ON THIS TAB: Clean Air Act Mercury standards Ozone standards Clean Power Plan Energy-related emissions Emissions by sector

Clean Air Act

See also: Implementation of the Clean Air Act

The Clean Air Act is a federal law aimed at maintaining air quality and reducing air pollution. The law requires states and private industries to meet national air pollution standards. Each state must implement an EPA-approved plan to reduce air pollutants from industrial facilities such as chemical plants and utilities. Over 42,000 facilities nationwide were regulated under the Clean Air Act in 2015.^[2][3][4]

California had 1,597 facilities regulated under the Clean Air Act in 2014.

State-regulated facilities under the Clean Air Act
State	Facilities (2014)
California	1,597
Arizona	289
Nevada	106
Oregon	165
United States total	42,201
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Power Plants Likely Covered by the Toxics Rule"

Back to top↑

Mercury and air toxics standards

See also: Mercury and air toxics standards

Federal mercury and air toxics standards target mercury and other hazardous pollutants from 580 coal and oil-fired power plants nationwide. The standards are meant to reduce human exposure to mercury emissions.^[5][6]

In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the EPA did not properly consider the regulation's costs and mandated the agency perform a cost-benefit analysis. The ruling did not strike down the mercury standards but required the EPA to conduct a more extensive cost-benefit analysis by April 2016. The EPA issued its cost-benefit analysis on April 18, 2016.^{[7][8][9][10]}

As of 2015, California had 13 power plants subject to the mercury standards.^[11]

Power plants affected mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) by state
State	Number of power plants affected
California	13
Arizona	11
Nevada	6
Oregon	1
United States total	585
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Power Plants Likely Covered by the Toxics Rule"

Back to top↑

Ozone standards

See also: Ground-level ozone standards

Federal ozone standards establish the acceptable amount of ground level ozone, commonly known as smog, which is formed when nitrogen oxide combines with other organic chemicals in the atmosphere. Automobiles, power plants, factories and manufacturing centers emit the nitrogen oxide necessary for ozone formation. In high concentrations, ozone is harmful to human health.^[12][13]

In 2015, the EPA lowered the acceptable amount of ground-level ozone (smog) in the air. The standards will go into effect in 2025. States would have between the years 2020 and 2037 to create and establish a plan to meet the standards, depending how much ozone forms in certain areas of a state.^[14][15]

Back to top↑

Clean Power Plan

See also: Clean Power Plan and climate change

In 2015, the EPA finalized a regulatory action aimed at mitigating potentially human-caused climate change known as the Clean Power Plan. The plan's goal is to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants (fossil fuel-fired) and natural gas-fired power plants by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Each state would have to meet goals based on the number of fossil fuel- and natural gas-fired plants in the state.^[16][17][18]

As of April 2016, California was one of the 18 states that supported the Clean Power Plan while 27 states opposed the plan.

In February 2016, by a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily delayed the plan's implementation pending a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. As of January 23, 2017, the circuit court had not issued a ruling.^[19][20]

Back to top↑

Carbon dioxide reductions under the Clean Power Plan

California power plants would have to reduce their CO₂ emissions by 14 percent by the year 2030 if the plan were fully implemented.^[21]

CO2 reduction goals by state, in pounds per megawatt hours (lbs/MWh)
State	2012 baseline (lbs/MWh)	Interim goal, 2022-2029 (lbs/MWh)	Final goal, 2030 and beyond (lbs/MWh)	Percentage reduction, 2012-2030
California	963	907	828	-14.02%
Arizona	1,552	1,173	1,031	-33.57%
Nevada	1,102	942	855	-22.41%
Oregon	1,089	964	871	-20.02%
*Alaska and Hawaii are exempt from reduction goals. **Vermont has no reduction goals because the state has no power plants. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Power Plan State Goal Visualizer"

Back to top↑

Carbon dioxide emissions by energy source

In 2013, petroleum accounted for 61.7 percent of California's emissions—217.7 million metric tons—followed by natural gas and coal at 37.3 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

Energy-related CO2 emissions by source, 2013 (in million metric tons)
State	Coal		Petroleum		Natural gas		Total
	Total	Percentage	Total	Percentage	Total	Percentage
California	3.6	1%	217.7	61.7%	131.8	37.3%	353.1
Arizona	43	45.8%	32.8	34.9%	18.1	19.3%	93.8
Nevada	6.1	17.1%	14.7	41%	15	41.9%	35.8
Oregon	3.7	9.6%	21.7	56.7%	13	33.8%	38.4
United States total	1,701.7	32.2%	2,167.9	41.1%	1,409.0	26.7%	5,278.6
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "State Carbon Dioxide Emissions"

Back to top↑

Carbon dioxide emissions by sector

The transportation sector accounted for 54 percent of California's emissions in 2013.

CO2 emissions by sector, 2013
State	Commercial	Electric power	Residential	Industrial	Transportation
California	4.5%	12.9%	7.9%	20.7%	54%
Arizona	2.5%	58.3%	2.6%	4.8%	31.8%
Nevada	5.4%	42.9%	6.9%	6.7%	38.1%
Oregon	4.8%	23.6%	7.2%	12.3%	52.1%
United States total	4.2%	38.3%	6.3%	18.2%	33%
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "State Carbon Dioxide Emissions"

ON THIS TAB: Federal land policy Federal ownership National parks Park visits and visitor spending Payments in lieu of taxes Grazing Oil and natural gas activity Production Land with production

Federal land policy

See also: Federal land policy

Federal land policy involves the conservation and management of natural resources on land owned by the federal government. Most federal land policies focus on conservation, recreation, oil and natural gas extraction, wildlife and forest management, and grazing.

