Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
February 22, 2008
1. Top Items
Schwarzenegger, Feinstein seek compromise on Calif. water bond - Associated Press
Water tag team hits the Capitol; Feinstein, Schwarzenegger meet with lawmakers to work on state bond measure -
Water war foes have discussion; Fate of bond hangs in balance - Stockton Record
New attacks challenge water negotiations - San Diego Union Tribune Blog
Schwarzenegger, Feinstein seek compromise on
Associated Press – 2/21/08
By Samantha Young, staff writer
Feinstein and Schwarzenegger presided over a private meeting with Republican and Democratic lawmakers in a bid to restart the divisive negotiations on a bond to upgrade
The meeting comes as the California Chamber of Commerce is floating an initiative it intends to place on the November ballot to raise $11.6 billion for water projects.
Environmental groups and many Democratic lawmakers oppose the chamber's effort, which includes two ideas Democrats oppose – billions to build dams and a canal funneling water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The Republican governor has said
“We believe, and I think the governor agrees, the preferable route is a legislative solution,” Feinstein, a Democrat, said in brief remarks to reporters outside Schwarzenegger's office. “There has to be something bipartisan that comes out of this.”
The governor called a special session last year to reach a deal that would boost
Democrats prefer increased water conservation measures as way to meet the needs of
Feinstein, a former
She has defended that city's reliance on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in
“I can tell you that with climate change facing us right between the eyes and the likelihood of the diminution of the
Schwarzenegger said lawmakers have a “few sticking points” to resolve after two years of negotiations.
He said lawmakers should embrace a water plan for the November ballot that restores the delta's ecosystem, adds dams and provides money for a canal or pipeline that sends water around the delta to Southern California and some
“We've always looked at a comprehensive solution,” Schwarzenegger said. “You don't piecemeal it.”
Schwarzenegger said a water bond would win the approval of
The coalition has not yet begun gathering the signatures it would need to put the initiative on the ballot, said the group's consultant, Rick Claussen. He said that process could begin in the next few weeks.
“We'll either flip the switch and go, or shut the door,” Claussen said. “We've always said we hope we can avoid a costly signature process and do a legislative solution.”
Joining the chamber are several business and agricultural groups.
Even with a push from Feinstein and Schwarzenegger, there seems to be little appetite in the Legislature for a water bond as the state grapples with a $16 billion deficit projected through June 2009.
Political reality also could complicate the effort: The Democrats who lead the Assembly and Senate, as well as the Senate's Republican leader, will be termed out of office at the end of the year.
“Given the state's fiscal predicament it's hard to imagine adding more to the debt with a water bond,” said Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, led the water negotiations last year in the Senate but lately has said lawmakers should wait to put a bond on the ballot given the deficit.
After attending Thursday's meeting with Feinstein, Perata issued a statement saying he welcomed the new round of talks while criticizing the business-backed ballot measure.
“If the governor is serious about achieving a legislative solution, he will persuade the chamber to drop its divisive water bond initiative,” he said. #
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080221-1716-ca-schwarzenegger-water.html
Water tag team hits the Capitol; Feinstein, Schwarzenegger meet with lawmakers to work on state bond measure
By E.J. Schultz, staff writer
There were no major breakthroughs, and significant hurdles remain. But legislative leaders from both parties agreed to meet again in two weeks, the governor said.
Feinstein, who was invited to the Capitol by the governor, said, "I found it very productive and very constructive and I think the key is ... to keep these people together."
She and the governor pressed for a legislative deal to get a measure on the November ballot, rather than relying on an outside ballot initiative.
Legislative water solutions have proved elusive due to the partisan divide over dams. Talks collapsed last year, and lawmakers from both parties put the issue on the back burner this year as they wrestle with the state budget crisis.
But Feinstein said "the window of opportunity is on us now." If no deal is reached for this year's ballot, lawmakers would probably have to wait until 2012, she said.
Reaching a deal for the 2010 ballot might prove to be politically infeasible because it is a gubernatorial election year, she said.
Feinstein has long pushed for state money for dams, parting ways with other leading Democrats who have strongly opposed using public money for above-ground water storage. On Thursday, Feinstein called for a "comprehensive solution" that would include money for dams and ground-water storage, as well as for repairs to the deteriorating Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
A proposal sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce and other business and farm groups would spend $11.7 billion in new bond money for water projects, including about $3.5 billion for dams.
The group has until July 14 to collect 433,971 valid signatures from voters. But sponsors are unlikely to launch the expensive signature-gathering drive unless they have the backing of a high-profile politician such as Feinstein.
