tool name

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

GOP leaders have fears about water compromise

SACRAMENTO -- The Valley's largest farm district and several environmental groups on Monday said they support key elements of water legislation under negotiation in the Capitol.

But the compromise is not good enough for Republican leaders, who said they still have "grave concerns" that the proposals would "create new layers of bureaucracy."

The pact between Westlands Water District and key environmental groups comes after weeks of closed-door negotiations over new policies to mandate conservation, track groundwater levels and create agencies to oversee the troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California also signed off.

Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, cited the agreement as major progress and called for a vote this week on a larger water deal, which would also include a bond to pay for projects.

"We have narrowed the differences in ways that now we think are creating a momentum that did not exist six weeks ago," he said.

But GOP leaders said they still have issues with the conservation and groundwater rules.

"After weeks and weeks and weeks of discussion, to find that our concerns evidently were not taken seriously is disappointing," said Assembly GOP Leader Sam Blakeslee. Republicans have "grave concerns whether or not this actually solves the water problem."

One GOP fear is that new conservation requirements would lead to lawsuits against urban water agencies that don't meet the targets.

Environmentalists counter that Republicans are seeking to undermine existing laws that protect against the "waste and unreasonable use" of water.

Another flashpoint is the size and scope of a bond to pay for dams and other projects. Lawmakers must give out enough money to please varied water interests, but are contending with criticism that the financially strapped state cannot afford new borrowing. Details have not been released, but the latest bond proposal is in the range of $9 billion.

The Westlands and Metropolitan districts gave their support for the policy changes at a legislative hearing on the bill.

Westlands lobbyist Ed Manning said the district's biggest demand was met: that a proposed council to oversee the delta would not slow planning for a canal to move water around the estuary, also known as "conveyance."