AB 1649, as introduced, Salas. Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014: water storage projects.
Existing law, the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, approved by the voters as Proposition 1 at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $7,545,000,000 to finance a water quality, supply, and infrastructure improvement program. The act continuously appropriates $2,700,000,000 to the California Water Commission for public benefits associated with water storage projects, as specified.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to ensure surface water storage is funded and built consistent with the goals of Proposition 1 and that the commission fulfills the original intent of the water storage project provisions of Proposition 1. The bill would make findings and declarations of the Legislature, including, but not limited to, that, of the water storage projects available, the Temperance Flat Dam and Sites Reservoir will meet statewide goals and provide those specified public benefits to the greatest extent.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
3(a) According to the United states drought Monitor, over 90
4percent of California is in “Severe Drought,” raising concerns over
5water supply dependability and underscoring the need for
6immediate statewide action.
7(b) On November 4, 2014, voters approved Proposition 1, the
8Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of
92014, which authorizes $7,545,000,000 in general obligation bonds
10to finance a water quality, supply, and infrastructure improvement
11program, and continuously appropriates from the revenue of those
12bonds $2,700,000,000 for water storage projects, including, but
13not limited to, dams and
reservoirs.
14(c) With the promise of increased water storage, voters approved
15Proposition 1 by 67 percent. The argument in favor of Proposition
161 in the state’s official voter information guide states “Proposition
171 invests in new storage increasing the amount of water that can
18be stored during wet years for the dry years that will continue to
19challenge California.”
20(d) Expanding and improving California’s water storage capacity
21is long overdue. The last time California saw significant state and
22federal investments in the state’s water storage and delivery system
23was in the 1960s, when the state’s population stood at 16 million.
24Today, that same system supports 38 million individuals and will
25need to support 50 million by 2050.
26(e) Statewide water storage goals, as outlined in Chapter 8 of
27Proposition 1 (Chapter 8
(commencing with Section 79750) of
28Division 26.7 of the Water Code), are necessary to update
29California’s aging water infrastructure, provide reliable water
30supply for the public and our agricultural economy, and protect
31the environmental health of the Delta.
32(f) A water storage project may only be funded by Chapter 8 of
33Proposition 1 (Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 79750) of
34Division 26.7 of the Water Code) if it provides specified public
35benefits, including: ecosystem improvements; water quality
P3 1improvements to the Delta and river systems that provide public
2trust resources or restore groundwater resources; flood control
3benefits, including increases in reservoir storage capacity in
4response to decreasing snow pack; emergency response, including
5securing emergency water supplies for salinity repulsion; and
6recreational purposes.
7(g) Of the water storage projects available,
the Temperance Flat
8Dam and Sites Reservoir will meet statewide goals and provide
9all of these public benefits to the greatest extent. These projects
10will allow California to store more water in years of high rainfall,
11which will ease pressures placed on the Delta and groundwater
12supply during years of prolonged drought, and facilitate the storage
13of snow melt and timed releases of water to improve flow
14conditions and water temperatures.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
16to ensure surface water storage is funded and built consistent with
17the goals of Proposition 1 and that the California Water
18Commission fulfills the original intent of Chapter 8 of Proposition
191 (Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 79750) of Division 26.7
20of the Water Code).
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