Sacramento—Assembly Member Anna Caballero (D-28th AD) today joined with Assembly Member Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) in presenting a $9.8 billion bond measure designed to repair and sustain the complex ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and provide early relief to communities around the state affected by drought, contaminated drinking water, and the need for secure water supplies.

“People throughout the state are deeply concerned about the quality and reliability of water,” said Caballero.  “Some Bay Area and Southern California cities are under mandatory water rationing.  Growers in San Diego County are stumping their avocado trees and pulling out citrus trees.  New commercial developments in Riverside County have stopped because water supplies are not guaranteed.”

Caballero noted that the drought, combined with judicial decisions to protect the ecosystem of the Delta, is having severe effects in her district.    

“The San Luis Reservoir, which supplies water to San Benito and Santa Clara counties, now holds only 13 percent of its full capacity.  Crops are dying in the fields, and farm workers are out of work, unemployed.”

Caballero is joint author of AB 8xx, a bill which she introduced this week as part of the special legislative session on water that Gov. Schwarzenegger convened last year.  If enacted, the bill would place a $9.8 billion general obligation bond measure on the November statewide ballot.  Caballero and Huffman presented the bill at a 4-hour informational hearing conducted by the Assembly Special Session Committee on Water.

The bill is modeled on a legislative proposal prepared by Gov. Schwarzenegger and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.  Several weeks ago the two urged the Legislature to act this year to pass a water bond. 

“We started with the Schwarzenegger-Feinstein proposal several weeks ago, and worked to identify the changes needed for it to win support in the Legislature,” explained Caballero.  “It’s a work in process, but we’ve moved closer to a consensus product than has ever been achieved.”

Significantly, the bill attempts to break a political logjam that has for some years prevented passage of a bond measure to work on the range of water issues facing California.  Republicans have traditionally insisted on new storage facilities as a condition of supporting a bond, while environmental groups have argued that additional conservation and water reuse measures should be funded before the state allows for construction of major new dams. 

The bill does not fund new dams, but provides $3 billion for “public benefit” projects to enhance the sustainability and provide measurable improvement to the Delta, so that additional storage facilities could be built in the future.

“This bill is the closest we’ve ever been to getting a bond measure passed,” said Lester Snow, Director of the state Department of Water Resources.  “There’s a short list of differences.  Let’s take that short list and get it before the voters.”
 
Other sections of the bill provide:

• $500 million for drought relief, including water conservation and recycling projects that would be operational within two years. 
• $1.5 billion for water supply and reliability projects, including regional water management programs and grants for local communities that undertake projects to increase the efficiency of agricultural and urban water use, reduce energy use and encourage greater reuse of water. 
• $1.9 billion for projects to revitalize the Delta ecosystem, and provide environmentally sustainable water supply.
• $1 billion for enhanced management and protection of watersheds in regions throughout the state.
• $360 million for groundwater protection and cleanup.
• $500 million for water recycling and reuse, and for desalination projects
• More than $300 million specifically for projects to aid economically disadvantaged communities.

“I’m pleased that the funding will be available for a whole range of water needs in my district,” said Caballero.  She noted that Monterey County projects involving desalination, conjunctive use, groundwater replenishment, water conservation and improved operation of Los Padres Reservoir would all be eligible to apply for funds.  Contaminated drinking water in San Geraldo, Gilroy and other locations would also eligible, as would recycling and reuse projects in Santa Clara County.  Most projects would require a 50% local match to access the bond funds.

Speaking of the prospects for the bill, Caballero emphasized, “This is a compromise measure.  We need to keep moving to find the additional compromises that will produce a winning measure.  Our communities are hurting.” 

Her comments were echoed by Tim Quinn, Executive Director of the Association of California Water Agencies, testifying at the hearing.  “This is the closest we’ve been in my career to finding a winning proposal. The elements of success are in front of you.  We can’t let this opportunity pass.