Forest management.

The Z'Berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 prohibits a person from conducting timber operations, as defined, unless a timber harvesting plan prepared by a registered professional forester has been submitted to, and is approved by, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Existing law establishes the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund in the State Treasury, and requires that all revenues received from a specified assessment imposed on the retail sale of lumber products, as defined, and engineered wood products, as defined, less amounts deducted for refunds and reimbursements, be deposited into the fund. Existing law requires that moneys deposited into the fund be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for specified purposes, including to fund existing restoration grant programs. This bill would provide that priority be given to funding restoration grant programs relating to salmon and anadromous trout species. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Game to grant funds from the Salmon and Steelhead Trout Restoration Account in the Resources Trust Fund in a specified manner, including for projects implementing instream, riparian, water quality, water quantity, and watershed prescriptions that are designed to restore the structure and function of fish habitat. This bill would require these projects to also protect the structure and function of fish habitat. Existing law requires that not less than 65% of the moneys in the account be used for salmon habitat protection and restoration projects. This bill would include training and education as uses for these moneys, as provided. Existing law requires up to 35% of the moneys in the account to be used for specified purposes. This bill would include county salmonid conservation programs as one of these purposes. The bill would require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency and the Secretary for Environmental Protection, by July 1, 2014, in consultation with various entities, to select a pilot project assessment team, as specified, to undertake pilot projects with the primary goal being to improve the state's collection, organization, management, use, and distribution of vital forestry-related information. The bill would require the pilot projects to accomplish certain things, including enabling restoration measures to be identified for listed anadromous salmonids, other wildlife, watersheds, and forest health issues. The bill would require the pilot projects to conclude on January 1, 2017. The bill would require the pilot project assessment team to create a report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and hold a public meeting to discuss the report.