By Khalida Sarwari
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited San Jose on Tuesday to sign a component of a recently passed water conservation policy that includes an $11.1 billion bond to be decided by voters on the November 2010 ballot.
Schwarzenegger discussed California’s water challenges and the importance of water conservation at a news conference at the Santa Clara Valley Water District. He called the bill’s passage a historic accomplishment after decades of working toward a solution.
“This is something that is historic not only because of its size and importance but also a lot of the people that always fought were brought together,” Schwarzenegger said before signing Senate Bill X7 7, which was authored by state Sen. Darrell Steinberg and aims to reduce water consumption by 20 percent by the year 2020.
The bill is the fourth of a five-part water package passed by the Legislature on Nov. 4, an undertaking that brought together a coalition of Democrats and Republicans, business and labor leaders, farmers and environmentalists, rural and urban residents and southern and northern Californians.
The plan is comprised of four policy bills and an $11.14 billion bond. The package also establishes a Delta Stewardship Council and ensures improved groundwater monitoring, and provides funds for the state Water Resources Control Board for increased enforcement of illegal water diversions.
“Families and businesses must rely even more on the groundwater supply, and conservation is one of the keys to protect that supply,” Schwarzenegger said. “The Santa Clara Water District offers a variety of rebate programs to help residents and businesses save water. I want to see this kind of action across our state.”
On Monday, Schwarzenegger signed what he calls the “lynchpin” of the water package, an $11 billion bond measure that will be placed on the November 2010 ballot.
Schwarzenegger said the $11 billion bond will leverage an additional $30 billion in federal and local funds, creating a $40 billion reform project.
“Along with the Florida Everglades, this will be one of the largest environmental restoration projects in the nation,” Schwarzenegger said.
Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, said the legislation will change the paradigm of conservation in California.
“Water is the lifeblood of our state and we know we can’t waste a drop,” he said.