As of 2013, the federal government owned around 640 million total acres of land (about 28 percent) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Four federal agencies oversee between 608 million to 610 million acres of federal land—around 26 percent of all land in the United States. Depending on the agency responsible for them, these lands may be used for conservation, recreation, wildlife protection, grazing, energy production and other purposes.^[22]

Around 52 percent of federally owned acres are in 12 Western states—including Alaska, 61 percent of which is federally owned. In contrast, the federal government owns 4 percent of the land in the other 38 states.^[22]

Federal land ownership

The federal government owned 45.8 percent of all land in California.

Federal land ownership by state, 2013
State	Total federal land (in acres)	Total land (in acres)	Percentage of land owned by the federal government
California	45,864,800	100,206,720	45.8%
Arizona	28,064,307	72,688,000	38.6%
Nevada	59,681,502	70,264,320	84.9%
Oregon	32,614,185	61,598,720	52.9%
United States total	623,313,931	2,271,343,360	27.4%
Source: Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data"

Back to top↑

The map below details changes to federal land ownership between 1990 and 2013. Federal land in California decreased by 317,791 acres—a decrease of 0.7 percent.

Land management by agency

The table below shows the number of acres managed by federal agency in 2013.

Federal land ownership by state and agency, 2013
State	BLM		Forest Service		FWS		NPS		Defense
	Acres	%	Acres	%	Acres	%	Acres	%	Acres	%
California	15,343,828	33.45%	20,747,885	45.24%	291,640	0.64%	7,583,469	16.53%	1,897,978	4.14%
Arizona	12,204,369	43.49%	11,204,428	39.92%	1,683,348	6%	2,644,964	9.42%	327,198	1.17%
Nevada	47,782,464	80.06%	5,759,160	9.65%	2,345,956	3.93%	774,751	1.3%	3,019,170	5.06%
Oregon	16,142,471	49.5%	15,674,661	48.06%	573,416	1.76%	192,127	0.59%	31,510	0.1%
U.S. total	247,252,228	39.67%	192,932,426	30.95%	89,080,785	14.29%	79,648,788	12.78%	14,399,704	2.31%
Source: Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data"

Back to top↑

National parks

As of December 2015, the U.S. National Park Service oversaw 409 sites within the National Park System and assists in managing national historic areas, wild and scenic rivers, historic landmarks, and national trails. As of December 2015, the National Park System contained more than 84 million acres, including national parks, historical parks and sites, national monuments, battlefields and military parks, recreation areas, seashores, and parkways. Around 280 million visitors attended sites in the National Park System in 2014. The National Park Service employed around 20,000 permanent, temporary and seasonal employees as of July 2015.^[23]

California had 26 National Park Service sites as of January 2016, more sites than neighboring states. A complete list of Park Service sites in California can be found here.

National Park Service sites by state
State	National Park Service sites
California	26
Arizona	23
Nevada	4
Oregon	9
*50 state total only; U.S. territories not included Source: U.S. National Park Service, "National Parks Listed by State"

Back to top↑

Park visits and visitor spending

California's national parks had 37.4 million total visits in 2014, which generated $1.66 billion in visitor spending.

National Park Service visits and visitor spending by state
State	Total recreation visits			Total visitor spending (in millions)
	2014	2013	2012	2014	2013	2012
California	37,363,392	35,575,102	36,011,297	$1,656.3	$1,536.8	$1,533.7
Arizona	10,747,223	10,103,266	9,979,972	$837	$773.9	$745.6
Nevada	5,314,680	4,851,428	4,808,929	$223.5	$200.3	$194.1
Oregon	1,033,253	969,052	875,271	$71.6	$67.4	$58.5
United States total*	252,859,729	237,224,421	246,302,115	$14,841.9	$13,800.2	$13,953.8
*50 state total only; U.S. territories not included Source: U.S. National Park Service, "National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics"

Payments in lieu of taxes

The U.S. Department of the Interior pays local governments each year to offset what they lose in property taxes due to non-taxable federal land within their borders, commonly known as payments in lieu of taxes (PILT). PILT payments go toward fire and police departments, public schools, road construction, and other local services. PILT amounts are based on population and the amount of federal land in a county. From 1977 (when PILT payments began) to 2015, the Interior Department paid out around $7.1 billion to states, territories and Washington, D.C. PILT payments can be used for any governmental purpose.^[24][25]

California received $45.8 million in PILT payments in 2015 and $45.3 million in 2014.

Payments in lieu of taxes by state, 2013-2015
State	2015 payment	2014 payment	2013 payment
California	$45,793,923	$45,298,833	$41,445,228
Arizona	$34,413,828	$34,497,956	$32,203,852
Nevada	$25,244,861	$25,439,484	$23,331,913
Oregon	$17,716,801	$17,680,594	$15,578,762
United States total	$439,084,000	$436,904,919	$401,756,129
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, "Payments in Lieu of Taxes by State"

Back to top↑

Grazing on federal land

See also: Grazing permits on federal land

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages livestock grazing on its land. Each year the agency issues permits and leases to ranchers who graze livestock, mainly sheep and cattle, for at least part of the year. To track these animals, the BLM established what are called Animal Unit Months (AUMs), or "the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow, five sheep, or five goats for a month." The BLM’s objective is to provide economic opportunities for rural communities while at the same time producing environmental benefits for the land.^[26]

A grazing permit authorizes livestock grazing on federal land outside a grazing district; a grazing lease authorizes the grazing of a specified number and class of livestock in an area within a grazing district.^[26]

In fiscal year 2014, the BLM received $79.9 million to manage rangeland. Of that total, $34.3 million went to livestock grazing management. That same year, the agency collected $12.1 million in grazing fees. Grazing fees must be shared with state and local governments according to federal law.^[26]

The table below shows the number of permits, leases and active AUMs for the 15 states with grazing on federal land. Montana ranchers held the most permits and leases at the end of 2014—3,768 permits. Nevada had the most active AUMs at the end of 2014—2.16 million.

