California Lawmakers to Develop Drought Plan During Summer Recess

By Sharon Bernstein

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – California lawmakers announced on Thursday their commitment to work during the summer recess to develop a plan to strengthen the state’s water supply, an issue that has been complicated by partisan politics for several months, even as the state contends with a three-year drought that has severely impacted farms and communities.

Efforts to establish a plan involving the construction of three new reservoirs, the development of underground water storage, and the financing of environmental cleanup projects stalled last month. Republicans argued that the proposal did not sufficiently address the water needs of California’s agricultural regions, while Governor Jerry Brown deemed it too costly.

“We will be working during the summer,” stated state senator Darrell Steinberg, the Democratic leader, following the adjournment of the legislature for its month-long break. “We intend to come back in August and do our very best” to reach an agreement.

The proposed plan aims to equip the drought-stricken state for future dry spells but requires the backing of two-thirds of the state legislature and Governor Brown before it can be presented to voters in November.

Lawmakers have already missed one critical deadline to secure an agreement for the ballot. If they do not finalize the plan by August 11, it could result in significant additional costs for ballot material printing.

An earlier water measure, enacted in 2009 under then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is set to appear on the ballot in November. However, at a staggering $11 billion, many consider it too expensive and unlikely to gain approval.

While Democrats hold a majority in California’s legislature, they are short two votes for the necessary two-thirds majority required to place the new measure on the ballot, meaning Republican support is essential.

However, Peter DeMarco, spokesperson for Senate Republican leader Bobb Huff, stated that Republicans had not been consulted about the latest version of the bond proposal or given access to the final wording.

Central to the debate is a contentious plan to create tunnels that would transport water from rivers north of California’s delicate San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta to farms and communities in the southern regions of the state.

Democrats caution that funding a precursor project to the tunnel scheme with the proposed bonds could jeopardize the entire initiative, reigniting the state’s long-standing water disputes and endangering the delta, a crucial resource for 25 million Californians.

Republicans maintain that without a means to transport water southward, any proposed projects will be ineffective for farmers, and they will not support it.