CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

March 16, 2026

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CDFW Provides Updates Regarding Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program Evaluation
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a press release last week announcing that it has “started a process to evaluate California’s Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program.” An initial meeting was held February 23, with CCA and various other stakeholder representatives in attendance (a PowerPoint presentation given at that meeting can be viewed here). According to CDFW, “This meeting marked the first step in a broader public process that will gather input and perspectives from key stakeholder groups involved in livestock production, wolf conservation, research and government agencies, as well as from the public in the coming year.”

The Department provided additional details of that public process on the agency’s Wolf Livestock Compensation Grants website. According to CDFW, it is working with UC Cooperative Extension and the UC Berkeley California Wolf Project to “evaluate the use of a questionnaire to solicit input regarding the existing WLCP,” and beginning in May the agency intends to “hold four public meetings in counties with wolf presence” to solicit community feedback on the Compensation Program. The Department also encourages stakeholders to reach out to their “respective interest groups” to engage. Ranchers wishing to share feedback on the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program can reach out to Kirk Wilbur in the CCA office or communicate directly to CDFW.

As reported in last week’s California Cattleman Weekly, the Department recently stated on social media that it has provided $3.52 million in compensation grants since the Program was established in 2021. That sum nearly exhausts the $3.6 million appropriated in 2021 and 2024, though an additional $2 million in compensation funding authorized in the 2025-26 Budget Act remains available.

Governor Newsom Initiates Development of 2028 California Water Plan
Governor Gavin Newsom announced late last month that he is initiating the develop of the 2028 California Water Plan “to modernize statewide water planning in response to climate-driven extremes and long-term water reliability challenges.” The California Water Plan is updated every five years, but legislation signed into law last year mandated several new requirements for the 2028 iteration of the Plan. Most notably, it requires the Department of Water Resources to establish an “interim planning target” of increasing the state’s water capacity by 9 million acre-feet by 2040 to offset a projected water supply reduction resulting from “hotter and drier weather conditions.” For more information, see the March 2 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

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CCA in the News

California weighs grizzly return as wildlife officials face a growing workload and a shrinking budget Agri-pulse “‘Ranchers already share the landscape with several apex predators,’ said Kirk Wilbur, CCA vice president of government affairs. Ranchers are increasingly suffering livestock losses from the growing populations, he explained, warning that another large predator would compound those pressures. ‘We know from the Rocky Mountain states that grizzly bears can be even more devastating to ranchers,” he said, adding that requiring CDFW to prepare a reintroduction plan ‘would be a disservice to Californians — rural, urban and suburban alike — as it would strain limited department resources that could otherwise be devoted to planning, conservation and management for California’s existing wildlife populations.’” To continue reading, click here.

CDFW in process to evaluate wolf-livestock compensation Red Bluff Daily News “On Feb. 23, the CDFW stated they held a workshop with stakeholders, including representatives from the California Farm Bureau, California Cattlemen’s Association, Rural County Representatives of California and more, to assess the program and contribute to possible future adjustments for application and funding opportunities.” To continue reading, click here.

Hadwick meets with California Cattlemen’s Association in Sacramento Lassen County Times “Assemblymember Heather Hadwick recently met with members of the California Cattlemen’s Association in Sacramento to discuss the growing wolf crisis impacting ranchers across Northern California, according to her newsletter.” To continue reading, click here.

McGarva hosted meetings for livestock producers Lassen County Times “Speakers at Jensen Hall included Paul Souza, regional director of the Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher, Rick Roberti, president of the California Cattlemen’s Association and McGarva.” To continue reading, click here.

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