Grazing on BLM land (FY 2014)
State	Permits and leases	Active AUMs - End of FY 2014
Arizona	769	626,338
California	526	297,954
Colorado	1,497	591,266
Idaho	1,878	1,339,154
Montana	3,768	1,272,635
Nebraska	18	592
Nevada	692	2,164,931
New Mexico	2,276	1,874,303
North Dakota	79	9,314
Oklahoma	4	132
Oregon	1,225	1,003,901
South Dakota	471	73,138
Utah	1,471	1,203,697
Washington	266	33,428
Wyoming	2,852	1,910,205
United States total	17,792	12,400,988
Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Public Land Statistics - 2014"

Back to top↑

Oil and natural gas activity

See also: Oil and natural gas extraction on federal land

The federal government leases its land to private individuals and companies for energy development, including drilling for crude oil and natural gas, solar energy, and geothermal energy. Around 166 million acres of federal land can be leased for energy development. Oil and natural gas drilling on federal lands in the United States is primarily overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.^[22][27]

Production on federal land

California produced 14,967 thousand barrels of crude oil and around 7,076 million cubic feet of natural gas in 2014 on federal land.

Oil and natural gas production on federal land, 2014
State	Oil production (in thousands of barrels)	Natural gas production (in million cubic feet)
California	14,967.07	7,076.67
Arizona	0	0
Nevada	314.27	0
Oregon	0	0
United States total	148,802.95	2,499,845.86
Source: Office of Natural Resource Revenue, "Statistical Information"

Back to top↑

Land with production

Private oil and natural gas companies apply for leases from the BLM to produce energy on federal land. The BLM makes leasing decisions based on a land use plan submitted by the company and the potential environmental impact of the production. If a lease is approved, the company must submit information to the BLM about how it will conduct its drilling and production. The BLM also inspects a company’s operations throughout the production.^[28]

California had 320 producing leases (the number of leases that include a well capable of producing oil or gas) on 82,736 producing acres (acres where oil or gas is produced) of federal land in 2015.

Oil and gas producing leases and acres on federal land by state, 2013-2015
State	FY 2015		FY 2014		FY 2013
	Producing leases	Producing acres	Producing leases	Producing acres	Producing leases	Producing acres
California	320	82,736	323	82,697	325	82,736
Arizona	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nevada	36	21,637	32	22,077	31	21,637
Oregon	0	0	0	0	0	0
United States total	23,770	12,617,743	23,657	12,690,806	23,507	12,617,743
Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics"

Back to top↑

ON THIS TAB: Clean Water Act Public water systems Waters of the United States rule

Clean Water Act

See also: Implementation of the Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act is a federal law regulating pollutants discharged into all waters of the United States, including lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. The federal government approves water quality and technology standards for major sources of water pollution, such as chemical plants, steel manufacturers, municipal facilities, and others. Each state must establish water quality standards for all bodies of water within its boundaries.^[29]

Under the Clean Water Act, it is unlawful to discharge any pollutant from any source into navigable waters without a federal permit. The permit specifies what limitations or conditions apply to a facility before the facility may discharge any pollutants. Federal permits may contain facility-specific requirements and limitations depending on the water source.^[30]

In 2015, California had 625 facilities with Clean Water Act permits allowing facilities to discharge their pollutants.^[31]

Clean Water Act permits by state
State	Permits (2015)
California	625
Arizona	198
Nevada	116
Oregon	596
United States total	208,962
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Water Activity Dashboard"

Back to top↑

Public water systems

California had 7,758 public water systems in 2015.^[32]

Public drinking water systems by state, 2015
State	Public water systems (2015)
California	7,758
Arizona	1,532
Nevada	585
Oregon	2,546
United States total	149,294
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Drinking Water Activity Dashboard"

Waters of the United States

See also: Waters of the United States

In 2015, the EPA finalized the Waters of the United States rule, which is aimed at clarifying the bodies of water that are under federal jurisdiction. The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would require a federal permit for proposed projects that may involve a discharge of a pollutant into waters covered under the rule.^{[33][34][35][36][37][38][39]}

On October 9, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit temporarily blocked the rule nationwide to deliberate whether the rule was permissible under federal law.^{[40][41][42][43][44]}

Back to top↑

ON THIS TAB: Superfund sites Hazardous waste sites

Superfund sites

See also: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

Superfund is a federal program that addresses contaminated waste sites and their return to practical use. Superfund sites include oil refineries, smelting facilities, mines and other industrial areas. The federal government can compel the private entities responsible for a waste site to clean the site or face penalties. If the federal government cleans a waste site, it can compel the responsible company to reimburse the government for cleanup costs. Because Superfund sites are added and removed from a prioritized list on a regular basis, the total number of Superfund sites since the program's inception in 1980 is unknown.^[45][46][47]

The costs of the Superfund program vary. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the program received an average of $1.2 billion each year between 1981 and 2009.^[48][49][50]

As of January 2016, California had 97 Superfund sites.^[51]

Superfund sites by state (January 2016)
State	Superfund sites
California	97
Arizona	9
Nevada	1
Oregon	13
United States total	1,303
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Priorities List (NPL) sites by state"

Back to top↑

Hazardous wastes sites

The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act covers hazardous wastes, including their generation, treatment, storage and disposal. States may regulate hazardous wastes rather than the federal government. The EPA is responsible for all hazardous waste requirements if no state program exists. Hazardous waste regulations cover waste generators, transporters, treatment centers, storage and disposal facilities.^[52]

California had 57,876 regulated waste facilities in 2015.^[53]

Federally regulated waste facilities by state, 2015
State	Facilities (2015)
California	57,876
Arizona	4,011
Nevada	1,980
Oregon	3,648
United States total	431,914
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Hazardous Waste Activity Dashboard"

Back to top↑

ON THIS TAB: Endangered Species Act Federally listed animal species Federally listed plant species

Endangered Species Act

See also: Endangered species in California

The Endangered Species Act is a federal law that mandates the listing and conservation of endangered and threatened species. The legislation is meant to prevent the extinction of vulnerable species throughout the United States and to recover a species' population to the point where listing the species as endangered or threatened is no longer necessary. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for the law's implementation.^[13][54]

Federally listed animal species in California

There were 307 endangered and threatened species believed to or known to occur in California as of January 2016.^[55]

The table below lists the 123 endangered and threatened animal species in the state. When an animal species has the word "Entire" after its name, that species will be found all throughout the state.

