Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
January 24, 2008
5. Agencies, Programs, People
WATER BOND ISSUES:
Water bond hopes running dry; Supporter halts funding for possible initiative, hurting its chances - Contra Costa Times
MENDOCINO
Water policy extension sought - Ukiah Daily Journal
WATER BOND ISSUES:
Water bond hopes running dry; Supporter halts funding for possible initiative, hurting its chances
Contra Costa Times – 1/24/08
By Mike Taugher, staff writer
The chances of a water bond getting to voters this year have diminished significantly now that a key supporter of a business-backed initiative has pulled its funding.
The prospect of fierce opposition from environmentalists and the lack of consensus among key political leaders on the details of an $11.7 billion bond package caused the California Alliance for Jobs to withdraw political funding for the measure. The labor and business group was expected to cover about one-third of the cost for what promised to be a very expensive political campaign, according to the group's executive director.
"I think you're only going to get one chance at this," said the alliance's executive director, Jim Earp. "We're not going to spend our money on anything until we see a clearer path forward."
Prospects for a multibillion-dollar water bond -- a key goal of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger when he called for a special legislative session on health care and water in September -- were already fading for this year because of the troubled economy and a severe state budget deficit.
Last month, the California Chamber of Commerce filed four versions of an $11.7 billion bond with the attorney general's office. The chamber's measure was the second of what could have been dueling initiatives, but two weeks ago the main backer of the other measure, state Senate leader Don Perata, said he would withdraw his measure because of the state budget mess.
Chamber spokeswoman Denise Davis said she was unaware that the alliance had pulled out of the political campaign and did not know what, if any, effect that would have on the chamber's plans.
But the development clearly diminishes the chances that a major water bond measure will come to voters this year.
"Without some solution on the budget side, our chances of doing a water bond this year are exceedingly slim," Earp said.
The decision to back away was made in recent weeks after the Planning and Conservation League, an environmental group, began considering its own ballot measure to replace Perata's.
Earp, whose group is a partnership of heavy-construction companies and labor unions, and the environmentalists were separately meeting with lobbyist
"It became clear more lines were being drawn in the sand," said Earp. "We needed a broader consensus that doesn't draw as much fire from the environmental community."
Still, Planning and Conservation League water policy adviser Jonas Minton and Earp said a deal, however unlikely, remains a possibility this year.
"If we can come to a consensus, we will go to the Legislature and ask them to get such a measure on the ballot," said Minton. "It's not impossible."
In September, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called a special legislative session on health care and on water with the goal of getting legislative approval for a bond measure to put before voters.
But getting legislative approval for a water bond would have required two-thirds support in both chambers. That level of support would be difficult to get because of unshakable convictions that dams are either desperately needed or unjustifiably harmful and expensive.
When lawmakers could not agree on a funding package, Democratic leaders and business interests each announced plans to take the issue directly to the voters through the initiative process, setting up the potential for dueling water bond initiatives.
That prospect carried the threat of an extremely expensive and nasty political campaign.
Earp said his organization would continue to run its public relations campaign on the need for major investments in water infrastructure.
"We are still part of the coalition (supporting new bonds for water infrastructure)," Earp said. "It's just that there's an agreement that we really need critical mass for those things to move forward." #
MENDOCINO
Water policy extension sought
Ukiah Daily Journal – 1/24/08
By Ben Brown, staff writer
A new draft policy of the State Water Resources Control Board could have far reaching impacts for land use in
Assembly Bill 2121, the North Coast Instream Flow Policy, passed in 2004, requires the state water board to adopt new principles for the governing of instream flows in Northern California on several rivers, including the Eel River and parts of the Russian.
"The Legislature was concerned about these water bodies," said board spokeswoman Liz Kanter.
Kanter said the policy could give the board a wider oversight of water rights petitions for stock ponds, livestock and domestic use.
"Clearly, it's going to redefine water in
"There are some really long range, far reaching land use issues connected with this policy that the board has not considered,"
Kanter said it was not clear what changes might take place under the draft policy because the board has not adopted it. The policy will not come under consideration by the board until after the 45-day public comment period ends Feb. 19.
"They have the right to change what comes before them," she said.
The draft policy has come under fire from some organizations because of its length and complexity.
According to a letter from the California Farm Bureau, the policy is 800 pages long, not counting the environmental compliance document. The bureau also said many who would be affected have not received notice of the policy and are having difficulty understanding how individual diverters of water will be affected.
"How can the public be expected to fully understand the policy and meaningfully comment in only 45 days," the bureau said in the letter. "The public needs more time."
The Farm Bureau is asking the state water board to schedule a public workshop so that water board staff can further explain the impacts of the policy and to allow the public to ask questions.
The Farm Bureau is also asking the state water board to cancel the Feb. 19 deadline and extend the public comment period.
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