Governor Signs Wolk Delta Initiatives

SACRAMENTO– In a flurry of last-minute Delta bill signings, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger approved several bills by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) promoting her initiatives for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.  Wolk responded: "I hope the Governor's signatures on my bills are just the first step toward his providing stronger leadership to resolve the serious challenges now facing our Delta."

Wolk's bills will improve conditions in the Delta by addressing flood protection, land-use planning, and Delta levees.  The bills just signed by the Governor include:

AB 797 – increases the membership and strengthens the Delta Protection Commission's authority to enforce its Resources Management Plan for the Delta.

AB 798 – extends the current State funding for Delta levee to 2010, so the Department of Water Resources can study and identify priorities for funding local efforts to maintain and improve Delta levees.

AB 1245 – allows the West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency to accomplish new flood protection projects not authorized by the enabling statute.

During the just-ended 2-year legislative session, Wolk focused much of her work on addressing a large number of Delta challenges, which came to the forefront during her leadership of the Assembly's Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife.  Wolk worked on several fronts – the State budget, committee hearings and numerous policy bills – to help the Delta improve and move toward a more sustainable future.

Schwarzenegger also signed another Delta bill that Wolk carried on the Assembly floor – SB 1574 (Kuehl).  That bill, and the Executive Order the Governor signed at the same time, will create a blue-ribbon commission to develop a long-term vision for the Delta.