In June, California voters will decide whether to fund a $4 billion bond measure that covers a wide variety of issues, including urban parks, drought resilience and flood protection.
Senate Bill 5, known as the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018, would provide $4.1 billion for a wide variety of water and outdoor recreation needs.
Pablo Garza, the Environmental Defense Fund’s California political director, said the bill has three big goals it’s working toward at the same time: preventing floods, preventing droughts and adding parks to low-income city neighborhoods.
Out of the total $4 billion in new debt, plus allowing the state to use $100 million in leftover funds from a past bond, $2.83 billion will go toward creating parks in underserved areas, especially urban districts.
Projects that ensure clean drinking water and statewide drought preparation will get $250 million, flood protection projects will receive $550 million, regional drought sustainability projects plus water recycling projects will be allocated $390 million and groundwater sustainability projects will get $80 million, if voters pass the bill.
On the drought protection side, some of the projects eligible for the bond’s funding include preventing groundwater contamination, increasing streamflow and building more treatment plants that can recycle wastewater into potable water for groundwater recharge.
California currently has $73 billion left to pay off from other general obligation bonds, according to the California Treasurer’s Office.
“General obligation bonds have to get paid back, and they have to pay back with interest.
Water quality, drought resilience and flood protection projects are primarily funded through the monthly bills ratepayers send to water agencies for tap water, but those projects are so large and complex that additional funding is necessary, Garza said.
“It puts $550 million toward flood protection, which is top of mind for all of California after the wet year we had,” Garza said.