California tracks pesticides, but doesn’t track what reaches water

California has invested heavily in tracking pesticide use, but it's missing the crucial step of monitoring how much of these chemicals actually end up in waterways. The $10 billion Proposition 4 restoration bond, while a significant investment, lacks a mandate for specific baseline monitoring of compound impacts on water quality. This oversight could be rectified through legislative action, but so far, no such measures have been taken. This gap highlights a critical blind spot in environmental oversight, which could have far-reaching implications for both aquatic ecosystems and public health.