UPPER LAKE – In a Thursday session during which the state Assembly Appropriations Committee reportedly slashed away at hundreds of bills proposing state spending, a bill to restore a large area of Lake County's wetlands survived and received approval.

Last December, Assemblyman Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata) introduced AB 74. It was one of the first bills Chesbro introduced after being elected to his first term in the Assembly, as Lake County News has reported.

AB 74, the Middle Creek and Hamilton City Flood Damage Restoration and Ecosystem Act, seeks to restore Clear Lake habitat that includes open water, seasonal wetlands, in-stream aquatic habitat, shaded aquatic habitat and perennial wetlands. It would restore up to 1,400 acres of wetlands in the Clear Lake Basin.

Assemblyman Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) coauthored the bill with Chesbro. AB 74 includes a subvention project for a levee on the Sacramento River in Hamilton City, located in Glenn County. AB 74 would authorize the state to provide subvention funds for both projects, Chesbro's office reported.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday turned down many bills, but AB 74 was approved.

The bill won unanimous bipartisan support from the Assembly’s Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, Chesbro's office reported.

On Friday, Chesbro visited Lake County. During the morning he toured the Middle Creek area with county officials including Supervisor Denise Rushing.

Rushing and County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox both lauded Chesbro for his efforts on behalf of Lake County, telling Lake County News they were impressed with his knowledge of the county's unique issues.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors sponsored AB 74, which also is supported by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Lake County Land Trust, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club Lake Group, West Lake Resource Conservation District, The Nature Conservancy, Glenn County Board of Supervisors, Reclamation District 2140 in Glenn County, Hamilton City Community Services District, Hamilton City Citizens In Action and the Hamilton City Fire Protection District.

AB 74 next heads to the Assembly floor for consideration by the full Assembly.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .