Sierra Water Work Group SummitJune 2014

The 2014 Water Bond Debate

Getting our Fair Share…..Or Not

What’s wrong with this picture?

25% of State’s Area60% + of State’s Developed Water SupplyHistorically +/- 1% of Dedicated Bond Funds

Water Bond ProposalsTotal Sierra Nevada

Share*

2009 Bond $ 11.14b $ 119m 1%

2014 Bond Proposals

Rendon AB 1331 $ 8b $ 99m 1.2%

Wolk SB 848 $ 6.83b $ 65m 1%Perea AB 2686 $ 10.25 $ 94m <1%Rendon AB 2554 $ 8.5b $ 203m 2.4%

*Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Mt. Counties Overlay

Sierra as the Source

The Sierra is largely unrecognized in policy debates as CA’s primary source of water for communities and farms.

Delta-centric nature of water discussions; majority of freshwater flowing to Delta starts here.

Very little understanding of the relationship between healthy watersheds and water supply, quality, and timing of flows.

Some Positive Steps

Language in AB 2554 recognizes the unique and important role that the Sierra-Cascade area plays and provides funding based on this importance.

Governor’s CA Water Action Plan recognizes needs of source watersheds.

Greater recognition and support from statewide organizations, in particular Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy.

The Need to Invest

Unhealthy Forests and WatershedsOvergrown forests on public landsMercury Contamination in many areasMany Sierra Meadows are not functioning as natural

storageWorking landscapes and natural lands in need of protection

Climate ChangeLess snow, more rainIncreased temperatures mean longer, more severe

fire seasons

This or That