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Photo: Department of Water Resources

In November 2006, the California Alliance for Jobs led the successful statewide campaign to seek voter approval of Propositions 1A-1E, an historic package of measures that provides $37 billion to improve the state's transportation system, schools, affordable housing and other critical infrastructure.

Prop 1E provides funds to strengthen river levees and flood control to protect clean drinking water, prevent pollution and safeguard the state from devastating floods. Voters also passed Prop. 84, which provides $1 billion for integrated regional water management.

But these measures were only a first step in addressing California's water crisis.

California's Water Crisis is Real

Read about impacts to California's Economy
Read about impacts to California's Environment
Read about impacts to California's Agriculture

The original plumbing isn't doing the job.
California currently has nearly 37 million residents using a water system that was built decades ago for half that many. Projections indicate our water use will triple over the next 25 years. To date, there is no plan for building any significant new infrastructure to insure we will have the water we need. Conservation alone cannot solve our state's water crisis.

If global warming is real, then so is our need for additional water storage.
California, the sixth largest economy in the world, carries most of its population in the desert of Southern California. Our largest and most precious reservoir is the Sierra snowpack. In addition to providing water for residents, businesses and farmers in Northern California and the Central Valley, runoff from the Sierras provides approximately 30 percent of the water needs in Southern California, but much of that water isn't being captured today because we don't have the capacity. We need additional water storage facilities - both above and below ground - to capture run off in wet years so it's available in drier years. If not, that needed runoff will simply flow into the ocean.

There isn't presently enough water to serve both people and fish.
If our state is going to adopt regulations to save species relying on the Delta and our rivers for survival - which we should - then we must accept the reality that systems must be engineered that will move more water into, around and through the Delta in ways that will insure the protection of both the habitat and our drinking water supply. It can be done. If we do nothing, then the federal and state courts will certainly force an ugly and unnecessary confrontation between our economy and our ecology.

We need more water.
Solving our water problems requires a carefully conceived, rational, multi-pronged approach. We need money to restore the Delta, but that goal won't be achieved without more water. We need a conveyance system to deliver water more efficiently through or around the Delta, but its value is limited without more water. We need to restore our natural groundwater aquifers, but that won't work without more water. We need to protect fish and other habitat, which requires increased water releases from our reservoirs, and that, too, requires more water. We need programs to increase conservation and improve water quality, but with millions more California residents in the coming decades, it won't be enough without more water.

Why Do We Need A Water Bond Now?

The longer we wait to begin fixing our aging water infrastructure the worse our problems become and the more expensive they will be to fix. That's why it's critical we place a statewide water bond on the ballot this year. It's a smart investment without an increase in taxes.

The Alliance's Principles for a Comprehensive Water Bond

The California Alliance for Jobs has been working closely with Governor Schwarzenegger and state legislative leadership to develop a comprehensive water bond proposal to put on the statewide ballot in 2008. In addition to working directly with the governor and legislature, the Alliance is also leading a broad coalition of business, labor, agriculture interests and water users who also strongly believe we should invest in our water infrastructure this year using either the legislative or citizen initiative process.

The California Alliance for Jobs supports a comprehensive, long-term water bond that includes the following:

The ability to capture more water.
New surface storage facilities that will increase our available water supplies and provide critically needed water to recharge overdrawn groundwater aquifers.

The ability to fix the Delta, the hub of our state's water system.
A conveyance system that will help restore the Delta habitat and more efficiently move water around the Delta to reservoirs that serve more than 20 million Californians.

The ability to protect and restore the environment.
Programs and facilities that will improve water quality, conservation and recycling; and programs to restore the fragile ecosystem of the Delta and other critical habitat areas.

The ability to protect California's economy, jobs and agriculture.
Funding to ensure clean, reliable water supplies are available for all Californians: residents, business and farmers, now and into the future.

Status of Various Proposals

Negotiations in the legislature to place a water bond on the November 2008 ballot have, unfortunately, stalled. Despite statements by both Democratic and Republican legislative leaders that an agreement on a water bond is still possible, the looming $14 billion budget deficit has shifted focus away from productive discussions on developing a long-term solution to the water crisis.

The California Alliance for Jobs believes a legislative solution is still the best way to draft a water bond that addresses the diverse concerns of the broad base of business, labor, environmental groups and water agencies that have been engaged on the issue.

However, if the Legislature fails to act on a water bond, the Alliance continues to work with a growing coalition of business, labor, agricultural interests and water agencies to explore the potential of qualifying a water bond through the initiative process.

How You Can Help

Please take a moment and send an email or a letter to your State Senator, State Assemblymember and Governor Schwarzenegger letting them know that you support a statewide water bond and want them to take action this year. Your input does make an impact and the process is quick and easy. Please click the link below to begin. Thank you.

Contact your legislators and the Governor now!

More information

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Plans to Protect California's Water Supply
Californians for Clean and Reliable Water

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