Aug. 12, 2014
Governor, Legislative and Other Leaders Review Proposed Water Bond Framework
Today, Gov. Jerry Brown hosted a meeting with Senate President pro Tem Darrel Steinberg, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, Sen. Fran Pavley, Sen. Lois Wolk and Assembly Member Anthony Rendon. ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn and other leaders from the business, labor and agricultural sectors also attended. The governor reviewed his framework for a $7.195 billion water bond released on Monday.
The governor’s proposed bond framework contains funds for the following categories:
Water Storage Projects – $2.5B Continuously Appropriated
Regional Water Reliability $780M
* Integrated regional water management $480M.
* Stormwater capture $200M.
* Water conservation $100M.
Safe Drinking Water – $500M
* Provide clean, safe and reliable drinking water to all Californians. With minimum to leverage federal funds for safe drinking water and clean water programs and for disadvantaged communities.
* Small Community Wastewater Program $250M.
* Drinking Water Public Infrastructure $250M.
Water Recycling – $700M
* Statewide water recycling projects and activities.
Groundwater Sustainability- $850M
* Prevent and reduce groundwater contaminants $750M.
* Provide sustainable groundwater management planning and implementation $100M.
Watershed Protection, Watershed Ecosystem Restoration, State Settlements – $1.47B
* Conservancies $302M
* Wildlife Conservation Board $200M (restoration of flows)
* Department of Fish and Wildlife $285M (out of delta, no mitigation on BDCP)
* Department of Fish and Wildlife $87.5M (in delta with constraints)
* State settlement obligations including CVPIA $475M.
* Rivers and Creeks $120M
Statewide Flood Management – $395 M
* Statewide flood management projects and activities ($100M)
* For Delta levee subvention programs and delta flood protection projects ($295M)
General Provisions
* Funding eligibility requires urban or agricultural water management plans and compliance with 2009 Water Conservation Act.
* Bay Delta Conservation Plan neutral.
* Protects existing water rights and reaffirms area of origin protections.
* Assumes repurposing of $105M from Prop. 84, and $95M of Prop. 50, and 6.995B on new debt
Funds for water storage projects remain a dominant component of Brown’s bond framework. The framework proposes $2.5 billion for storage which is within the range supported by the ACWA Board at its meeting in July. The storage funds also are continuously appropriated – a vital element to provide certainty for new storage. ACWA has gone on record in support of Brown’s newly released bond framework. Timothy Quinn released a statement of support<http://outreach.acwa.com/site/R?i=_40TK8ZOKbsjo28D_ve7pQ>.
This framework takes an historic step toward addressing California’s water crisis in a fiscally prudent manner, while providing substantial funding for new storage, local resource development, watershed enhancement, and safe drinking water. Some significant issues are still under negotiation, and ACWA is urging all parties to work together to resolve the remaining differences as soon as possible. Based on an extension approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor Monday, the Legislature has until close of business Wednesday to approve a modified bond that could appear on the November ballot.
ACWA will keep you apprised of developments as they unfold. Please direct all questions to ACWA Executive Director for Government Relations Cindy Tuck at cindyt@acwa.com<mailto:cindyt@acwa.com>.
