This November, California voters will almost certainly vote on
whether to authorize billions of dollars of taxpayer spending for
a water bond. But crucially, the next few weeks will determine
what water bond will be on the ballot in November – how much
borrowing it authorizes, what it spends that money on – and
whether it is a good investment in California’s water
future.
In signing this year’s budget, Gov. Jerry Brown dedicated $832
million from California’s burgeoning cap-and-trade program to
affordable housing and mass transit, including his embattled
high-speed rail project. Also tucked into the legislation
are directions to set aside agricultural land on the periphery of
cities.
Lawmakers working both above and below the surface on California
drought relief are making explicit progress this week. While
insisting on secrecy for key deal-making, House of
Representatives and Senate members are also publicly moving
legislation.
“After months of negotiations to rewrite the controversial $11.14
billion water bond on California’s November ballot, a compromise
has been reached on a $10.5 billion plan that includes $3 billion
for reservoirs and groundwater storage, and $1 billion for
groundwater cleanup in the L.A. basin.”
From the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA):
“The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now
accepting applications for the State Water Efficiency and
Enhancement Program (SWEEP), authorized by emergency drought
legislation (Senate Bill 103).
“Masquerading as a response to California’s drought, a bill to
waive environmental protections and divert more water to Central
Valley agriculture passed the Republican-controlled House in
February and is now going to conference to be reconciled with a
competing bill by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that the
Senate adopted last month.”
“Cynical observers of California politics sometimes assume the
real reason for a new statewide water bond is to pay for projects
that take water from the north and ship it south. But on Monday,
a number of Northern California leaders made it clear they are
prepared to support a water bond for the November ballot – under
certain conditions.”
“So understand that when we complain about Senate Bill 1309, it’s
because we don’t think that only VIPs – Very Important Projects –
should be given relief from the state’s important but often
misused California Environmental Quality Act.”
“Masquerading as a response to California’s drought, a bill to
waive environmental protections and divert more water to Central
Valley agriculture passed the Republican-controlled House in
February and is now going to conference to be reconciled with a
competing bill by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that the
Senate adopted last month.”
“There’s nothing like a drought to make everyone care even more
than usual about water, and the water bond-centric conversation
at the State Capitol has lawmakers, water agencies and
conservationists all laying out priorities for the multi-billion
dollar question voters could be asked in November.”
From the California Farm Bureau Federation Ag Alert, in a
commentary by Paul Wenger:
“Everywhere you turn, the impacts of Drought 2014 are front and
center. News reports compete to describe dire circumstances,
whether high food prices, water rationing or limited recreation
on lakes and reservoirs. Most of the reports fail to focus on why
and how California finds itself in this terrible situation.”
“The state Senate approved legislation Tuesday asking local
agencies to develop plans to manage groundwater, a supply that is
largely unregulated throughout the state even amid a statewide
drought.”
“With nary a word, the Senate on Thursday night passed a
California drought-relief bill that sets up serious negotiations
with the House over water storage, river protection, irrigation
deliveries and more.”
“Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s newly finished California
water bill that’s designed for quick Senate approval gratifies
some farmers while alienating some fishermen, tribes and
environmentalists.”
