[env-trinity] Stockton Record- CALFED overhaul begins

[Tom Stokely]

 CALFED overhaul begins; Effort strives to clarify water coalition's goal

Stockton Record - 12/9/05

By Hank Shaw, Capitol Bureau Chief

 

SACRAMENTO -- The California Bay-Delta Authority on Thursday began the painful process of reforming its efforts to restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Let the melee begin.

       
     

Several state reports have suggested wholesale streamlining for CALFED, the coalition of state, local and federal agencies striving to restore the Delta. The goal? To clarify what CALFED's job is, where to focus taxpayer money and determine who's responsible if that money is not well-spent.

All this activity has become more urgent because the Delta is in crisis despite billions of taxpayer dollars spent to save it.

Populations of the Delta smelt and striped bass have declined dramatically, water quality continues to decline, and the earthen levees protecting the entire system are falling into disrepair.

More than 23 million Californians rely on the sprawling waterway for their drinking water. It is the nursery for much of California's commercial fisheries.

What is emerging is a leaner CALFED run by the state secretary of natural resources -- currently Mike Chrisman. It would be managed by the state with input from federal agencies, local governments and major water users. It would be overseen by the Legislature and some sort of independent commission.

The authority itself may dissolve as part of the reform, which, unsurprisingly, distressed its members.

"My instincts were to oppose this, but I wanted to keep an open mind," authority member Paula Daniels said. "I should've trusted my instincts."

Added member Marc Holmes of the Bay Institute: "The way to reform the authority is not to get rid of the authority."

Dozens of interest groups attended Thursday's five-hour meeting. Many are nervous about whether the CALFED programs they care about will remain in the revamped plan. And they are concerned about funding for those programs that survive.

Of particular concern is the fate of a provision in CALFED to ensure that major water decisions do not shortchange minorities and the poor.

"The participants who hammered out this framework behind closed doors are not interested in environmental justice," said Alisha Deen of the Oakland-based Environmental Justice Coalition for Water.

Others have begun jockeying for a slice of what may become a larger CALFED pie. New money could be on the horizon.

Both the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are talking about asking voters to approve a multibillion-dollar bond to repair California's roads, rails, bridges, levees and waterworks.

What form this bond takes and whether details can be resolved in time for the June primary election remains to be seen.

Whatever money CALFED ultimately gets, state Sen. Michael Machado, D-Linden, wants to ensure it's well-spent.

Machado and his colleagues have been pounding CALFED all year, and he warned the authority Thursday that it had better bring them a detailed financing plan or face another year of "life support" funding.

"There are some big gaps in this in terms of financing," Machado said of CALFED's proposed finance plan. "It's still based on 'trust me' going out."

One gap Machado remains concerned about it is how much the beneficiaries of CALFED will pay to help fund the effort.

The proposal debated Thursday would have them pay $15 million over three years. Machado wants a more permanent system developed to link payments with benefits: If you get more from a clean Delta with a reliable water supply, you pay more.

The Bay-Delta Authority is expected to meet again Dec. 20 to vote on the reorganization plans and the financing proposal.

All of the recommendations and plans must win approval from the administration and will then become part of Schwarzenegger's budget, which is due to be released in January. #

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051209/NEWS01/512090325/1001

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