Governor signs invasive aquatic plants control bill into law

SACRAMENTO — A proposal requiring California’s Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) to collaborate with California Conservation Corps on battling invasive aquatic plants in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, Sept. 11.

DBW is already mandated under state law to cooperate with local, state and federal agencies to identify, detect, control and administer programs to manage invasive aquatic plants in the Delta region.

However Senate Bill 704, which was introduced earlier this year by State Sen. Cathleen Galgiani, requires DBW to also collaborate with the state’s largest conservation agency.

The California Conservation Corps recruits and trains young adults between 18 and 25 to work in the outdoors to improve the state’s natural resources. Corps members also assist in responding to earthquakes, fires, floods and pest infestations.

It was created in July 1976, during Brown’s first stint as governor, and became a permanent state department in 1983.

SB 704 was unanimously approved in both legislatives houses.