CA State Assemblyman Kevin Mullin
SACRAMENTO – “The ongoing historic drought, our aging water infrastructure, and degraded watersheds have all combined to present us with an environmental and economic crisis that needs to be addressed,” said Assemblymember Mullin (D-San Mateo), a co-author of the measure. “While the water bond is not perfect, nothing that is negotiated between so many disparate interests could be.”
“If passed by the voters in November, this bond will provide significant regional and statewide benefits in terms of water supply reliability, water recycling, conservation, sustainability, flood control, and ecosystem restoration,” said Mullin.
“Over $100 million will be provided to the Coastal Conservancy to protect coastal watersheds and fund ecosystem restoration including areas within San Mateo County,” said Mullin. “Additionally, the Bay Area will receive $65 million dollars dedicated to improve water supply self-reliance and climate change adaptation.”
If signed by the Governor as expected, the water bond will appear as Proposition 1 on the November ballot. This $7.545 billion replaces the $11.14 billion that would have otherwise been placed before voters.
The bill allocates, upon appropriation by the Legislature, funds for water quality and supply improvement projects in the following amounts:
$520 million for projects that improve water quality and provide clean, safe, and reliable drinking water;
$1.495 billion for ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration efforts;
$810 million for regional water security, climate change, and drought preparedness projects;
$725 million for water recycling projects,
$900 million for groundwater sustainability proposals;
$395 million for statewide flood management projects.
A total of $2.7 billion is continuously appropriated for water storage projects (both surface and groundwater storage).
The $425 million of reallocated bond funds originate from existing bond monies authorized by the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84), the Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal, and Beach Protection Act of 2002 (Proposition 50), the Water Conservation Bond Law of 1988 (Proposition 82), the Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 1E), the Safe Clean Reliable Water Supply Act (Proposition 204 of 1996), the Water Conservation and Water Quality Bond Law of 1986 (Proposition 44), and the Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Act (Proposition 13 of 2000).