Delta Waterfowl September Policy Update:
As duck and goose seasons begin to open across North America our team has been hard at work fighting on behalf of duck hunters around The United States and Canada. Take a look below for some key highlights from the Pacific Flyway 🦆
California Wetlands:
Unfortunately, this month Gov. Newsom decided to veto Assembly Bill 828. This bill would have added the term “managed wetlands” to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. In turn, this language would have prohibited a groundwater sustainability agency from imposing fees upon a managed wetland. The other benefit of this bill was a sweeping commitment to the “no net loss policy” for wetlands, ensuring regulatory protections for some of the most sensitive areas in the state. The Delta team is surprised and disappointed by the Governor’s decision to veto this bill, particularly because it cleared the California State Legislature with little difficulty—passing through the Senate 29-10 and the Assembly 53-17—and would have had long-standing positive effects for California’s environment.
California Firearms:
Our team is disappointed to report that Gov. Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 53 on Sept. 24. This bill has serious negative implications for all California firearm owners, with bill language that is left intentionally vague and up for interpretation. SB 53 states that a firearm must be “securely stored when the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user.” The vagueness of this language is intentional, and there is no clear definition of the requirements for a “readily controlled” firearm. In addition, any infraction of this law may result in the inability to own, purchase, or transfer firearms for up to one year. The Delta team worked hard to prevent this bill from becoming law and sent multiple letters in opposition, but, unfortunately, Gov. Newsom continues to deprioritize the values and rights of gun owners in the state.
Colorado Prop 127:
Delta Waterfowl joined 38 other sportsmen/conservation organizations - including the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, and more—in signing onto a letter urging Colorado voters to vote 𝙉𝙊 on Proposition 127. Although this issue is not waterfowl-related, “ballot box biology” is a concerning ongoing trend that affects all of us in the conservation community by allowing voters to make decisions that should be handled by state biologists.
Production Manager at Trapper Mine
7moWell we all know AOC is fictional at best