Planet Relations

Last week, the California Legislature reached an agreement to overhaul California’s water system. The plan is comprised of four policy bills and an $11.14 billion bond. After the all-night negotiating session, Governor Schwarzenegger held a press conference announcing the legislation. He later signed several of the bills.

On Monday, he signed SBX7-2 at a ceremony at Friant Dam in Fresno County. The $11.14 billion water bond measure must still be approved by voters on the November 2010 ballot.

Where exactly does all that money go? Here’s a breakdown via the Fresno Bee newspaper:

Drought Relief – $455 million

• $190 million to reduce drought impacts and impacts of reduced Delta diversions ($100 million to San Diego County).
• $90 million to disadvantaged and economically stressed areas.
• $75 million to small community wastewater treatment projects.
• $80 million for deposit to Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund ($8 million for city of Maywood water supply infrastructure upgrades).
• $20 million for water quality/public health projects on the New River.

Regional Water Supply – $1.4 billion

• $350 million local/regional water conveyance projects.
• $1.05 billion for integrated regional water management projects, distributed as follows:

• North Coast: $45 million
• San Francisco Bay: $132 million
• Central Coast: $58 million
• Los Angeles/Ventura counties subregion: $198 million
• Santa Ana subregion (Santa Ana River watershed and southern Orange County): $128 million
• San Diego County subregion: $87 million
• Sacramento River: $76 million
• San Joaquin River: $64 million
• Tulare/Kern: $70 million
• North/South Lahontan: $51 million
• Colorado River Basin: $47 million
• Mountain Counties Overlay: $44 million
• Interregional: $50 million ($10 million for UC Sierra Nevada Research Institute to analyze water supply impacts on snowpack/runoff)

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Sustainability – $2.25 billion

• $1.5 billion for Bay Delta Conservation Plan ecosystem restoration projects; acquisition of water rights and removal of invasive species; reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Delta soils; reduce mercury contamination.
• $750 million for Delta counties/cities for flood protection; water quality projects, agriculture preservation, and to mitigate the effects of water conveyance and ecosystem restoration (including $50 million to improve wastewater treatment facilities upstream of the Delta; $250 million to assist local government and the farm economy upon loss of farmlands for ecosystem restoration).

Water Supply – $3 billion

• Only for public benefits associated with water storage projects, including: ecosystem and water quality improvements, flood control, emergency response, recreation. Surface or groundwater storage projects selected competitively by the California Water Commission based on the magnitude of public benefits provided. Eligible projects include Sites Reservoir in Colusa County, Temperance Flat Reservoir in Fresno County, and enlarging Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County.

Groundwater Protection/Water Quality – $1 billion

• All to Department of Public Health to prevent or reduce groundwater contamination via local grants.

Water Recycling/Conservation – $1.25 billion

• $1 billion for water recycling and advanced treatment projects, including desalination.
• $250 million for urban and agricultural water conservation and efficiency projects.

Conservation/Watershed Protection – $1.785 billion

• $250 million to California Coastal Conservancy, including:

• $40 million for projects in San Diego County ($20 million for San Diego River Conservancy).
• $40 million for Santa Ana River Parkway; $20 million for Bolsa Chica Wetlands.

• $100 million to Wildlife Conservation Board for water rights to benefit migratory birds.
• $215 million to Wildlife Conservation Board to protect watershed lands, rivers, streams that support endangered species, including:

• $25 million to San Joaquin River Conservancy for river parkway projects.
• $20 million for Ventura County watershed projection projects.

• $75 million for San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.
• $75 million to Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for watershed protection activities in upper Los Angeles River.
• $20 million for Baldwin Hills Conservancy.
• $25 million for Santa Monica Bay watershed projects.
• $50 million for coastal salmon projects.
• $100 million for Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
• $20 million to California Farmland Conservancy Program.
• $50 million for projects associated with California River Parkways Act of 2004 (including $20 million for Urban Streams Restoration Program).
• $75 million for Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
• $100 million for Salton Sea restoration.
• $10 million to Natural Resources Agency for watershed protections to address climate change.
• $30 million to state parks for watershed education (including $20 million for education centers in urban areas over 1 million population).
• $10 million for California Waterfowl Habitat Program.
• $100 million to Cal Fire for fuel treatment, forest restoration to protect watersheds tributary to reservoirs; to protect life and property; and for climate change adaptation (including $67 million for grants to public agencies and nonprofits for fuel treatment; $25 million for technical assistance for eligible landowners; $8 million to reimburse Cal Fire costs for pilot projects to use thinned fuels for energy or wood products; and for conservation camp crews).
• $250 million for dam removal in the Klamath River watershed.
• $20 million to Siskiyou County for economic development.
• $50 million to California State University for farm water-related research and education.
• $50 million to Coastal Conservancy for Ocean Protection Act projects.
• $60 million for salmon passage in Sacramento River watershed.
• $50 million to Wildlife Conservation Board to improve effectiveness of infrastructure mitigation.