Assemblywoman Wolk appointed to Wildlife Conservation Board

State panel allocates funds for important environmental projects

"It is a great honor to be appointed," said Assemblywoman Wolk, chair of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife, which hears all legislation relating to water, wildlife management, parks and recreation. "The WCB helps shape the face of California's environment for future generations. The board is responsible for allocating the $300 million in Prop 40 funds and $940 million from Prop 50. It has preserved and restored hundreds of thousands of acres of habitat for wildlife, and provided Californians countless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors."

"Lois Wolk's leadership of the Assembly's Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee, and dedication to wildlife conservation and preservation make her an ideal fit for this important board," said Speaker Núñez.

The Wildlife Conservation Board, created by legislation in 1947 to administer a capital outlay program for wildlife conservation and related public recreation, meets four times a year and has three primary functions: to acquire land, restore habitat, and develop wildlife-oriented public access facilities. The board allocates funds from Propositions 40 and 50, both approved by voters in 2002. Proposition 40 funds can be used to acquire land in fee title and interests in land, such as conservation easements. The funds can also be used for habitat restoration and/or enhancement projects and for public access projects that provide wildlife-related public recreational opportunities. Proposition 50 funds can be used for the acquisition, protection and restoration of coastal wetlands, upland areas adjacent to coastal wetlands, and coastal watershed lands.

"Between 2000 and 2004, just in Yolo and Solano Counties, the WCB made allocations for nearly 8,000 acres of conservation easements and for the restoration of nearly 22,000 acres of land," said Assemblywoman Wolk. "Thanks to the WCB hundreds of thousands of acres of land throughout the state have been preserved for future generations."

The board is overseen by its Legislative Advisory Committee, which consists of three members of the State Senate and three members of the Assembly. Assemblywoman Wolk is filling a seat vacated by a member who was termed out of office last year. The board's other eight members are California Fish and Game Commissioner Jim Kellogg, California Department of Finance Director Tom Campbell, California Department of Fish and Game Director L. Ryan Broddrick, Senators Wesley Chesbro, Sheila Kuehl and Abel Maldonado, and Assemblymembers Patty Berg and Fran Pavley.