Legislative panel starts work on water deal

Published online on Tuesday, Sep. 01, 2009

11:42 a.m. The Legislature's water conference committee met for about an hour and a half this morning and promised to meet every day through Labor Day weekend in search of a deal. But many contentious issues remain.

Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, identified 14 issues, several of which have been hotly debated for years. For instance, lawmakers must decide how to pay for water upgrades, which could potentially include dams and a new canal to move water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to cites and farms in the Valley and Southern California. Republicans want a bond that would be paid back from the state's general fund. Democrats say they are open to a bond, but want to balance it with new water user fees.

Lawmakers also are scheduled to consider revamping how the state tracks groundwater usage. Environmentalists want stronger reporting requirements, but farm groups fear big changes could lead to new fees.

Sen. Dave Cogdill, Modesto, who serves on the committee, said "there's no doubt there's a lot of work to do," but "we just have to be hopeful and stay at it."

The committee might meet again this evening, but it's unlikely major decisions will be made until Tuesday, when a plan is due.

The proceedings are broadcast on the California Channel: http://www.calchannel.com/.

SACRAMENTO -- With only 10 days to go in the session, state lawmakers are taking a final stab at solving California's water woes.

But the last-minute push for legislation got off to an inauspicious start Tuesday after leaders had trouble deciding who would serve on a newly formed committee charged with drafting a plan.

Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, announced his members for the joint Assembly-Senate 14- member panel in the morning. He promised to make water his top priority in the remaining days of session, which ends on Sept. 11.

"Water is the best opportunity we have right now to show that we can do something big," said Steinberg, who named himself as the panel's leader. "Maybe we won't get it done in the next 10 days," he added, "but I'm sure going to do my darnedest."

But the Assembly delayed its announcement of who would serve on the committee, forcing the postponement of the first meeting until today.

Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, eventually decided to name herself to the panel, which includes Valley Sens. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, and Dean Florez, D-Shafter.

The delay meant one less day to craft a solution that has eluded Republicans and Democrats for years. The conference committee must complete its plan by next Tuesday. It would then need approval of the full Assembly and Senate.

"This is a longshot," said Assembly Member Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto. But we "desperately need something to happen to move this forward."

Democrats, who control the conference committee, are pushing for an independent council to oversee the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the source of farm and drinking water for much of the state.

Republicans are skeptical about creating such a council, which they fear would block a proposed canal that would pump water around the delta southward. Delta residents, who strongly oppose the canal, look at the council very differently -- they worry its sole mission would be to build a canal.

The Schwarzenegger administration believes it has authority to build the canal -- known in the water world as "conveyance" -- but approval by the proposed council would give the project momentum.

Water users, including Valley farmers, have said they are willing to pick up the tab for the canal, which would cost billions of dollars. State water officials already are studying various alternatives, including a canal around the delta or a tunnel under it.