In today's newscast:
Potential cuts to CalFood
California food banks are worried about cuts to the CalFood program, which helps them buy and distribute food sourced from California.
Last year, the program got a total of $80 million in baseline and one-time funding. But now, the state is considering dropping it to the baseline figure of $8 million.
Second Harvest Food Bank’s Fernando Cardenas says the program makes up a third of their food purchasing budget.
" If CalFood's funding were reduced by 90%, we would be forced to make incredibly difficult decisions," he said at a recent press conference.
Second Harvest distributes over 10 million pounds of food across Santa Cruz County each year, and they’re seeing more demand.
The California Association of Food Banks is asking the state to increase the annual funding from $8 million to $60 million and for an additional one-time increase this year.
Salmon season opens in Monterey Bay
The recreational salmon season is underway in Monterey Bay, and for the first time in three years, limited commercial fishing will open next month.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira says salmon populations that depend on the Klamath and Sacramento Rivers are rebounding.
Dam removals along the Klamath River two years ago reopened hundreds of miles of habitat and improved the river’s health.
"We did see salmon kind of repopulate that historic habitat behind those dams almost immediately once those dams came down," Tira said.
Managers are cautiously optimistic.
" It certainly doesn't mean salmon are home free," Tira added. "They have a lot of challenges ahead of them here in California."
Both the recreational and commercial seasons can be closed early if harvest limits are reached.
