Earlier this week, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) hosted a briefing for stakeholders on the proposed fee increase for the Lake and Streambed Alteration Program prior to the formal public hearing slated for June 13, 2016. RCRC staff, in conjunction with the Farm Bureau, California State Association of Counties, and others, expressed concern for the 129 percent fee increase on the Streambed Alteration Program. For example the proposed fee on a Standard Agreement for a project that is under $5,000 would increase from $245 to $561.
The DFW has indicated that without the proposed increase they would lose capacity to review approximately 750 of the 2,000 notifications that are received annually, and lose as many as 15 of the 37 positions by 2018 that are responsible for reviewing the notifications thus impacting fish and wildlife resources.
The DFW has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, June 13, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in the 1st floor auditorium of the Resources Building located at 1416 9th Street, Sacramento, California.
Written comments regarding the proposal must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 23, 2016. Comments may be submitted by mail or by email to:
Lance Salisbury, Senior Environmental Scientist
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Lake and Streambed Alteration Program
1416 Ninth Street, 12th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (916) 653-3559
Email: lance.salisbury@wildlife.ca.gov
RCRC staff will engage throughout this process to ensure the concerns of RCRC member counties are addressed. Please forward any comments submitted to DFW on this proposal to Staci Heaton at sheaton@rcrcnet.org or Nick Konovaloff at nkonovaloff@rcrcnet.org.
Additional information regarding this proposal can be accessed here, and general information on the Streambed Alteration Program can be accessed here.