AB 2697: Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program: idled agricultural lands.

Existing law establishes the Wildlife Conservation Board within the Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires the board to investigate, study, and determine what areas within the state are most essential and suitable for wildlife production and preservation, and will provide suitable recreation. Existing law also requires the board to ascertain and determine what lands within the state are suitable for game propagation, game refuges, bird refuges, waterfowl refuges, game farms, fish hatcheries, game management areas, and what streams and lakes are suitable for, or can be made suitable for, fishing and hunting. Existing law also authorizes the board to administer various habitat conservation programs.

This bill would require the department to establish the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program, which may include direct payments or other incentives, to encourage landowners to voluntarily cultivate or retain upland cover crops or other upland vegetation on idled lands to provide waterfowl, upland game bird, and other wildlife habitat cover for purposes, including, but not limited to, encouraging the use of idle agricultural lands for wildlife habitat. The bill would authorize the department to develop guidelines and criteria for the program as it deems appropriate. The bill would authorize the department to consult with the Wildlife Conservation Board, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and nonprofit waterfowl and upland game bird organizations before implementing those provisions, to determine the optimal ways of increasing and enhancing wildlife habitat on idled lands.

The bill would provide that its provisions shall be implemented only if the Water Supply and Water Quality Act of 2018 is approved by the voters at the November 6, 2018, general election or a sufficient amount of federal grants or other funds are secured, as determined by the department, for the purposes of the bill.