California water bond will benefit San Diego region

Last week, the California Legislature came together to pass bipartisan, landmark legislation that will mark the biggest investment in our state’s water infrastructure that we have seen in decades!

This proposal is truly a comprehensive one that will improve our outdated and crumbling statewide water system. Our current water system was designed to meet the needs of 16 million people when it was built in the 1960s. It is inadequate for a state of 38 million people that is projected to grow rapidly in the future.

It is an example of what Sacramento can actually accomplish when we set aside our differences and come together to do what’s right for all Californians.

Successful negotiations between Democrats, Republicans, the governor and stakeholders resulted in a much paired down cost and more equitable funding for projects around the state. Positively, this fiscally responsible proposal will cost almost $4 billion less than what the 2009 Legislature agreed to.

Key local projects that will help our farmers, businesses and residents will now be able to compete for funding from the $7.5 billion bond measure that will go before voters in November.

Specifically for us in inland San Diego and Riverside, funding for water storage, recycling, advanced treatment and groundwater recharge projects could help our region weather this crippling drought and future ones.

Our local farm community could greatly benefit from resources for water recycling and advanced treatment technologies. The bond also includes $725 million for which San Diego water suppliers could compete for water recycling efforts.

In Southwest Riverside, surface and underground water storage, including groundwater aquifer cleanup or recharge projects would be eligible for funding up to $480 million. This is in addition to other funding in the bond for groundwater contamination prevention and remediation.

I am very pleased that it will also make available nearly $1 billion more for water storage than the governor proposed last week. I fought hard with my Republican colleagues to increase funding for water storage and recycling because that would best help our area.

The benefits to us locally include whole new potential funding for storage expansion at Lake Wohlford Reservoir in Escondido/Valley Center. This has been an important issue for me this legislative session. I have authored legislation (Assembly Bill 2353) to help pave the way to increase its water storage capacity so we can capture more water locally and prevent a potential environmental nightmare.

Lake Wohlford Reservoir was one of the first rock fill dams built in California, which now stands at 100 feet high. For decades, it has served as the terminal reservoir for the water from the San Luis Rey River watershed. It is an important water supply that is relied upon by 250,000 residents in the cities of Escondido and Vista.

But seismic safety studies required by the federal government found that one portion of the dam could liquefy in a major earthquake. As a result, the city of Escondido has been forced to reduce the capacity of the reservoir by 57 percent. Without additional storage capacity, we won’t be able to capture the high runoff flows in the dam during severe storm periods. Additionally, there would be significant environmental damage caused to a sensitive habitat downstream.

My legislation would streamline the environmental review process so we can undertake a project to restore Lake Wohlford Reservoir to the full 6,500 acre-feet capacity without unnecessary delay. Despite roadblocks in Sacramento, I will continue to fight to pass this important legislation for our community.

In the end, I believe this water bond measure will help to attain a reliable water supply for millions of Californians for generations to come.

Waldron, R-Escondido, represents the 75th Assembly District in the California Legislature.