrates naturally onto private property, the department may notify the landowner of the agreement in subdivision (a) of Section 4031. If the private landowner signs an agreement, the department shall no longer be required to relocate the wild beaver pursuant to paragraph (1) unless the landowner subsequently rescinds the agreement.
(3) The department shall be liable for damage done to private
property that can be directly tied to the presence of the wild beaver released pursuant to this section.
4031.
(a) The department may allow the release of the wild beaver onto private lands with a written agreement from the landowner. Either party may rescind the agreement in writing using certified mail. Upon receiving or issuing notice of the agreement’s dissolution, the state will have 60 days to remove any wild beaver on the private property.(b) If a wild beaver released pursuant to this section causes damage to the landowner’s property, or is at risk of damaging property, the landowner may apply for a depredation permit pursuant to Section 4181. The department shall not require a fee or charge for the permit if the applicant can furnish a copy of their agreement with the state.
(c) (1) If, for the purpose of preventing damage to private or public lands, structures, or other improvements of value, a landowner needs to remove, breach, or modify a beaver dam that is utilized by the wild beaver relocated pursuant to subdivision (a) and that is located on the landowner’s property, the landowner shall submit a request for alteration to the department at least 48 hours prior to altering the dam.
(2) (A) If the department finds that the dam poses no risk to private or public lands, then the request for alteration may be denied. The department shall provide to the landowner, in writing and in a timely manner, the reasons why the department denied that landowner’s request for alteration. These reasons shall include a justification on behalf of the department as to why the dam does not need or warrant alteration.
(B) If the request for alteration is denied, but the dam subsequently causes harm to lands, structures, or other improvements of value, the department shall be liable for the damages and shall provide fair market value compensation for those losses, as defined in Section 1263.320 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(C) If the request for alteration is approved, the landowner shall be responsible for monitoring the parts of the upstream and downstream that reside on their property for stranded fish in isolated pools. The landowner shall make a good-faith effort to capture and safely move all stranded or isolated fish to the nearest free-flowing water.
(d) (1) The department may allow the release of the wild beaver onto lands held by California recognized tribal nations with a written agreement from the tribal government. The agreement shall contain a
provision stating that the tribal nation may remove, breach, or modify a beaver dam that is utilized by the wild beaver relocated pursuant to this subdivision and that is located within the tribe’s borders only after notifying the department 24 hours prior to the alteration of the dam.
(2) A wild beaver released onto tribal lands, or a released wild beaver that migrates onto tribal lands, is the property of the tribe, as long as the animal does not naturally leave the tribal lands.
(3) In the event that the department desires to access tribal lands to relocate or inspect a wild beaver, permission shall be obtained from the tribal government prior to entering the tribal lands.
(e) The department shall be liable for damage done to structures that can be directly tied to the presence of the wild beaver released pursuant
to this section.
4032.
(a) The department shall only allow the release of the wild beaver pursuant to Sections 4030 and 4031 to an area of the state where all of the following occur:(1) There is a low probability of the released beaver becoming a nuisance or causing damage.
(2) Conditions exist for the released beaver to improve, maintain, or manage stream or riparian ecosystem functions.
(3) There is evidence of historic endemic beaver populations.
(b) The department may consider the following factors when relocating the wild beaver pursuant to Sections 4030 and
4031:
(1) Stream gradient.
(2) Sufficiency of the water supply.
(3) Stream geomorphology.
(4) Adequacy of a food source.
(5) Proper site elevation and valley width.
(6) The age of the beaver relocated.
(7) The time of year for capture and relocation.
(8) Requirements for capturing, handling, and transporting live beavers.
(9) The minimum and maximum number of beavers that may be relocated to one area.
(10) Requirements for a person that is party to an agreement pursuant to Section 4031 to initially provide supplemental food and materials to build lodges, except that the department shall not require tribal governments to provide supplemental food and materials.