Click the [show] button to see the names of all federally protected animal species.

Endangered animal species in California
Status	Species
Endangered	Abalone, White North America (West Coast from Point Conception, CA, U.S.A., to Punta Abreojos, Baja California, Mexico) (Haliotis sorenseni)
Endangered	Albatross, short-tailed Entire (Phoebastria (=Diomedea) albatrus)
Endangered	Beetle, Casey's June Entire (Dinacoma caseyi)
Threatened	Beetle, delta green ground Entire (Elaphrus viridis)
Endangered	Beetle, Mount Hermon June Entire (Polyphylla barbata)
Threatened	Beetle, valley elderberry longhorn Entire (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus)
Threatened	Butterfly, bay checkerspot Entire (Euphydryas editha bayensis)
Endangered	Butterfly, Behren's silverspot Entire (Speyeria zerene behrensii)
Endangered	Butterfly, callippe silverspot Entire (Speyeria callippe callippe)
Endangered	Butterfly, El Segundo blue Entire (Euphilotes battoides allyni)
Endangered	Butterfly, Lange's metalmark Entire (Apodemia mormo langei)
Endangered	Butterfly, lotis blue Entire (Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis)
Endangered	Butterfly, mission blue Entire (Icaricia icarioides missionensis)
Endangered	Butterfly, Myrtle's silverspot Entire (Speyeria zerene myrtleae)
Threatened	Butterfly, Oregon silverspot Entire (Speyeria zerene hippolyta)
Endangered	Butterfly, Palos Verdes blue Entire (Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis)
Endangered	Butterfly, Quino checkerspot Entire (Euphydryas editha quino (=E. e. wrighti))
Endangered	Butterfly, San Bruno elfin Entire (Callophrys mossii bayensis)
Endangered	Butterfly, Smith's blue Entire (Euphilotes enoptes smithi)
Endangered	Chub, bonytail Entire (Gila elegans)
Endangered	Chub, Owens Tui Entire (Gila bicolor ssp. snyderi)
Endangered	Condor, California Entire, except where listed as an experimental population (Gymnogyps californianus)
Endangered	Crayfish, Shasta Entire (Pacifastacus fortis)
Threatened	Cuckoo, yellow-billed Western U.S. DPS (Coccyzus americanus)
Endangered	Fairy shrimp, Conservancy Entire (Branchinecta conservatio)
Endangered	Fairy shrimp, longhorn Entire (Branchinecta longiantenna)
Endangered	Fairy shrimp, Riverside Entire (Streptocephalus woottoni)
Endangered	Fairy shrimp, San Diego (Branchinecta sandiegonensis)
Threatened	Fairy shrimp, vernal pool Entire (Branchinecta lynchi)
Endangered	Flycatcher, southwestern willow Entire (Empidonax traillii extimus)
Endangered	Fly, Delhi Sands flower-loving Entire (Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis)
Endangered	Fox, San Joaquin kit wherever found (Vulpes macrotis mutica)
Endangered	Fox, San Miguel Island wherever found (Urocyon littoralis littoralis)
Endangered	Fox, Santa Catalina Island Wherever found (Urocyon littoralis catalinae)
Endangered	Fox, Santa Cruz Island wherever found (Urocyon littoralis santacruzae)
Endangered	Fox, Santa Rosa Island wherever found (Urocyon littoralis santarosae)
Threatened	Frog, California red-legged Entire (Rana draytonii)
Endangered	Frog, mountain yellow-legged Northern California DPS (Rana muscosa)
Endangered	Frog, mountain yellow-legged Southern California DPS (Rana muscosa)
Threatened	Frog, Oregon spotted (Rana pretiosa)
Endangered	Frog, Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged (Rana sierrae)
Threatened	Gnatcatcher, coastal California Entire (Polioptila californica californica)
Endangered	Goby, tidewater Entire (Eucyclogobius newberryi)
Endangered	Grasshopper, Zayante band-winged (Trimerotropis infantilis)
Endangered	Kangaroo rat, Fresno Entire (Dipodomys nitratoides exilis)
Endangered	Kangaroo rat, giant Entire (Dipodomys ingens)
Endangered	Kangaroo rat, Morro Bay Entire (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis)
Endangered	Kangaroo rat, San Bernardino Merriam's Entire (Dipodomys merriami parvus)
Endangered	Kangaroo rat, Stephens' Entire (Dipodomys stephensi (incl. D. cascus))
Endangered	Kangaroo rat, Tipton Entire (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides)
Endangered	Lizard, blunt-nosed leopard Entire (Gambelia silus)
Threatened	Lizard, Coachella Valley fringe-toed Entire (Uma inornata)
Threatened	Lynx, Canada Contiguous U.S. DPS (Lynx canadensis)
Threatened	Moth, Kern primrose sphinx Entire (Euproserpinus euterpe)
Endangered	Mountain beaver, Point Arena Entire (Aplodontia rufa nigra)
Endangered	Mouse, Pacific pocket Entire (Perognathus longimembris pacificus)
Endangered	Mouse, salt marsh harvest wherever found (Reithrodontomys raviventris)
Threatened	Murrelet, marbled CA, OR, WA (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
Threatened	Otter, southern sea (Enhydra lutris nereis)
Threatened	Owl, northern spotted Entire (Strix occidentalis caurina)
Endangered	Pikeminnow (=squawfish), Colorado Entire, except EXPN (Ptychocheilus lucius)
