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California’s second largest water agency throws support behind water bond measure
Lakewood, CA – At Thursday’s meeting of the Water Replenishment District, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to support California Proposition 1 – the $7.5 billion water bond approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Aug. 13 which voters will be asked to approve on California’s November ballot.
“Proposition 1 is perhaps the most significant measure facing California voters this November,” said WRD Board President Sergio Calderon. “Not only does it represent years of bipartisan hard work, but this investment is critical for needed infrastructure improvements on groundwater cleanup, safe drinking water programs, water recycling, water storage, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, as well as protections for our rivers and coastline.”
Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) authored the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 which passed the State Assembly with bipartisan unanimous support. Governor Brown signed the bill the same day, thereby allowing the measure to be placed on the fall ballot for voters to approve.
“On behalf of WRD’s Board, I want to congratulate the leadership of Proposition 1’s author, Assemblymember Rendon, as well as Governor Brown for providing voters a comprehensive bond measure that will address California’s most immediate water needs,” added Calderon. “The epic drought that we are now facing has made it abundantly clear that the state must take action now to insure the future sustainability of our water infrastructure and protect our collective economic and environmental prosperity.”
Specific spending proposals in the proposition include:
• $520 million to improve water quality for “beneficial use,” for reducing and preventing drinking water contaminants, disadvantaged communities, and the State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Small Community Grant Fund.
• $1.495 billion for competitive grants for multi-benefit ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration projects.
• $810 million for expenditures on, and competitive grants and loans to, integrated regional water management plan projects.
• $2.7 billion for water storage projects, dams and reservoirs.
• $725 million for water recycling and advanced water treatment technology projects.
• $900 million for competitive grants, and loans for, projects to prevent or clean up the contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water.
• $395 million for statewide flood management projects and activities.
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