The Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee convened on March 11, 2025, to address critical issues surrounding flood management in California. The meeting highlighted the challenges and financial constraints faced by the state in managing its water resources effectively.

The discussion began with an overview of the historical context of flood management, referencing Proposition 13 and its implications for funding local services, including police and fire departments. The committee examined the consequences of past decisions, particularly the construction practices along the LA River, which have limited the river's capacity to manage floodwaters effectively.

A significant point raised was the concept of "institutional inertia," where existing practices are maintained despite their inadequacies. This resistance to change, particularly within federal agencies, complicates efforts to implement new flood management strategies. The committee acknowledged the phenomenon of "flood memory half-life," where the public tends to forget the impacts of infrequent natural disasters, leading to a lack of urgency in addressing flood risks.

Financially, the committee noted that California spends over $30 billion annually on water-related issues, with only a small fraction allocated to flood management—approximately $600 million per year, far below the estimated need of $2 billion. This disparity highlights the challenges of funding flood management, which lacks a consistent revenue stream compared to water supply systems.

The reliance on federal funding for flood management was another critical topic. The committee discussed how 75% of funding for new construction projects comes from federal sources, emphasizing the importance of federal investment in infrastructure and emergency response. However, concerns were raised about the decreasing federal support for new projects, which could hinder future flood management efforts.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further research and analysis by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) to explore alternative funding mechanisms for flood management. The committee expressed optimism about finding solutions to these pressing challenges, despite the difficult work ahead.