FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 15, 2008
CONTACT :
Melissa Jones
(916) 319-2008

Wolk honored as champion for stronger California flood protection

Named Planning and Conservation League's Legislator of the Year

SACRAMENTO–The Planning and Conservation League Saturday named Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) its 2007 Legislator of the Year for her leadership in water policy and legislation, including a landmark flood protection package signed by the Governor last October.  Wolk was honored during the group’s annual Environmental Legislative Symposium: State of Change: How Californians Can Change the World.  

 “Assemblywoman Lois Wolk courageously took the lead to enact laws that will help keep new developments out of flood prone areas and protect and restore riparian areas,” said PCL’s Executive Director Gary Patton. “Despite the lengthy objections of the building industry, cities and counties, Ms. Wolk fought tirelessly for meaningful reforms in how flood and land use decisions are linked. Her multi-year campaign resulted in what has been described as the most significant accomplishment of the entire 2007 California State Legislature. As an additional fiscal benefit this package of laws will also reduce taxpayers’ liability for poorly considered development decisions. ”

Wolk who introduced the first bill to restrict development in the floodplain three years ago, led  efforts this session to craft a package of legislation to strengthen flood protection in California’s Central Valley and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region, authoring two bills in the package.

  • SB5/AB5 by Senator Mike Machado (D-Linden) and Wolk: The lynchpin of the package of flood protection measures, this legislation establishes a comprehensive set of policies that coordinate state and local efforts to connect land-use decisions and flood management planning.
  • AB 162 by Wolk: Requires cities and counties in California to incorporate flood hazards in their general plans in order to minimize risk in flood-prone areas, just as local governments are required under current law to consider the risk posed in areas prone to fire and earthquake. 
“I thank PCL for this prestigious honor,” said Wolk. “Truly, this has been an amazing year. We accomplished something no one thought possible, bringing everyone to the table to develop a package of legislation that sets California on a new course toward protecting its citizens from flood disasters. This package is a first good step toward replacing this state’s existing flood protection system with a modern integrated system of flood protection.
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