Threatened	Plover, western snowy Pacific coastal pop. (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus)
Endangered	Pupfish, desert Entire (Cyprinodon macularius)
Endangered	Pupfish, Owens Entire (Cyprinodon radiosus)
Endangered	Rabbit, riparian brush Entire (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius)
Endangered	Rail, California clapper Entire (Rallus longirostris obsoletus)
Endangered	Rail, light-footed clapper Entire (Rallus longirostris levipes)
Endangered	Rail, Yuma clapper Entire (Rallus longirostris yumanensis)
Endangered	Salamander, California tiger U.S.A. (CA - Santa Barbara County) (Ambystoma californiense)
Endangered	Salamander, California tiger U.S.A. (CA - Sonoma County) (Ambystoma californiense)
Threatened	Salamander, California tiger U.S.A. (Central CA DPS) (Ambystoma californiense)
Endangered	Salamander, desert slender Entire (Batrachoseps aridus)
Endangered	Salamander, Santa Cruz long-toed Entire (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum)
Threatened	Salmon, Chinook California Coastal ESU (Oncorhynchus (=Salmo) tshawytscha)
Endangered	Salmon, coho Central California Coast ESU (Oncorhynchus (=Salmo) kisutch)
Threatened	Salmon, coho Southern Oregon - Northern California Coast ESU (Oncorhynchus (=Salmo) kisutch)
Threatened	Seal, Guadalupe fur Entire (Arctocephalus townsendi)
Threatened	Sea turtle, green Except where endangered (Chelonia mydas)
Endangered	Sea turtle, leatherback Entire (Dermochelys coriacea)
Threatened	Sea turtle, olive ridley Except where endangered (Lepidochelys olivacea)
Endangered	Sheep, Peninsular bighorn Peninsular CA pop. (Ovis canadensis nelsoni)
Endangered	Sheep, Sierra Nevada bighorn Sierra Nevada (Ovis canadensis sierrae)
Endangered	Shrew, Buena Vista Lake ornate Entire (Sorex ornatus relictus)
Endangered	Shrike, San Clemente loggerhead Entire (Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi)
Endangered	Shrimp, California freshwater Entire (Syncaris pacifica)
Endangered	Skipper, Carson wandering Entire (Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus)
Endangered	Skipper, Laguna Mountains Entire (Pyrgus ruralis lagunae)
Threatened	Smelt, delta Entire (Hypomesus transpacificus)
Endangered	Snail, Morro shoulderband (=Banded dune) (Helminthoglypta walkeriana)
Threatened	Snake, giant garter Entire (Thamnophis gigas)
Endangered	Snake, San Francisco garter Entire (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia)
Threatened	Sparrow, San Clemente sage Entire (Amphispiza belli clementeae)
Threatened	Steelhead Central California Coast DPS (Oncorhynchus (=Salmo) mykiss)
Threatened	Steelhead Northern California DPS (Oncorhynchus (=Salmo) mykiss)
Endangered	Steelhead Southern California DPS (Oncorhynchus (=Salmo) mykiss)
Endangered	Stickleback, unarmored threespine Entire (Gasterosteus aculeatus williamsoni)
Threatened	sturgeon, green Southern DPS (Acipenser medirostris)
Endangered	Sucker, Lost River Entire (Deltistes luxatus)
Endangered	Sucker, razorback Entire (Xyrauchen texanus)
Threatened	Sucker, Santa Ana 3 CA river basins (Catostomus santaanae)
Endangered	Sucker, shortnose Entire (Chasmistes brevirostris)
Threatened	Sucker, Warner Entire (Catostomus warnerensis)
Endangered	Tadpole shrimp, vernal pool Entire (Lepidurus packardi)
Endangered	Tern, California least (Sterna antillarum browni)
Endangered	Tiger beetle, Ohlone (Cicindela ohlone)
Endangered	Toad, arroyo (=arroyo southwestern) Entire (Anaxyrus californicus)
Threatened	toad, Yosemite (Anaxyrus canorus)
Threatened	Tortoise, desert Entire, except in Sonoran Desert (Gopherus agassizii)
Threatened	Towhee, Inyo California (Pipilo crissalis eremophilus)
Threatened	Trout, Lahontan cutthroat Entire (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi)
Threatened	Trout, Little Kern golden Entire (Oncorhynchus aguabonita whitei)
Threatened	Trout, Paiute cutthroat Entire (Oncorhynchus clarkii seleniris)
Endangered	Tui chub, Mohave Entire (Gila bicolor ssp. mohavensis)
Endangered	Vireo, least Bell's Entire (Vireo bellii pusillus)
Endangered	Vole, Amargosa Entire (Microtus californicus scirpensis)
Endangered	Whale, blue Entire (Balaenoptera musculus)
Endangered	Whale, finback Entire (Balaenoptera physalus)
Endangered	Whale, humpback Entire (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Endangered	Whale, Sei Entire (Balaenoptera borealis)
Endangered	Whale, sperm Entire (Physeter catodon (=macrocephalus))
Threatened	Whipsnake (=striped racer), Alameda Entire (Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus)
Endangered	Wolf, gray (Canis lupus)
Endangered	Woodrat, riparian (=San Joaquin Valley) Entire (Neotoma fuscipes riparia)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in California"

Federally listed plant species in California

The table below lists the 184 endangered and threatened plant species in the state.^[56]

Click the [show] button to see the names of all federally protected plant species.

