Breakdown of California water bill

Published online on Monday, Nov. 09, 2009

On Monday at Friant Dam, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the centerpiece of the just-passed five-bill water package — an $11.14 billion general obligation bond scheduled to go before voters on Nov. 2, 2010.

Here is a more complete look at how the bond breaks down:

WATER SUPPLY: $3 billion

Only for public benefits associated with water storage projects, including ecosystem and water quality improvements, flood control, emergency response, recreation. Surface or groundwater storage projects selected competitively by the California Water Commission based on the magnitude of public benefits provided. Eligible projects include Sites Reservoir in Colusa County, Temperance Flat Reservoir in Fresno County, and enlarging Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County.

SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA SUSTAINABILITY: $2.25 billion

$1.5 billion for Bay Delta Conservation Plan ecosystem restoration projects; acquisition of water rights & removal of invasive species; reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Delta soils; reduce mercury contamination.
$750 million for Delta counties/cities for flood protection; water quality projects, agriculture preservation, and to mitigate the effects of water conveyance and ecosystem restoration (including $50 million to improve wastewater treatment facilities upstream of the Delta; $250 million to assist local government and the farm economy upon loss of farm lands for ecosystem restoration).

CONSERVATION AND WATERSHED PROTECTION: $1.785 billion

$250 million to California Coastal Conservancy, including $40 million for projects in San Diego County ($20 million for San Diego River Conservancy) and $40 million for Santa Ana River Parkway; $20 million for Bolsa Chica Wetlands.
$250 million for dam removal in the Klamath River watershed.
$215 million to Wildlife Conservation Board to protect watershed lands, rivers, streams that support endangered species, including $25 million to San Joaquin River Conservancy for river parkway projects.
$100 million to Wildlife Conservation Board for water rights to benefit migratory birds.
$100 million for Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
$100 million for Salton Sea restoration.
$100 million to CalFire for fuel treatment, forest restoration to protect watersheds tributary to reservoirs; to protect life and property; and for climate change adaptation (including $67 million for grants to public agencies and nonprofits for fuel treatment; $25 million for technical assistance for eligible landowners; $8 million to reimburse CalFire costs for pilot projects to use thinned fuels for energy or wood products; and for conservation camp crews).
$75 million for San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.
$75 million to Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for watershed protection activities in upper Los Angeles River.
$75 million for Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
$60 million for salmon passage in Sacramento River watershed
$50 million for coastal salmon projects.
$50 million for projects associated with California River Parkways Act of 2004 (including $20 million for Urban Streams Restoration Program).
$50 million to California State University for farm water-related research and education.
$50 million to Coastal Conservancy for Ocean Protection Act projects.
$50 million to Wildlife Conservation Board to improve effectiveness of infrastructure mitigation.
$30 million to State Parks for watershed education (including $20 million for education centers in urban areas over 1 million population).
$25 million for Santa Monica Bay watershed projects.
$20 million for Ventura County watershed projection projects.
$20 million for Baldwin Hills Conservancy.
$20 million to California Farmland Conservancy Program.
$20 million to Siskiyou County for economic development.
$10 million to Natural Resources Agency for watershed protections to address climate change.
$10 million for California Waterfowl Habitat Program.