California Gov. Gavin Newsom today issued a state of emergency executive order that directed state agencies to waive essential flood protections to divert and store excess stormwater above and below ground later in the year. The order calls for agencies to identify and remove obstacles when possible and report any legal barriers that may need to be temporarily lifted. Defenders of Wildlife is disappointed in the state order after a similar attempt to alter the California Water Code was defeated last year.
“This haphazard executive order is not only unnecessary but also deprioritizes vulnerable communities with high flood risk,” said Ashley Overhouse, water policy advisor for Defenders of Wildlife. “This is yet another political attack on the already minimum environmental protections governing our water management system and the wildlife that depend on it. If it is not Gov. Newsom’s intention to undermine state law and jeopardize species, then I urge the administration to make that clear.”
For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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