Endangered plant species in California
Status	Species
Endangered	Allocarya, Calistoga (Plagiobothrys strictus)
Endangered	Alopecurus, Sonoma (Alopecurus aequalis var. sonomensis)
Endangered	Ambrosia, San Diego (Ambrosia pumila)
Threatened	Amole, purple (Chlorogalum purpureum)
Threatened	Baccharis, Encinitas (Baccharis vanessae)
Endangered	Barberry, island (Berberis pinnata ssp. insularis)
Endangered	Barberry, Nevin's (Berberis nevinii)
Endangered	Bedstraw, El Dorado (Galium californicum ssp. sierrae)
Endangered	Bedstraw, island (Galium buxifolium)
Endangered	Bird's beak, palmate-bracted (Cordylanthus palmatus)
Endangered	Bird's-beak, Pennell's (Cordylanthus tenuis ssp. capillaris)
Endangered	Bird's-beak, salt marsh (Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus)
Endangered	Bird's-beak, soft (Cordylanthus mollis ssp. mollis)
Endangered	Bladderpod, San Bernardino Mountains (Lesquerella kingii ssp. bernardina)
Threatened	Bluecurls, Hidden Lake (Trichostema austromontanum ssp. compactum)
Endangered	Bluegrass, Napa (Poa napensis)
Endangered	Bluegrass, San Bernardino (Poa atropurpurea)
Threatened	Brodiaea, Chinese Camp (Brodiaea pallida)
Threatened	Brodiaea, thread-leaved (Brodiaea filifolia)
Endangered	Buckwheat, cushenbury (Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum)
Endangered	Buckwheat, Ione (incl. Irish Hill) (Eriogonum apricum (incl. var. prostratum))
Endangered	Bush-mallow, San Clemente Island (Malacothamnus clementinus)
Endangered	Bush-mallow, Santa Cruz Island (Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. nesioticus)
Threatened	Butterweed, Layne's (Senecio layneae)
Endangered	Button-celery, San Diego (Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii)
Endangered	Cactus, Bakersfield (Opuntia treleasei)
Endangered	Cactus, Key tree (Pilosocereus robinii)
Endangered	Ceanothus, coyote (Ceanothus ferrisae)
Endangered	Ceanothus, Pine Hill (Ceanothus roderickii)
Threatened	Ceanothus, Vail Lake (Ceanothus ophiochilus)
Endangered	Checker-mallow, Keck's (Sidalcea keckii)
Endangered	Checker-mallow, Kenwood Marsh (Sidalcea oregana ssp. valida)
Endangered	Checker-mallow, pedate (Sidalcea pedata)
Endangered	Clarkia, Pismo (Clarkia speciosa ssp. immaculata)
Endangered	Clarkia, Presidio (Clarkia franciscana)
Threatened	Clarkia, Springville (Clarkia springvillensis)
Endangered	Clarkia, Vine Hill (Clarkia imbricata)
Endangered	Clover, Monterey (Trifolium trichocalyx)
Endangered	Clover, showy Indian (Trifolium amoenum)
Threatened	Crownbeard, big-leaved (Verbesina dissita)
Endangered	Crownscale, San Jacinto Valley (Atriplex coronata var. notatior)
Threatened	Cypress, Gowen (Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana)
Endangered	Cypress, Santa Cruz (Cupressus abramsiana)
Threatened	Daisy, Parish's (Erigeron parishii)
Threatened	Dudleya, Conejo (Dudleya abramsii ssp. parva)
Threatened	Dudleya, marcescent (Dudleya cymosa ssp. marcescens)
Endangered	Dudleya, Santa Clara Valley (Dudleya setchellii)
Threatened	Dudleya, Santa Cruz Island (Dudleya nesiotica)
Threatened	Dudleya, Verity's (Dudleya verityi)
Threatened	Dudleyea, Santa Monica Mountains (Dudleya cymosa ssp. ovatifolia)
Threatened	Dwarf-flax, Marin (Hesperolinon congestum)
Endangered	Evening-primrose, Antioch Dunes (Oenothera deltoides ssp. howellii)
Endangered	Evening-primrose, Eureka Valley (Oenothera avita ssp. eurekensis)
Threatened	Evening-primrose, San Benito (Camissonia benitensis)
Endangered	Fiddleneck, large-flowered (Amsinckia grandiflora)
Endangered	Flannelbush, Mexican (Fremontodendron mexicanum)
Endangered	Flannelbush, Pine Hill (Fremontodendron californicum ssp. decumbens)
Endangered	Fringepod, Santa Cruz Island (Thysanocarpus conchuliferus)
Endangered	Fritillary, Gentner's (Fritillaria gentneri)
Endangered	Gilia, Hoffmann's slender-flowered (Gilia tenuiflora ssp. hoffmannii)
Endangered	Gilia, Monterey (Gilia tenuiflora ssp. arenaria)
Endangered	Goldfields, Burke's (Lasthenia burkei)
Endangered	Goldfields, Contra Costa (Lasthenia conjugens)
Threatened	Grass, Colusa (Neostapfia colusana)
Endangered	Grass, Eureka Dune (Swallenia alexandrae)
Endangered	Grass, Solano (Tuctoria mucronata)
Threatened	Howellia, water (Howellia aquatilis)
Threatened	Indian paintbrush, San Clemente Island (Castilleja grisea)
Threatened	Ivesia, Webber (Ivesia webberi)
Endangered	Jewelflower, California (Caulanthus californicus)
Endangered	Jewelflower, Metcalf Canyon (Streptanthus albidus ssp. albidus)
Endangered	Jewelflower, Tiburon (Streptanthus niger)
Endangered	Larkspur, Baker's (Delphinium bakeri)
Endangered	Larkspur, San Clemente Island (Delphinium variegatum ssp. kinkiense)
Endangered	Larkspur, yellow (Delphinium luteum)
Endangered	Layia, beach (Layia carnosa)
Endangered	Lessingia, San Francisco (Lessingia germanorum (=L.g. var. germanorum))
Endangered	Lily, Pitkin Marsh (Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense)
Endangered	Lily, Western (Lilium occidentale)
Threatened	Liveforever, Laguna Beach (Dudleya stolonifera)
Endangered	Liveforever, Santa Barbara Island (Dudleya traskiae)
Threatened	Lotus, San Clemente Island (Acmispon dendroideus var. traskiae (=Lotus d. ssp. traskiae))
Endangered	Lupine, clover (Lupinus tidestromii)
Endangered	Lupine, Nipomo Mesa (Lupinus nipomensis)
Endangered	Malacothrix, island (Malacothrix squalida)
Endangered	Malacothrix, Santa Cruz Island (Malacothrix indecora)
Endangered	Mallow, Kern (Eremalche kernensis)
Endangered	Manzanita, Del Mar (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. crassifolia)
Threatened	Manzanita, Ione (Arctostaphylos myrtifolia)
Threatened	Manzanita, Morro (Arctostaphylos morroensis)
Threatened	Manzanita, pallid (Arctostaphylos pallida)
Endangered	Manzanita, Presidio (Arctostaphylos hookeri var. ravenii)
Endangered	Manzanita, San Francisco (Arctostaphylos franciscana)
