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Environment & Natural Resources

California has extraordinary natural resources: 1,340 miles of beaches and coastline, world famous national parks, over 1,000 state and local parks and 225 wildlife and ecological reserves covering nearly a million acres.

With a population of 37 million people and growing, and a $1.5 trillion economy, California also has the busiest ports, growing demands for energy and 23 million drivers on crowded roads that create air quality challenges. Every single day, California uses 40 billion gallons of water.

The state currently has many natural resource policies that help support clean air, a high quality water supply and energy conservation. Many people in California are also considering more ways to improve our environment while maintaining a strong economy.

These are some of the state agencies that implement California resource and environmental policies:

• The Department of Water Resources runs the system that provides water for two-thirds of the state’s population. The department also plans for some of the future statewide water needs, provides flood control services and assists local water districts with water management and conservation.

• The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) oversees several agencies, including state and regional water boards, the Air Resources Board and the Integrated Waste Management Board.

• The California Energy Commission is in charge of the state’s energy supply and making it more environmentally friendly over time. Click here for on overview of current sources of energy for California.

• The California Public Utilities Commission regulates privately owned electric, telecommunications, natural gas, water and transportation companies. Many of these companies have a large impact on the environment and/or the supply of natural resources in our state.

• These various state agencies are also collaborating on Climate Change programs.

Additional resources

• National information and resources about the environment from Public Agenda

• Flex Your Power – designed to help Californians find ways to reduce how much energy they use

• The CREEC Network is a clearinghouse of environmental education resources in California

Several community-based organizations and coalitions are also working on environmental issues. Please send us suggestions for links to nonpartisan organizations.