Bill would bring conservation efforts, resources and safer drinking water to region
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia’s (D-Coachella) Coachella Valley Mountain Conservancy Bill (AB 1089) was approved by the California State Senate today by a vote tally of 38-0 and now heads to the Governor’s desk for approval. The legislation would expand the Coachella Valley Mountain Conservancy governing board and territory, to include the Cities of Indio and Coachella.
“My Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy bill allows the Cities of Indio and Coachella to be part of the mountain conservancy and brings the much needed resources to further conservation efforts for these two cities. Our bill will also open the discussion to improving water quality efforts and give the cities access to apply for Proposition 1 funds to combat chromium-6 levels and bring safer drinking water to our communities,” said Garcia.
When first established, the Conservancy’s role was to protect the biological resources in the mountains surrounding the Coachella Valley. As a result of the Cities of Indio and Coachella being geographically located on the valley floor, they were not included on the Conservancy. When the boundaries of the Conservancy were expanded to coincide with the Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), which includes the cities of Coachella and Indio, these two cities were still not included on the Conservancy board—with AB 1089, the cities of Indio and Coachella will now have a seat at the table.
The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) was established in 1991 via state legislation to protect the diverse ecological and biological resources of the Coachella Valley.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1089 now heads to the Governor’s desk and has twelve days upon the date of transmittal to sign or veto the bill.
