Accomplishments
Our Accomplishments
Launched in 1965, when the environmental movement was just starting to focus on the Capitol, PCL and PCL Foundation have a rich history that has seen these organizations at the forefront of many of California’s leading environmental laws and policies, such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Coastal Act, and providing billions of dollars from bond initiatives for parks, open space and transit. See more of PCL’s history or view PCL’s timeline.
Some of the most noteworthy accomplishments in which we’ve been involved include:
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) – Helped to draft and pass this landmark law
- Received the Governor’s Award for establishing the Tejon Ranch Conservation and Land Use Agreement that protected 240,000 acres of biologically important natural land
- Helped secure a commitment to remove the seismically unsafe San Clemente Dam and restore the Carmel River watershed
- Passage of the Wild Rivers Bill, SB 107
- Won a lawsuit that challenged the High Speed Rail Authority’s inadequate plans for a multi-billion dollar train network and developed a coalition to improve planning for a better train network
- Passage of Proposition 117, which permanently banned trophy hunting of mountain lions and established the Habitat Conservation Fund providing almost $1 billion for wildlife conservation
- Received the Dean Malley Sun Tzu Award for acting as the liaison between the Legislature, the Treasurer’s Office, and affected groups to develop new funding mechanisms for critical projects and ensure that all parties had the most up-to-date information throughout the bond freeze
- Hosted regional land use summits in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego to build diverse non-profit partnerships
- Published our Land Use Climate Action Toolkit (PDF) and produced a complementary workshop series
- Provided CEQA community workshops and launched an online resource center to support engagement with the California Environmental Quality Act.
- Published the our Sierra Nevada Grassroots Directory (PDF)
- Helped save the California Public Records Act
- Prevailed in AB 900 litigation challenging the constitutionality of CEQA-streamlining legislation
- Built the 200+ member CEQA Works coalition that fights to protect and strengthen CEQA
- Published 8 Affordable Water Solutions (PDF) and worked with Senator Pavley on SB 918 to supporting recycled water use
- Prevailed in lawsuit against the Department of Water Resources’ secretly negotiated Monterey Amendments that would have given away the largest water storage facility in the state (Kern Water Bank)
- Passage of the Parks Bond, Proposition 12
- Worked diligently to pass Proposition 116, the Rail Bond Ac, for public and rail transportation
- Fought off attacks on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in the State Legislature and launched a campaign to protect the law from future assaults
- Passage of the Integrated Waste Management Act, AB 939
- Ran the campaign for Proposition 70, which included $776 million for the acquisition and development of parks, open space, and coastal areas
- Passage of the Coastal Conservation Initiative and Coastal Zone and Management Act, Proposition 20
- Conceived of and help pass Proposition 99, for public health and funds for fish, wildlife, and park programs
- Passage of SB 389 in 2023 to establish accountabilty for pre-1914 water rights
Today, PCL and PCL Foundation continue to work on the leading environmental challenges facing our state, such as advocating for:
- Statewide water policies that are economically and environmentally sustainable
- A sensible High Speed Rail project that will achieve greenhouse gas emissions and promote smarter growth without unduly impacting our natural resources, key agricultural lands or local communities
- Land use planning focused on our urban cores that will transform neighborhoods into thriving, livable and healthy communities
- The integrity of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to ensure it remains a vibrant tool to empower the public to participate in decisions that impact their communities and environment
Learn How You can Support PCL & The PCL Foundation
The Planning and Conservation League staff are tackling some of California’s most pressing environmental issues. The League’s legislative and advocacy efforts and the PCL Foundation’s research and education efforts focus on water, land use, public health, and global climate change. We provide the issue expertise, education and research that is needed to preserve, protect and enhance our environment.
By supporting PCL and PCL Foundation, you are joining thousands of individuals who, for nearly 60 years, have helped us improve the California environment. It has never been more important than it is right now to support our dynamic policy and advocacy efforts that protect our state’s natural resources and quality of life.
There are three ways to support PCL:
- Donate
- Subscribe to get the latest news and alerts
- Make a planned gift