A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 29, 2008
Editorial:
How dry we are! Let's act like it, too
The Sacramento
Perata's Measure to Improve State's Water System Passes Assembly Committee
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Editorial:
How dry we are! Let's act like it, too
The Sacramento
The exposed stumps and shoreline of Folsom Lake tell the story this year.
With reservoir levels so low, Californians can't afford to waste a drop. Conservation has to be part of a multi-pronged strategy to stretch supplies and survive droughts.
To that end, Assemblyman John Laird is trying to pass a bill that would require a 20 percent reduction in urban per-capita water usage by 2020. Cities and counties would have flexibility in how to reach this target, but they could no longer casually water their sidewalks, as occurs almost every day in
Laird's legislation, AB 2175, has passed the Assembly but is in trouble in the Senate. Its survival could depend on two local senators – Mike Machado of
Machado, a farmer, has long had his sights on AB 2175. Originally, the bill included a conservation target for agriculture, the largest consumer of water. Machado and other growers objected to this provision, so Laird weakened it to require just "best management practices" for farmers.
Despite that concession, Machado has continued to press for additional amendments. He seems determined to derail the bill.
For his part, Steinberg supports AB 2175 but is wavering on serving as its floor jockey in the Senate. With Folsom ordering mandatory cutbacks and the state facing a water crisis, the incoming Senate president needs to be out in front on this important conservation bill. A 20 percent reduction goal is doable. It shouldn't need to wait until next year.#
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/1194414.html
Perata's Measure to Improve State's Water System Passes Assembly Committee
The
Legislation by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) that would fund water storage, reliability and conservation efforts with already approved bond money cleared the Assembly Special Committee on Water.
SB 1XX (Second Extraordinary Session) appropriates $842 million in Proposition 84 and Proposition 1-E dollars that voters passed in 2006. These funds are desperately needed by water agencies to address the current water drought and fire crisis and to provide immediate investments in water supply reliability.
"This bill is the first step to addressing California´s long-term water needs," Perata said. "SB 1XX gets money out the door immediately so water agencies can tackle the most pressing problems, boost supplies and improve water reliability for all Californians."
The legislation includes $200 million to help stabilize the Sacramento San Joaquin Bay Delta, the fulcrum of the state´s water supply system. The funding will help prevent catastrophic failure of the Delta´s levees and accommodate pumping restrictions mandated by a federal court ruling.
In addition, SB 1XX provides $100 million to help clean up ground water basins in Southern California that can store more water than the entire volume of Lake Tahoe.
A summary of the measure is below.
Outline of SB 1xx (Perata)
Total Appropriation: $842,457,000
Proposition 1E: $285,000,000
1. State System of Flood Control/levee improvement program: $135,000,000 to DWR for acquisition/design/construction of Delta emergency preparedness supplies/projects
2. Stormwater Flood Management program: $150,000,000 to DWR for stormwater flood management projects
a. At least $100,000,000 to address immediate public health and safety needs
b. $20,000,000 to local agencies for combined municipal sewer/stormwater systems
c. $20,000,000 available for SF Bay watersheds.
Proposition 84: $552,975,000
1. Small community drinking water: $50,000,000 to DPH for grants
2. Groundwater clean-up: $50,400,000 to DPH for contamination prevention/clean-up projects
a. up to $10,000,000 for projects on DTSC or National Priorities lists.
b. $2,000,000 for
3. Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM): $213,275,000 to DWR:
a. $100,000,000 for implementation, including not less than $20 million for water conservation projects necessary to meet a 20 percent reduction in per capita water use by the year 2020.
b. $47,000,000 for planning and local groundwater assistance.
c. $35,575,000 for interregional projects
d. $20,700,000 for program delivery costs
4. Delta water quality: $95,000,000 to DWR
a. $55,000,000 to DWR for Delta water intake facilities projects
b. $40,000,000 for water quality projects
5. Delta sustainability early actions: $100,000,000 to DWR for restoration of Delta islands
6. Statewide water planning: $37,000,000 to DWR:
a. $12,000,000 for CalFed surface storage planning/feasibility studies
b. $15,000,000 for flood/water system re-operation pilot projects
c. $10,000,000 for update of Water Plan, including climate change impact evaluations
7. Protection of rivers and streams: $17,300,000:
a. $10,000,000 to the State Coastal Conservancy for
b. $7,300,000 to DWR for Urban Streams Restoration Program
Proposition 50: $3,760,000
CalFed surface storage studies: $3,760,000 to DWR
Proposition 13: $5,722,000
1. $2,272,000 to DWR for
2. $3,450,000 to DWR for CalFed Drinking Water Quality Program: Franks Tract Pilot Project
Policy: Integrated Regional Water Management Guidelines
SB 1xx will incorporate IRWM guideline development concepts and language currently in AB 1654 (Huffman).#
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/72536
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