Endangered	Manzanita, Santa Rosa Island (Arctostaphylos confertiflora)
Threatened	Mariposa lily, Tiburon (Calochortus tiburonensis)
Endangered	Meadowfoam, Butte County (Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica)
Endangered	Meadowfoam, Sebastopol (Limnanthes vinculans)
Endangered	Mesa-mint, Otay (Pogogyne nudiuscula)
Endangered	Mesa-mint, San Diego (Pogogyne abramsii)
Endangered	Milk-vetch, Applegate's (Astragalus applegatei)
Endangered	Milk-vetch, Braunton's (Astragalus brauntonii)
Endangered	Milk-vetch, Clara Hunt's (Astragalus clarianus)
Endangered	Milk-vetch, Coachella Valley (Astragalus lentiginosus var. coachellae)
Endangered	Milk-vetch, coastal dunes (Astragalus tener var. titi)
Endangered	Milk-vetch, Cushenbury (Astragalus albens)
Threatened	Milk-vetch, Fish Slough (Astragalus lentiginosus var. piscinensis)
Endangered	Milk-vetch, Lane Mountain (Astragalus jaegerianus)
Threatened	Milk-vetch, Peirson's (Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii)
Endangered	Milk-vetch, triple-ribbed (Astragalus tricarinatus)
Endangered	Milk-vetch, Ventura Marsh (Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus)
Endangered	Monardella, willowy (Monardella viminea)
Endangered	Monkeyflower, Vandenberg (Diplacus vandenbergensis)
Endangered	Morning-glory, Stebbins' (Calystegia stebbinsii)
Endangered	Mountain balm, Indian Knob (Eriodictyon altissimum)
Endangered	Mountain-mahogany, Catalina Island (Cercocarpus traskiae)
Endangered	Mustard, slender-petaled (Thelypodium stenopetalum)
Endangered	Navarretia, few-flowered (Navarretia leucocephala ssp. pauciflora (=N. pauciflora))
Endangered	Navarretia, many-flowered (Navarretia leucocephala ssp. plieantha)
Threatened	Navarretia, spreading (Navarretia fossalis)
Endangered	Niterwort, Amargosa (Nitrophila mohavensis)
Endangered	Onion, Munz's (Allium munzii)
Endangered	Orcutt grass, California (Orcuttia californica)
Endangered	Orcutt grass, hairy (Orcuttia pilosa)
Endangered	Orcutt grass, Sacramento (Orcuttia viscida)
Threatened	Orcutt grass, San Joaquin (Orcuttia inaequalis)
Threatened	Orcutt grass, slender (Orcuttia tenuis)
Threatened	Owl's-clover, fleshy (Castilleja campestris ssp. succulenta)
Endangered	Oxytheca, cushenbury (Oxytheca parishii var. goodmaniana)
Threatened	Paintbrush, ash-grey (Castilleja cinerea)
Endangered	Paintbrush, soft-leaved (Castilleja mollis)
Endangered	Paintbrush, Tiburon (Castilleja affinis ssp. neglecta)
Endangered	Penny-cress, Kneeland Prairie (Thlaspi californicum)
Endangered	Pentachaeta, Lyon's (Pentachaeta lyonii)
Endangered	Pentachaeta, white-rayed (Pentachaeta bellidiflora)
Endangered	Phacelia, island (Phacelia insularis ssp. insularis)
Endangered	Phlox, Yreka (Phlox hirsuta)
Endangered	Piperia, Yadon's (Piperia yadonii)
Endangered	Polygonum, Scotts Valley (Polygonum hickmanii)
Endangered	Potentilla, Hickman's (Potentilla hickmanii)
Threatened	Pussypaws, Mariposa (Calyptridium pulchellum)
Endangered	Rock-cress, Hoffmann's (Arabis hoffmannii)
Endangered	Rock-cress, McDonald's (Arabis macdonaldiana)
Endangered	Rockcress, Santa Cruz Island (Sibara filifolia)
Threatened	Rush-rose, island (Helianthemum greenei)
Threatened	Sandwort, Bear Valley (Arenaria ursina)
Endangered	Sandwort, Marsh (Arenaria paludicola)
Endangered	Seablite, California (Suaeda californica)
Endangered	Sedge, white (Carex albida)
Endangered	Spineflower, Ben Lomond (Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana)
Endangered	Spineflower, Howell's (Chorizanthe howellii)
Threatened	Spineflower, Monterey (Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens)
Endangered	Spineflower, Orcutt's (Chorizanthe orcuttiana)
Endangered	spineflower, Robust (Chorizanthe robusta var. robusta)
Endangered	spineflower, Scotts Valley (Chorizanthe robusta var. hartwegii)
Endangered	Spineflower, slender-horned (Dodecahema leptoceras)
Endangered	Spineflower, Sonoma (Chorizanthe valida)
Threatened	Spurge, Hoover's (Chamaesyce hooveri)
Endangered	Stonecrop, Lake County (Parvisedum leiocarpum)
Endangered	Sunburst, Hartweg's golden (Pseudobahia bahiifolia)
Threatened	Sunburst, San Joaquin adobe (Pseudobahia peirsonii)
Endangered	Sunflower, San Mateo woolly (Eriophyllum latilobum)
Endangered	Sunshine, Sonoma (Blennosperma bakeri)
Endangered	Taraxacum, California (Taraxacum californicum)
Endangered	Tarplant, Gaviota (Deinandra increscens ssp. villosa)
Threatened	Tarplant, Otay (Deinandra (=Hemizonia) conjugens)
Threatened	Tarplant, Santa Cruz (Holocarpha macradenia)
Endangered	Thistle, Chorro Creek bog (Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense)
Endangered	Thistle, fountain (Cirsium fontinale var. fontinale)
Endangered	Thistle, La Graciosa (Cirsium loncholepis)
Endangered	Thistle, Loch Lomond coyote (Eryngium constancei)
Endangered	Thistle, Suisun (Cirsium hydrophilum var. hydrophilum)
Threatened	Thornmint, San Diego (Acanthomintha ilicifolia)
Endangered	Thornmint, San Mateo (Acanthomintha obovata ssp. duttonii)
Endangered	Tuctoria, Greene's (Tuctoria greenei)
Threatened	Vervain, Red Hills (Verbena californica)
Endangered	Wallflower, Ben Lomond (Erysimum teretifolium)
Endangered	Wallflower, Contra Costa (Erysimum capitatum var. angustatum)
Endangered	Wallflower, Menzies' (Erysimum menziesii)
Endangered	Watercress, Gambel's (Rorippa gambellii)
Threatened	Wild-buckwheat, southern mountain (Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum)
Endangered	Woodland-star, San Clemente Island (Lithophragma maximum)
Endangered	Woolly-star, Santa Ana River (Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum)
Endangered	Wooly-threads, San Joaquin (Monolopia (=Lembertia) congdonii)
Endangered	Yerba santa, Lompoc (Eriodictyon capitatum)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Endangered and threatened species in California"

