Craig A. Ewing

Special to The Desert Sun

Imagine paying tens of thousands of dollars for a car and then doing no maintenance for five years. No oil changes, tune-ups, service, or repairs; yet, the car is driven 20,000 miles a year. After five years with 100,000 miles, that car is going to be in bad shape. A car — or any complex machinery — requires a commitment of money and attention to assure it performs as we expect. If we fail to maintain that car, we face a heavy bill to rebuild or replace it.

The state water system

In 1960, California issued $1.75 billion in bonds (over $14 billion in today’s dollars) for the State Water Project. It is complex system of pumps, canals, eco-systems and storage facilities that brings water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to people up and down the state. After fifty years, it now serves 25 million people and one of the largest economies in the world. However, we have “driven” it far longer than it was designed for and it needs an overhaul: The eco-systems need repair; storage facilities must be rebuilt and expanded; local groundwater systems need maintenance; and we must train new “drivers” about conservation and wise use.

A few weeks ago, a bipartisan Legislature and the Governor took a significant step toward improving the state water system by approving a $7.2 billion bond measure. As Proposition 1, this will be on the state-wide ballot in November; you and I will be voting on it. The bond is about rebuilding our physical water system, yet it is more than that. This measure also includes the values we hold today about our place in the natural environment – values that have changed substantially since the 1960’s.

What the proposed water bond will do

As Californians, we now hold ourselves responsible for assuring a healthy water ecosystem, and the new bond includes $1.5 billion for environmental upgrades to support healthy fish populations in our rivers and streams. As Californians, we recognize the value of relying on local water, and the bond includes $2.7 billion to help cities and rural areas improve local groundwater and storage supplies. As Californians, we prepare for earthquakes like no other people on earth, and the bond includes $295 million for upgrading levees and preparing for emergency response.

Californians also understand the consequences of climate change, where indications point to a significant reduction of the Sierra Nevada snowpack, our greatest water storage facility. So, the bond includes funds for new storage facilities located in environmentally appropriate areas. Finally, Californians have seen the wisdom of all these actions amidst an increasing commitment to conservation, and the legislation received support from public agencies, environmental interests, businesses, farmers, and people from cities and rural areas in northern, central and southern California.

An important decision

Here in the Coachella Valley, our customers are more aware than ever about our water sources and supplies. Yet, many still do not appreciate how reliant we are on a healthy water system throughout California. Many also forget our connection to the larger economy: That a healthy state economy supports local tourism, businesses, and home values.

We have long welcomed people who come to the desert to leave their problems behind; yet, these folks often ask about the local water — why it seems so abundant and why it’s so cheap. I’m happy to explain the details, but I usually conclude with this: You cannot talk about water in the desert, without thinking about it as a Californian. Those words seem more important than ever as we look ahead to the vote in November. Is this the year we do the overhaul that’s so long overdue? Get smart about Proposition One and vote.