California Dam Initiative

California has the opportunity to protect and restore its rivers.

We are investigating opportunities to help California lead the U.S. and the world to protect and restore rivers. With its strong environmental laws, regulations, and policies, California has the opportunity to not only stop new dam construction, but also decommission dams to restore the biodiversity and carbon sequestration currently inundated in river valleys across the state. Further, California can be a leading voice in acknowledging and addressing the greenhouse gas emissions caused by dams and reservoirs.

Several state agencies including the California Air Resources Board (CARB), California Energy Commission, California Water Resources Control Board, and others are engaged around permitting, licensing, and regulating dams and reservoirs in the state.  All of these agencies have opportunities to dramatically increase their work to better address the greenhouse gas emissions caused by dams, and better protect rivers in California and beyond.