"If there's not enough major political leaders endorsing that initiative, I would probably not expect the initiative to move forward," said Mario Santoyo, assistant general manager of the Friant Water Users Authority.
The authority, which represents east Valley growers, wants a new dam upstream of
The business proposal is similar to a $10 billion plan floated last year by Gov. Schwarzenegger. He failed to broker a deal with Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland.
Perata, who terms out at the end of the year, this week joined environmental organizations in launching a media campaign against the governor's plan.
The television and radio ads, which will air in
The radio spot, for instance, accuses the governor of wanting to spend billions for new dams and canals "so we can send more water south." #
http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/414321.html
Water war foes have discussion; Fate of bond hangs in balance
By Hank Shaw, staff writer
"We got stuck, and so it was great for the senator to rekindle it again," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said following the private, two-hour meeting.
Feinstein, Schwarzenegger and a slew of state lawmakers and water interests met face to face for the first time in a year, giving all a chance to vent and set down their political bottom lines without the filter of aides or the media.
"The group was large enough where political differences were aired and people got to see them," said state Sen. Michael Machado, a Linden Democrat who is among the Legislature's foremost experts on water issues. "That doesn't always happen."
Machado, Schwarzenegger and several others who attended the meeting characterized it as a sort of opening scene in what most view as a water supply bond's final act. If they fail this year, the next political window may not be until 2012.
As Feinstein noted: "2010 is a governor's race - probably not the best way to go."
Supporters of a water supply bond that includes money to build new dams - possibly on the
Environmentalists and their allies among the Democrats say building costly new reservoirs isn't a wise use of scare taxpayer dollars because the state can secure far more water through stiffer conservation efforts and underground water storage.
Farmers and their allies among the Republicans say with climate change coming, more of the crucial
Feinstein, who has stepped up as broker in this long-running drama, shares much, but not all, of that view: "We have to be able to store some water in wet years to save for dry years ... you may or may not need dams."
Outgoing Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, who attended Thursday's meeting, is teaming up with the environmental community to oppose the dam proposal with a series of radio and TV ads that began running this week.
Schwarzenegger and Feinstein said they want to avoid a ballot battle if at all possible.
"The preferable outcome is a legislative solution," Feinstein said.
"There has to be something bipartisan that comes out of this. The key is to keep these people together."
Schwarzenegger said the group intends to meet again in two weeks. #
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080222/A_NEWS/802220314
New attacks challenge water negotiations
Posted by Michael Gardner, staff writer
California Congressional Republicans fired off a letter to the governor demanding that he hold out for a bond measure that would unmistakably authorize new reservoirs and a canal to bring water south. Signed by 15, the letter specifically opposed a nearly $11 billion bond proposal sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce, their usually reliable ally.
"We cannot support the bond proposed by the Chamber of Commerce due to the unecessary spending and lack of clarity and assurances on storage and conveyance," said the letter signed by San Diego County U.S. Reps. Duncan Hunter , R-Alpine; Darrell Issa , R-Vista; and Brian Bilbray, R-Carlsbad.
While the GOP letter criticizes the governor for not going far enough, environmentalists argue he's going too far in proposing funding reservoirs and a canal.
The environmentalists are behind a new radio advertising campaign attacking Schwarzenegger's preferred bond measure as a "giveaway ... so a few wealthy corporations profit."
Despite attacks from the left and right, Feinstein and Schwarzenegger appeared optimistic after wrapping up Thursday's more than two-hour water summit focused on storage, conveyance and ecosystem restoration issues.
They were joined by a who's-who of water officials representing cities and agribusiness. Environmentalists also had their say, as did legislative leaders.
But no agreement was reached.
Feinstein has been under pressure to endorse a bond -- and support funding for new reservoirs. Her environmental allies want her to lay off, convinced that business cannot sell
"This is not an endorsement thing," Feinstein said as she entered the meeting, held behind closed doors in the governor's office. "This is a meeting to see where people are and try to see if we can get some agreement to proceed."
She secured that goal. They will reconvene in two weeks.
Emerging later, Feinstein was asked about reservoirs. "I can tell you that with climate change facing us right between the eyes ... we have to be able to store some water."
However, beyond touting groundwater recharge, Feinstein could not be pinned down on whether she would give a thumbs-up to new surface storage. She said there are five possible sites under study.
"You may or may not need dams," she said.
Schwarzenegger agreed that the bond would need Feinstein's endorsement. Feinstein jokingly flexed her bicep saying "you see this?"
The governor added, "People like to see Democrats and Republicans campaigning together ... People will have trust in this package." #
http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2008/02/new_attacks_reflect_challenges.html#more
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