Voters Face $7.5 Billion Decision On Water With Proposition 1

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) – In the midst of a historic drought, Californians face an important, and expensive, decision on Election Day when deciding the fate of Proposition 1, which would address the state's water crisis.

Proposition 1 provides for the issuance of nearly $7.5 billion in bonds to be used for surface and groundwater storage, ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration, drinking water protection, water recycling and advanced water treatment, and flood control.

Charlotte Pienkos, the external affairs manager of the Nature Conservancy of California, told CBS2 Political Reporter Dave Bryan that a vote in favor of the proposition would help with efforts to prevent or soften the blow of future droughts and most efficiently store water.

"People should vote for Prop 1, especially in Los Angeles and Orange counties, because it would provide important funding for groundwater cleanup and groundwater recharge," Pienkos said. "By ensuring that we have a healthy state water system, we can prepare for drought and maintain locally reliable water services."

But Conner Everts, executive director of the Southern California Watershed Alliance, says Proposition 1 is the wrong answer to the drought.

"The majority of the money goes to dams that don't make any sense, $2.7 billion out of $7.5 billion," he said. "Second, none of the money actually goes for this drought, for the crisis we're in now.

"So we've already passed over $16 billion in water bonds that I've supported in the past, but not this one," Everts said. "This one just goes too far and gives too little."

Gov. Jerry Brown is leading the charge for Proposition 1 with television ads, and it also has support from most Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento, who overwhelmingly passed the compromise water bond that became Prop 1. The "no" campaign, which is running on a shoestring budget, is relying primarily on Internet videos.

"It's difficult at this point, it's an uphill battle," Everts said. "We're really looking at this only because we're deep in a drought. And we haven't managed our water well, so we can show empty reservoirs. At the same time we're trying to promote more reservoirs. It doesn't really make sense."

Pienkos doesn't agree with that argument.

"I think the concern you see from some environmental groups is that they buy into the idea that the money will only go for dams, and that's not true," she said.

"There will be local choice in how money for groundwater storage is used," Pienkos said. "Proposition 1 does contain funding for water. That could mean dams. It could also mean groundwater replenishment, so we use our underground reservoirs for water capture."

With the drought now rising to crisis proportions in the minds of many voters, Proposition 1 is doing well in the polls. A recent Field Poll shows it has support of more than 50 percent of likely voters, which is almost double the number of those who oppose it.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.