California Secretary for Natural Resources
| California Secretary for Natural Resources | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $232,858 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $93,101,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | California Government Code, Title 2, Part 2.5, Chapter 1, Section 12802b |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
California Secretary for Natural Resources
Wade Crowfoot | |
| Other California Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Controller • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Secretary • Industrial Relations Director • Public Utilities Commission | |
The California Secretary for Natural Resources is a state executive position in the California state government. The secretary heads the California Natural Resources Agency, a conglomeration of a number of state departments, boards, and commissions concerned with protecting and managing the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the state.
Current officeholder
The current California Secretary for Natural Resources is Wade Crowfoot (nonpartisan). Crowfoot assumed office in 2019.
Authority
The office of secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency is established by Section 12802 of the California Government Code. Previously, the officer had been known as the Secretary of the Resources Agency. The authority of the secretary was based on Section 12801 of the California Government Code provides that certain state-level bodies, including the state natural resources agency, are under the control of secretaries.[1]
California Government Code, Section 12802b
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(b) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall succeed to, and is vested with, all the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction previously vested in the Secretary of the Resources Agency. |
Qualifications
There are no unique qualifications required of secretaries of the natural resources agency. However, officeholders must fulfill the general requirements for holding civil office in California; he or she must be a resident of the state, at least 18 years of age, not a convicted felon, and not a member of the Communist Party or any other organization that advocates the overthrow of the U.S. government.[2]
Appointments
Secretaries are appointed by the governor with the approval of the Senate and hold office at the governor's pleasure.[3]
California Government Code, Section 12801
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Each agency is under the supervision of an executive officer known as the secretary. Each secretary shall be appointed by, and hold office at the pleasure of, the Governor. The appointment of each secretary is subject to confirmation by the Senate. The annual salary of each secretary is provided for by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 11550) of Part 1. |
Term limits
There are no term limits associated with this office.
Vacancies
When a vacancy exists, the governor appoints a new officeholder; if the appointment is made when the legislature is out of session, the appointee serves at the pleasure of the governor until the state Senate reconvenes.[4]
California Government Code, Section 1774a
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(a) When an office, the appointment to which is vested in the Governor and Senate, either becomes vacant or the term of the incumbent thereof expires, the Governor may appoint a person to the office or reappoint the incumbent after the expiration of the term. Until Senate confirmation of the person appointed or reappointed, that person serves at the pleasure of the Governor. If the term of office of an incumbent subject to this section expires, the Governor shall have 60 days after the expiration date to reappoint the incumbent. If the incumbent is not reappointed within the 60-day period, the office shall be deemed to be vacant as of the first day following the end of the 60-day period. |
Duties
As of January 12, 2021, the stated goal of the department was "to restore, protect and manage the state's natural, historical and cultural resources for current and future generations using creative approaches and solutions based on science, collaboration, and respect for all the communities and interests involved."[5]
The secretary's duties are described as: "[Overseeing] an agency of 19,000 employees who protect and [managing] California’s natural resources. This includes the state’s forests and natural lands, rivers and waterways, coast and ocean, fish and wildlife, and energy development. As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, he advises the Governor on natural resources and environmental issues."[6]
Divisions
As of January 12, 2021, divisions within the California Natural Resources Agency included:[7]
- Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
- California Conservation Corps
- Department of Conservation
- Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Department of Parks and Recreation
- Department of Water Resources
- Exposition Park
State budget
- See also: California state budget and finances
The budget for the Secretary for Natural Resources' Office in the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year was $93,101,000.[8]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The secretary's salary, like that of all other non-elected executive department heads, is determined by Section 11550 of California's Government Code and is subject to annual increases.[9]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $232,858, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $227,179, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2021
In 2021, the secretary received a salary of $217,292, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2020
In 2020, the secretary received a salary of $217,292 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2019
In 2019, the secretary received a salary of $209,944 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2018
In 2018, the secretary received a salary of $201,869 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2017
In 2017, the secretary received a salary of $194,105 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2016
In 2016, the secretary received a salary of $188,451 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2015
In 2015, the secretary received a salary of $183,852 according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2014
In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $175,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2013
In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $175,000. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[20]
2010
In 2010, the secretary received a salary of $131,500.[21]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the California Secretary for Natural Resources has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Secretary Natural Resources. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Physical office:
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 653-5656
Fax: (916) 653-8102
See also
| California | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ California Government Code, "Title 2, Part 2.5, Chapter 1, Section 12802b," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Government Code, "Sections 1020-1042," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Government Code, "Title 2, Part 2.5, Chapter 1, Section 12801," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Government Code, "Section 1774a," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Natural Resources Agency, "Who We Are," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Natural Resources Agency, "Secretary Crowfoot," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Natural Resources Agency, "Our Agencies," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ California Budget, "2024-25 Budget - 0540 Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ California Government Code, "Section 11550," accessed August 30, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 12, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed February 2, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010 -- Table 4.11," accessed June 23, 2011
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