The Shasta River flows through a field near Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County on Oct. 30, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Locala commentary forum aiming to broaden our understanding of the state and spotlight Californians directly impacted by policy or its absence. Learn moreTed Sommer is a Public Policy Institute of California-CalTrout Ecosystem fellow at the PPIC Water Policy Center. He was previously lead scientist at the California Department of Water Resources.
As a child I spent so much time in the water that my family joked that I should be considered part frog. We now live in a world in which a few extreme events – a few heat waves, or a major wildfire – could wipe some of California’s native freshwater species off the face of the planet. And. But our efforts have not been enough. The window to save these species is closing faster than we’d like to admit. Despite many laudable programs and well-intentioned efforts, California lacks a full-fledgedfrom the Public Policy Institute of California, detailing what’s needed to meet the moment.
Finally, climate-smart conservation planning needs to be embedded within all the many efforts underway to protect native freshwater species. Each action must not only help restore and protect biodiversity today, but also consider the future.