Tracy Press

Water is one of our most vital resources, essential to everyone from agriculture, the environment, industry, commerce, construction and residential users.

Despite our daily need for water, the state has neglected to maintain its delivery and collection system. The two main arteries that deliver water from north to south — the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project — are more than 40 and 60 years old, respectively. Both projects are losing their capacity to deliver water at an alarming rate. Most of the public is unaware of the problem. They turn on the faucet and water comes out. The state experiences a rainy day or two and people expect the reservoirs to be replenished.

That simply is not the case. 2007 was the driest single year on record statewide, and water levels in state reservoirs are down 40 percent from last year. Meanwhile, just one year ago, California’s reservoirs released 6.5 million acre-feet of floodwaters — almost enough to supply all urban water needs in California for one year. As population and environmental demands continue to increase, we move closer and closer to the precipice of a full-blown crisis.

Dry conditions are not the only strain on the water supply. By 2016, Southern California will lose 800,000 acre-feet from the Colorado River every year. Legal settlements and other agreements have cost Central Valley water users a million acre-feet annually from its key surface water sources. Another 2 million acre-feet are at risk following a judge’s order to protect the endangered Delta smelt, a species of small fish, in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

This magnitude of water loss, the long-term neglect of the conveyance system particularly in the Delta, and the expectation of future growth has created a “perfect storm” that demands immediate action. That is why we have introduced in the special session on water Senate Bill 3 (SB X2 3), a water bond measure that increases water collection and improves water delivery. The measure, which requires approval by voters, has broad bipartisan support as well as the strong support of the Association of California Water Agencies, California State Association of Counties, California Chamber of Commerce, California Farm Bureau, California Conference of Carpenters, State Building and Construction Trades Council and California Latino Water Coalition.

This plan, which is supported by Gov, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a sensible approach that improves both storage capacity and conveyance. Specifically, SB X2 3:

• Allocates $5.1 billion for the design, acquisition and construction of surface storage projects that augment State Water Project supplies, improve water conveyance, water quality and provide additional flows for environmental restoration. Additionally, it specifies three projects for funding: Sites Reservoir (Colusa County); Temperance Flat Reservoir (Fresno County); Los Vaqueros Reservoir expansion (Contra Costa County).

• Calls for $500 million in planning, design and construction of groundwater storage projects, including “conjunctive use” to maximize the efficiency of existing surface storage facilities.

• Authorizes $1.9 billion for projects to improve and enhance the Delta — the hub of the major river systems in Northern and Central California and a critical water conveyance point. Projects include ecosystem enhancement and sustainability, protection against catastrophic levee failure due to earthquake or other calamity, and the development of a plan for long-term improvements in Delta conveyance.

• Sets aside $1 billion for regional water projects that increase water supply and water supply reliability, protect and improve water quality or protect the environment.

• Appropriates $500 million in expenditures and grants for resource stewardship, ecosystem restoration, urban watershed and stormwater management projects.

• Authorizes $85 million to the Department of Fish and Game for expenditures and grants to protect the Delta and the state’s water supply from invasive species, including exotic clams that disrupt the Delta food chain and quagga mussels threatening Colorado River water infrastructure. Requires at least $50 million of those funds be used for grants to local agencies.

Our plan is a comprehensive one: it provides additional above-ground storage facilities to assure the availability of surface water in the future, funds for improving conveyance of that water and funding for projects to increase the reliability of local supplies, conservation and efficiency of water use. Democrats and environmentalists want to rely solely on conservation and underground storage into the future. However, no amount of conservation will get the state out of this crisis and, much like a car’s gas tank, groundwater storage facilities need to be filled, require a pump and a large source of water to fill all of the groundwater. The Democrats’ proposal simply does not address these issues.

While there have been reports about the end of special session, water negotiations continue. In fact, the legislature could be called back at any time to vote on another measure — should we reach an agreement.

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written by Sandy Kozlen , November 06, 2007

There is another justification for the water storage facilities in the Gov's proposed water bonds that is not being looked at or talked about. If the threat of global warming is real and I think it is the ocean level will rise at least three feet from where it is now. The highest tides at the Golden Gate are now nine plus feet. That raises the input tides to over 12 feet and higher is storm surges are greater in the future. In drought years with lower snow packs, which are another prediction of global warming, the salt water intrusions into the delta could reach urban water intakes, both in the north and south delta areas. Stored water could be the only source of fighting back a potential disaster.

But it took an economic disaster to get us proposition 13, which is helping to limit the effects of the current subprime economic disaster. Maybe it will take a delta disaster to get the water storage that is so necessary.

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written by Steve Reshakis , November 06, 2007

Democrats oppose storing water, building Dams..etc

they are the cause of the Problem.

Vote McNerney out, it is the first step.

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written by molly , November 07, 2007

Don't let the fear of global warming scare you into bankrupting the next generation by issuing more and more huge bonds. It is fiscally unwise and unfair to our children to have California foot the majority of the costs for building a dam (not to mention the devastating environmental effect and loss of farmland). Regional water solutions, such as desalinization/nuclear pp and water recycling/conservation is the only sustainable solution (both fiscally & environmentally).
Lets think about our children's welfare.

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written by Wazmo Nariz , November 19, 2007

Sandy Kozlen,

You might check your facts -- Prop 13 wasn't the result of an "economic disaster". Rather it was a hugh state budget SURPLUS, and a Democratic governor who was reluctant to spend it.