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118 Part i california Water <br />and management that affect tribal lands, and groundwater overdraft. Some <br />tribes have significantly affected FERC relicensing proceedings for hydroelectric <br />projects by identifying traditional cultural properties and Indian trust asset <br />lands within the project vicinity.47 Tribes also have called for a more active role <br />in regional water planning processes, adjudications, and agreements (California <br />Tribal Water Summit Regional Tribal Water Plenary 2009). <br />Stakeholder associations <br />Stakeholder associations representing various interests significantly influence <br />California’s water policies. Historically, farm groups, urban water agencies, <br />associations of water agencies and contractors, and environmental organi- <br />zations have played a leading role, but business, recreation, and community <br />organizations have also often demonstrated their interest.48 Interest group orga- <br />nizations influence policies and management in various ways, most notably by <br />providing data and information to decisionmakers, lobbying, placing initiatives <br />on the ballot, and initiating lawsuits. Since the introduction of term limits in the <br />California legislature in the early 1990s, stakeholder associations have gained <br />more direct influence on the legislative process, both as a source of expertise <br />and as crafters of legislation (Cain and Kousser 2004). <br />California residents: water users and ballot box policymakers <br />As water and land users, the state’s residents clearly have an important, direct <br />influence on a range of water policy outcomes. For example, the effectiveness <br />of water conservation incentives, the volume of contaminants that enter storm <br />drains, and the extent of uninsured flood risk exposure all depend on individual <br />actions. The views of the general public also can sway the decisions of legisla- <br />tures, administrative agencies, and local governments. California residents are <br />also frequently asked to make policy directly at the ballot box, by voting on <br />policy initiatives and approving spending proposals. <br />47. Agencies and licensees must take into account the effect of their project on these properties (Federal Energy <br />Regulatory Commission 2004). <br />48. For instance, in the early 1990s, the Bay Area Economic Forum promoted the development of water marketing. In the <br />mid-1990s, business leaders were also active in negotiations leading up to the Bay-Delta Accord (Chapter 1). In 2001, the <br />California Building Industry Association played an important role in negotiations surrounding the passage of the “show <br />me the water” laws (SB 610 and SB 221) (Association of California Water Agencies 2002). Environmental preservation, <br />recreational fishing, bird-watching, rafting, and other nongovernmental organizations representing specific interests <br />are prominent in California water policy discussions at local, state, and national levels.