Water

This is what Richard Faher wanted.

Our current water issues can be traced back to 1998 when a $1.7 billion water management bond failed in the state senate for inclusion on the November 1998 ballot.  I support the call for flexible application of the Endangered Species Act during times of emergency. I support building the “Two Gates Project”. I support also support using virtual barriers and better water monitoring along with increasing the surface and groundwater storage capabilities. I support construction of the Delta-Mendota canal/California Aqueduct Intertie.  I also support many of the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force recommendations.  Any new water deal should not create a new government bureaucracy.

 

This is what happened.......

The current $11.1 Billion water bond does not include specific projects to repair the environmentally damaged Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.  The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta contains most of the states municipal and agricultural water. Specifics projects such as the “peripheral canal” that will carry water around the Delta are not specifically directed to be built. Any new reservoirs are not specified in this bill to be built.  Specifically how we Californian’s are suppose to reduce our water use by another 20 percent are not detailed in this bond. The bond creates a new governmental group of non-elected officials will may or may not make these key decisions in the 30 years the bond will be outstanding. This bond will have to be repaid even if no new water storage facilities are actually  ever built.

If the taxpayers reject (and there is a good chance they will, based on the fact that a water bond  like this was rejected in the 1980’s), we will still be required to reduce our water usage by 20 percent by the year 2020.

This water bond will cost $600 million in annual payments over 30 years.  This bond is a general obligation bond, which means all California residents will pay for this bond.  If the bond had been a revenue bond, the revenue bond would have been paid off by users of the new water that would be available from this bond. This water bond is full of pork type projects.  The water bond has money set aside for protection and restoration projects in 21 watersheds, more costal protection, wildlife refuge enhancement, fuel treatment, and forest restoration.

Even if the voters turn down the water bond, the rest of the water agreement becomes law.  California will get the mandatory 20 percent reduction, a new government bureaucracy called a “stewardship council”.  A host of new water use regulations, and 25 more state water inspectors to enforce the new laws and regulations. 

It remains to be seen if we will get any more water.