[Water_news] 1. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS - Top Items for 5/10/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment

 

May 10, 2007

 

1.  Top Items

 

Governor still set on two new dams; He says he'll keep pushing his $5.9 billion water plan - Sacramento Bee

 

Schwarzenegger revives California water bonds plan – Reuters

 

 

Governor still set on two new dams; He says he'll keep pushing his $5.9 billion water plan

Sacramento Bee – 5/10/07

By Kevin Yamamura, staff writer

 

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged Wednesday to continue pursuing his $5.9 billion water plan after it stalled last month in the state Senate, and he reiterated his desire to build new dams in California despite Democratic opposition.

 

In a nod to Democrats, the Republican governor emphasized his proposed $200 million in conservation grants at an Association of California Water Agencies luncheon in Sacramento. Yet he drew the most applause from 700 water officials when he called for two new dams in California.

 

"As you all know, investing in conservation only is not enough to solve our water problem," Schwarzenegger said. "... We need additional above-the-ground water storage."

 

The governor gave no indication Wednesday that he would reduce the size of his plan. The thrust of his proposal calls for a new dam above Friant Dam near Fresno and another new dam at Sites reservoir in Colusa and Glenn counties. Democratic leaders and environmental groups believe the state can solve its needs by relying more on improvements in water management and conservation.

 

Schwarzenegger asserted Wednesday that more water storage is necessary because global warming will increase drought conditions. He also said California's population will grow 30 percent in the next two decades.

 

The Democratic-led Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee in April blocked Senate Bill 59, which would have asked voters to approve $3.95 billion in bonds to pay for Schwarzenegger's water package. Besides $2 billion for dam construction, the bonds would have included $1 billion for Delta sustainability, $500 million for groundwater storage, $250 million for environmental restoration and $200 million for conservation.

 

The state would have pursued up to an additional $2 billion in revenue bonds once 75 percent of the new water storage came under contract.

 

Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said the governor will continue to pursue his plan in the Legislature, possibly in the form of another bill.

 

Senate Democrats have argued that the state should focus on more cost-effective measures such as improving management of groundwater and regional water supplies while installing more conservation techniques.

 

Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, said the state should first resolve the future of the Delta, which helps provide water for 20 million Californians to the south. It faces severe environmental and water quality problems.

 

Steinberg said he is open to new dams but wants them to serve as a resource for improving the Delta. He said he opposed SB 59 because it committed to two dam projects that may have no Delta impact. He also said there is insufficient evidence that private water users will commit to paying toward new water storage.

 

Steinberg said Schwarzenegger has not "made the case that these two expensive projects are more cost-effective, will yield as much water and will provide the water we need over the near to medium term more effectively than other alternatives."

 

Randy Fiorini, president of the Association of California Water Agencies, said he hopes the governor and Legislature strike a deal to build new dams. But he said his group remains open to backing a ballot measure outside the Legislature.

 

"The electorate understands that the economy can't survive on an uncertain water supply," Fiorini said. "And surface water storage has been a critical part of our reliable water supply." #

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/174055.html

 

 

Schwarzenegger revives California water bonds plan

Reuters – 5/9/07

By Jim Christie, staff writer

 

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - With California's snow pack at its lowest level in nearly two decades and warning that global warming threatens future water shortages, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called on Wednesday for support for $5.9 billion in debt to expand state water works.

 

Noting the snow pack in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, a vital water source for the state, is at 29 percent of normal levels, Schwarzenegger said in a statement, "We can't afford to wait any longer. We need a water management strategy that tackles all our long-term water needs."

 

As he urged a reluctant legislature to embrace the bond plan, he said, "Due to climate change, we can expect a decrease in our snow pack by as much as 40 percent by the year 2050, which means more flooding in the winter and less drinking water in the summer."

 

The Republican governor aims to revive legislation for the bond plan killed last month by Democratic lawmakers who control the legislature. They opposed the Republican-backed bill because it called for building two dams along with other water projects criticized by environmental lobbies.

 

The bill urges nearly $4 billion in general obligation debt and $2 billion in revenue bonds to finance the projects, intended to help meet future water needs in the center of the state, a farm-rich region experiencing a population boom.

 

Schwarzenegger has embraced both environmental causes and ambitious public works projects requiring billions of dollars in spending and debt.

 

Last year, the Hollywood icon struck a deal with lawmakers for landmark regulation to cap greenhouse-gas emissions, putting California at the forefront of state efforts aimed at addressing global warming.

 

At the same time, he rallied lawmakers to craft legislation to put billions of dollars in general obligation debt for infrastructure projects on the November ballot.

 

Voters backed the legislature's four public works bond measures along with a fifth debt measure advanced by activists, approving the sale of nearly $43 billion in bonds for road, school, flood control, natural resources and other projects.

 

Schwarzenegger in his statement urged lawmakers to accept that California's growing population will require two additional dams to meet the needs of a million families.

 

"Investing in conservation alone will not solve all of our water problems," he said.

 

However, Schwarzenegger held out a compromise for Democrats and their environmentalist allies: a proposal to set aside $200 million for local agencies to improve water conservation. #

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN0930905720070509?pageNumber=2

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