DATE: July 30, 2002
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Support for Proposition 50, “The Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act of 2002”

SUMMARY:
Proposition 50, “The Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act of 2002” authorizes $3.44 billion of general obligation bonds for a variety of water related programs and projects with the goals of: securing and safeguarding the integrity of the state’s water supply from terrorist acts or other deliberate acts of destruction; providing a safe, clean, affordable, and sufficient water supply; financing the implementation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program; establishing and facilitating integrated regional water management systems to meet the demands of significant population growth; improving watershed practices to improve water quality, reduce pollution, capture storm water runoff, better protect and manage groundwater, and increase water use efficiency; protecting urban communities from drought by increasing the supplies of clean drinking water and reducing dependence on imported water; reducing the pollution of rivers, lakes, streams and coastal waters; providing habitat for fish and wildlife; furthering the ability of Californians to live within the apportionment of the Colorado River Water Use Plan; and protecting, restoring and acquiring beaches and coastal uplands, wetlands, and watershed lands along the coast and in San Francisco Bay.

If passed, the bond funding would be available to state agencies and for loans and grants to local agencies and nonprofit organizations. Proposition 50 provides funding in a variety of areas to meet its stated goals, some of which could support the efforts of the County of San Diego to improve the quality of our coastal and inland waters, preserve and enhance habitat, and ensure the safety and quality of our drinking water.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
SUPERVISOR PAM SLATER AND SUPERVISOR GREG COX:

  1. Express the Board of Supervisors’ support for Proposition 50, “The Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act of 2002” on the November 5, 2002 ballot.
  2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to provide the members of the Board of Supervisors with factual information materials describing the County programs and projects that may benefit from the passage of Proposition 50.
  3. Authorize the Chairman to sign a letter to all San Diego County water agencies and the San Diego County Water Authority expressing the support of the Board of Supervisors for Proposition 50.
  4. Authorize the Chairman to sign a letter to all 18 cities in the region expressing the support of the Board of Supervisors for Proposition 50 and requesting their support for Proposition 50.

BACKGROUND:
The State of California faces a great many challenges to achieving safe drinking water, clean inland and coastal waters, and a stable water supply. For this reason, Californians have seen three statewide water-related bond acts on the ballot since 1996 including Proposition 50, “The Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act of 2002” on the November 5, 2002 ballot. Proposition 50 is similar to Proposition 13 from 2000, a measure approved by the voters by a 63% margin. Given California’s ongoing critical water management needs, it is likely that this measure will receive strong support.

Proposition 50 authorizes $3.44 billion of general obligation bonds for a variety of water related programs and projects with the goals of: securing and safeguarding the integrity of the state’s water supply from terrorist acts or other deliberate acts of destruction; providing a safe, clean, affordable, and sufficient water supply; financing the implementation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program; establishing and facilitating integrated regional water management systems to meet the demands of significant population growth; improving watershed practices to improve water quality, reduce pollution, capture storm water runoff, better protect and manage groundwater, and increase water use efficiency; protecting urban communities from drought by increasing the supplies of clean drinking water and reducing dependence on imported water; reducing the pollution of rivers, lakes, streams and coastal waters; providing habitat for fish and wildlife; furthering the ability of Californians to live within the apportionment of the Colorado River Water Use Plan; and protecting, restoring and acquiring beaches and coastal uplands, wetlands, and watershed lands along the coast and in San Francisco Bay.

If passed, the bond funding would be available to state agencies and for loans and grants to local agencies and nonprofit organizations. Proposition 50 provides funding in a variety of areas to meet its stated goals, some of which could support the efforts of the County of San Diego to improve the quality of our coastal and inland waters, preserve and enhance habitat, and ensure the safety and quality of our drinking water.

Specifically, Proposition 50 provides:

  • $950 million for coastal protection including wetlands restoration and watershed protection
  • $825 million for implementation of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program
  • $640 million to further integrated regional water management through pollution reduction, water treatment, flood management, wetlands restoration, and land acquisition
  • $435 million to ensure community drinking water is safe from contaminants
  • $370 million for clean water including pollution prevention, river parkway improvements, coastal nonpoint source pollution control, and water quality improvements
  • $100 million for desalination and water treatment
  • $70 million for Colorado River Management including ecosystem restoration and canal improvements
  • $50 million to protect the security of drinking water systems

This Board of Supervisors has expressed strong support for improving water quality and protecting fragile watershed habitat through Project Clean Water, a regional effort to comprehensively address the issues surrounding stormwater pollution and the quality of coastal and inland waters, and the creation of several regional parks along key waterways including the Tijuana River Valley and the Otay River Valley. If passed, Proposition 50 could assist the County of San Diego in furthering these efforts by providing much needed funding to complete the preservation and protection of the environment as well as to further the goals of Project Clean Water. Proposition 50 funding could also be used for the preservation of watershed and sensitive habitat along other waterways including the San Elijo Lagoon and the mouth of the San Dieguito River Valley.

Additionally, Proposition 50 provides some funding for the protection of drinking water supplies from catastrophic damage due to terrorist activities or other deliberate acts of destruction. In the wake of the events of September 11th, it has become necessary to ensure that our drinking water supplies are not vulnerable to sabotage. The funding available through Proposition 50 could help protect the drinking water, and the health, of the citizens of San Diego County.

Proposition 50 could be a key source of funding for the County of San Diego to continue the implementation of efforts that demonstrate this Board’s strong support for improving water quality, reducing pollution, protecting habitat and securing our drinking water supply. We urge your support for this measure!

Respectfully submitted,

PAM SLATER
Supervisor, Third District

GREG COX
Supervisor, First District