Perata's Measure to Improve State's Water System Passes Assembly Committee

California Political Desk
(SACRAMENTO) – 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 Tulare Basin and Salinas Valley pilot projects.

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 Santa Ana River Parkway

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 Sac River Hamilton City Area Flood Control Damage Reduction

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).
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