Back to top↑

Clean Power Plan

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Clean Power Plan. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

Waters of the United States

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Waters of the United States. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

Clean Air Act

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Clean Air Act. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

Clean Water Act

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Clean Water Act. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

Endangered species

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Endangered Species Act. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

Federal land

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California federal land. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

Superfund

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Superfund. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

Climate change

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California climate change. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

Drinking water

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California drinking water. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles; they are included to provide readers with the most recent news articles on the subject. Click here to learn more about this section.

ON THIS TAB: Ballot measures Agencies and organizations

Ballot measures

Voting on the Environment
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot
Local Local environment Local GMO Local fracking

Below is a list of ballot measures relating to environmental issues in California.

Natural resources

• California Proposition 1, Bonds for Parks and Recreation (1980)
• California Proposition 1, Bonds for Recreational Land (1964)
• California Proposition 1, Bonds for Recreational Land (June 1974)
• California Proposition 10, Oil Leases on State-Owned Tidelands at Huntington Beach (1938)
• California Proposition 10, Proceeds from Sale of Land Grant Lands (1964)
• California Proposition 11, Tide and Submerged Lands Granted to Huntington Beach (1932)
• California Proposition 117, Habitat Conservation Fund (1990)
• California Proposition 128, Environmental Protection Act (1990)
• California Proposition 13, Sale or Lease of State Park Lands Containing Oil or Gas Deposits (1940)
• California Proposition 130, Restrictions on Logging and Bonds for Forests (1990)

Environment

• California Klamath River Fish and Game District, Proposition 11 (1924)
• California Proposition 1, Tax Implications of Repairing Environmentally Contaminated Property (1998)
• California Proposition 10, Alternative Fuels Initiative (2008)
• California Proposition 128, Environmental Protection Act (1990)
• California Proposition 135, Regulation of Pesticides (1990)
• California Proposition 141, No Carcinogens Released Into Water Act (1990)
• California Proposition 18, Gas Tax and License Fee Revenues Used for Pollution Control (1970)
• California Proposition 19, Bonds for Fish and Wildlife Habitat (1984)
• California Proposition 23, the Suspension of AB 32 (2010)
• California Proposition 3, Bonds for Pollution Control Facilities (1972)

Water

• Article X, California Constitution
• Article XA, California Constitution
• California Control of International Water Systems, Proposition 30 (1914)
• California Irrigation Districts, Proposition 15 (1920)
• California Irrigation Districts, Proposition 24 (1926)
• California Proposition 1, Bonds for Water Pollution Control (1970)
• California Proposition 1, Bonds for Water Projects (1960)
• California Proposition 1, Water Bond (2014)
• California Proposition 1, Water and Parks Bond Act (June 1980)
• California Proposition 10, Escondido Allowed to Hold Stock in a Mutual Water Company (1932)

Agencies and organizations

• The California State Senate has a standing committee for environmental quality. The California State Assembly has a standing committee for environmental safety and toxic materials. These committees manage bills pertaining to environmental quality matters.^[57][58]
• The California Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with implementing and enforcing state and federal environmental quality regulations in California. The department was founded in 1991. The agency is divided into the following divisions:^[59]
• The stated mission of the California Natural Resources Agency is "to restore, protect and manage the state’s natural, historical and cultural resources for current and future generations using creative approaches and solutions based on science, collaboration and respect for all the communities and interests involved." The agency includes divisions for conservation, fish and wildlife, forestry and fire protection, parks and recreation, and water resources.^[60]