PRESS RELEASE: C-WIN Endorses State Water, Wildfire, Drought & Clean Air Bond
Californians Should Vote for Upcoming Bond; C-WIN Pledges to Monitor Key Elements
In November, Californians will vote on the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, which recently was approved by the California legislature. The California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) supports voter approval of the $10 billion bond but urges careful oversight of its implementation.
“First, we want to congratulate state legislators for recognizing the necessity for a bond that addresses critical social and environmental problems and funds essential and equitable climate change responses,” said Max Gomberg, a water policy expert and C-WIN board member.
Gomberg cited the $610 million earmarked for safe drinking water as a particularly important component of the bond.
“Safe drinking water is essential to public health and is a basic human right, but there are many underserved communities in California that don’t have access to it,” Gomberg observed. “This bond will help mitigate these long-standing inequities.”
Gomberg also praised the bond for a comprehensive approach to a wide range of climate change and conservation challenges, ranging from sustainable energy to wildfire, drought, sea level rise and drought preparedness.
“There are also significant funds for habitat preservation and restoration, park creation, and sustainable farming initiatives, all of which will benefit Californians,” Gomberg said.
But Gomberg observed public oversight is critical for some elements of the bond – particularly groundwater storage.
“Groundwater storage is essential for a resilient California water policy,” said Gomberg, “and this bond provides more than $300 million toward that end. It’s good in that it can improve water security, prevent land subsidence, and take some of the pressure off surface sources.”
However, when groundwater basins are not managed sustainably and equitably, additional pumping of stored water during droughts dries up domestic wells, harming communities, observed Gomberg.
“Also, companies with the resources to build recharge infrastructure and drill the deepest wells can benefit in ways that undermine the public interest, such as keeping marginal land in production,” he said.
Gomberg noted that bonds are repaid by future generations and therefore must provide broad and ongoing community benefits.
“Strong oversight is critical to ensure this large infusion of money doesn’t benefit the few, the powerful, and the politically connected over the many,” he said.
CONTACT
Max Gomberg
(415) 310-7013
Christina Speed
Communications Director
(805) 259-7983