No Time to Waste on Levee Improvements, ACWA Says; Water Agencies Mark Katrina Anniversary with Call to Support Props 1E, 84.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- With the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaching, the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today called on policy makers and voters to approve two bond measures this November that would fund critical improvements to California's levee and flood control system. The improvements are needed to protect California from the kind of flooding that devastated New Orleans after Katrina struck on August 29, 2005.

"We have an opportunity on November 7 to invest in California's ability to withstand future flood events," ACWA Executive Director Steve Hall said. "We hope Californians will heed the lessons of Katrina and approve Propositions 1E and 84 so we can make the levee and flood control improvements needed to protect lives and property. If we learned anything one year ago, it's when it comes to levee improvements there is no time to waste."

Proposition 1E would authorize $4.1 billion in bond funding for levee repair and flood-related programs to help protect Californians from Katrina-style flooding.

Proposition 84, a $5.4 billion water and resources bond initiative, would provide $800 million for flood control facilities and levee maintenance. It would also fund important water supply and water management programs.

"The Governor originally called for spending $6 billion for levee repairs and flood control improvements to protect California," Hall said. "The final 2006-'07 state budget provides just $500 million. Prop. 1E and Prop. 84 together would provide nearly $5 billion. We need both of these measures to pass to get our flood protection efforts on track."

The Department of Water Resources warned in a report last year that spending on levee repair and flood control improvements is long overdue, and called the state's aging levee system a "ticking time bomb." The department has said up to $15 billion in funding is needed to ensure adequate flood protection in the Central Valley alone.

Hall credited the Schwarzenegger Administration for issuing an emergency declaration to begin repairs at some of the most critical sites this summer and for working with the Legislature to put an infrastructure bond package on the ballot that includes Proposition 1E. While those have been positive steps, he said, much more needs to be done.

"Most of our ability to respond to future flood events now depends on the voters. These two bond measures represent a significant down payment on the total funding needed," Hall said. "We will have made a lot of progress if voters approve Prop. 1E and Prop. 84."

Noting that several flood-related bills appear stalled as the Legislature moves into its final week before adjourning, Hall said it is critical to move forward with funding to address deteriorating levees and other weaknesses already identified in the system.

"Policy and investment are both important on the flood protection issue, and we must advance on both fronts," he said. "We all recognize that policy takes time. But there is no time to waste on these critically needed investments. We must have the dollars available now to carry out these projects."

ACWA's analysis and general information on the measures are at www.acwa.com.

ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 440 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.