A California Democrat’s proposal to enshrine Biden-era water quality rules in state law to backstop potential rollbacks under the Trump administration will not move forward this year amid continued opposition from farmers and water agencies. Assembly Appropriations Chair Buffy Wicks announced on Friday that Sen. Ben Allen’s SB 601 will be a two-year bill, meaning it won’t be voted on this year and has until next fall to win passage. Sean Bothwell, executive director of the California Coastkeeper Alliance, which is sponsoring the bill, said its backers decided they needed extra time to finalize the language amid continued opposition. “It’s a big bill and we didn’t want to rush it,” he said. 

Other wetland and lake conservation news:

• E&E News by Politico: EPA plans to dramatically reduce wetland protection
• Redwood News (Eureka, Calif.): A look inside the ambitious restoration project bringing outdoor recreation and restored tidal wetlands to Ferndale
• FOX40 (Sacramento, Calif.): Restoring habitats: Sacramento Valley’s help for migratory birds
• Community Alliance (Fresno, Calif.): Mono Lake’s endangered California gulls
• MyMotherLode (Murphys, Calif.): CDFW updates beaver restoration pilot projects