The Assembly Democratic leadership has now added an extra $1 billion for storage projects like dams and reservoirs to its bond proposal in hopes of winning support of Republicans and Central Valley Democrats.
“These will all be open and competitive grants,” says Asm. Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), the proposal's author. “The whole point of this water bond package, from the outset, has been to stay away from specific earmarks.”
Asm. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) says that’s a good start - “I’m interested in creating wet water, and that means we have to do ground water storage, surface water storage, investment in the watersheds” - but he’s still concerned there’s no guarantee that future Democratic-controlled legislatures won’t spend the storage money elsewhere.
Meantime, environmental groups and Northern California Democrats aren’t on board with the Assembly proposal either. Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) represents the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region. She says she’s open to negotiating a solution to Dahle’s concern – but storage advocates must recognize they won’t get everything they want.
“They haven’t made any compromise as far as I can see. They still want the $3 billion that was in the ’09 bond. Well, we all have to compromise. And that’s going to be a central part of the negotiation,” Wolk says.
The challenge for lawmakers is to find a sweet spot: enough money for enough different kinds of projects to get the bond measure through the legislature, but not so pricey that voters will reject it this fall. The Assembly Democratic bond proposal is now up to $8 billion; its author says he wants to keep it below $10 billion.
January 28, 2022Last year, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts.
November 11, 2021As the drought dries up California’s wetlands, traveling birds such as ducks, geese and eagles are struggling to survive and breed. “This drought is bad. The odds are against us,” a state expert said.
June 23, 2021Drought resilience depends on location but also extraordinary engineering — determining which California places are running out of water this year and which remain in good shape.
June 17, 2021About 4,300 users were issued notices to halt diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
June 5, 2021Experts say the current drought is hotter and drier than previous ones, meaning water is evaporating faster.
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