Bill Text: CA ACR160 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Sea level rise.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)
Status: (Passed) 2014-09-02 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 146, Statutes of 2014. [ACR160 Detail]
Download: California-2013-ACR160-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: ACR 160 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 146
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 2, 2014
ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 14, 2014
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 4, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 2, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gordon
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Lowenthal, Muratsuchi,
Skinner, and Ting)
JUNE 10, 2014
Relative to sea level rise.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 160, Gordon. Sea level rise.
The measure would encourage state agencies to communicate with the
public, local, regional, and federal agencies and nonprofit
organizations and businesses regarding the risks of sea level rise
and the development and implementation of adaptive and protective
measures to address those risks, and other impacts of climate change.
This measure would encourage the Ocean Protection Council to work
with the California Coastal Zone Management Agencies, the State Lands
Commission, other state agencies, and nonstate partners to consider
establishing goals and planning principles to help prepare the state'
s shoreline and coastal community for the impacts of climate change,
including sea level rise.
WHEREAS, The sea is rising and weather is becoming more extreme.
In fact, the county's longest continuously operating gauge of sea
level, at Fort Point in San Francisco Bay, recorded a seven-inch rise
in sea level over the 20th century; and
WHEREAS, As a result of California's changing climate, sea level
rise is projected to accelerate during this century. A 2012 report
from the National Research Council found that the average sea level
rise projections for California are an additional six inches by 2030,
12 inches by 2050, and 36 inches by 2100; and
WHEREAS, Three quarters of the state's 38 million people live near
California's 1,100 miles of coastline and San Francisco Bay's
additional 500-mile shoreline; and
WHEREAS, Among those affected by sea level rise are large numbers
of low-income people and communities of color who are especially
vulnerable; and
WHEREAS, Coastal waters, waterfronts, bays, ports, harbors,
marinas, wetlands, estuaries, riparian areas, and beaches are
important environmental and economic resources of California; and
WHEREAS, Sea level rise and other extreme weather events threaten
water supply and California's agriculture by causing saltwater
intrusion into the state's freshwater sources, including, but not
limited to, the Delta and coastal aquifers; and
WHEREAS, Critical existing infrastructure in California,
including, but not limited to, roads, hospitals, schools, emergency
facilities, wastewater treatment plants, and power plants, and new
development on the coast and on the San Francisco Bay is vulnerable
to sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, Sea level rise threatens public access to the coast and
its recreational areas; and
WHEREAS, Beaches, wetlands, streams, and other natural habitats
that benefit wildlife and communities along the coast require
protection, restoration, and enhancement due to the effects of sea
level rise; and
WHEREAS, The Assembly Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the
California Economy was established last year to thoroughly review the
challenges ahead in addressing the expected impacts of sea level
rise on the state and its economy; and
WHEREAS, The Assembly Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the
California Economy held four hearings throughout the state to examine
the effect of sea level rise on various sectors and industries.
Topics at those hearings included projected impacts on coastal
agriculture, the fishing and aquaculture industry, tourism, ports,
airports, roads and bridges, and water and power infrastructure. The
committee also examined the existing authority of state agencies
regarding the state's preparedness and response to anticipated sea
level rise; and
WHEREAS, State agencies have already begun to address this
critical issue. For example, in December 2013, the Natural Resources
Agency released a draft of the Safeguarding California Plan that
identified climate risks to California's oceans, coastal ecosystems,
and coastal resources and provided state guidance for reducing those
risks; and
WHEREAS, State, local, and private action is needed to plan and
design for coastal resiliency and long-term coastal sustainability;
and
WHEREAS, State, local, and private action is needed to protect
public health and safety and public and private coastal and San
Francisco Bay infrastructure, ports, public facilities and services,
jobs, and economic assets; and
WHEREAS, State, local, and private action to protect coastal
resources from the impacts of climate change may provide additional
public benefits, including, but not limited to, flood protection,
improved water quality, and increases in fish and wildlife for food
and recreation; and
WHEREAS, Although adapting to sea level rise and other extreme
impacts of climate change will be expensive, that price will be far
lower than the alternative of waiting and reacting to these impacts
as they occur; and
WHEREAS, Extensive cooperation between state, local, and private
entities is needed to adequately respond to the effects sea level
rise and climate change; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages the Ocean
Protection Council, in its convening role, to work with the
California Coastal Zone Management Agencies (the Coastal Commission,
the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and
the State Coastal Conservancy), the State Lands Commission, other
state agencies, and non-state partners to consider establishing
coastal climate adaptation goals and planning principles to help
prepare the state's shoreline and coastal communities for the impacts
of climate change, including sea level rise, coastal erosion, and
extreme storm-related events. The establishment of these goals and
planning principles would implement a recommendation from the
Safeguarding California Plan to form a state coastal leadership group
on sea level rise to help guide state activities, enhance agency
coordination, and facilitate adaptation strategies; and be it further
Resolved, That state agencies are encouraged to engage and
communicate with the public; local, regional, and federal agencies;
and nonprofit organizations and businesses regarding the risks of sea
level rise and the development and implementation of adaptive and
protective measures; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
