What is the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)?

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is indeed a law that requires state and local agencies to evaluate the environmental impacts of their proposed projects before they proceed. This act is fundamentally about ensuring that governmental decisions take into account the potential environmental consequences.

When a project is proposed, CEQA mandates that an environmental impact report (EIR) be prepared, which assesses how the project could affect air quality, water supply, wildlife, and other environmental factors. This process encourages transparency and public participation, enabling communities to engage in the decision-making process regarding projects that may affect their environment.

In contrast, enhancing agricultural irrigation methods, regulating clean water standards, or managing existing water resources, while important aspects of California's approach to environmental management and water issues, do not encapsulate the primary function of CEQA. CEQA’s primary focus is specifically on evaluating and mitigating environmental impacts from various development projects, underscoring its critical role in California’s environmental governance.