Habitat enhancement and restoration: floodplains.

Senator Hurtado's floodplain conservation initiative directs $21.5 million to the Wildlife Conservation Board for habitat restoration and land acquisition across three Central Valley counties, targeting areas facing distinct challenges from uncontrolled flooding and groundwater depletion.

The measure focuses specifically on floodplains within Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties, authorizing the Wildlife Conservation Board to undertake habitat restoration projects and acquire land for conservation purposes. The funding allocation requires formal appropriation through either the annual state budget process or separate legislation before implementation can begin.

The bill's findings cite unique environmental conditions in these three counties as the basis for county-specific legislation rather than a broader statewide approach. These conditions include particular patterns of uncontrolled flooding and groundwater depletion affecting local waterways, which the authors maintain require targeted intervention through dedicated conservation funding.