CalFed plan shifts burden to the feds, water users

nings that Congress and the state Legislature would not provide the money.

The finance plan unanimously adop-

ted by the California Bay-Delta Authority proposes to shift more of the future cost to the federal government and to water agencies that benefit from the Delta, after state taxpayers carried much of the bur-

den for years.

Congress and President Bush reauthorized the joint California Federal Bay-Delta Program in October, devoting $395 million to rebuild levees, restore ecosystems and study water storage projects.

The Delta collects Northern California water that is sucked through massive pipes to feed much of Southern Califor-

nia and some of the nation's most productive farmland.

CalFed was created a decade ago in an attempt to end the water wars between farmers, urban users, fishermen and environmental groups. Its multibillion-dollar projects are bringing the first major changes to California's water systems since the 1960s.

The approved plan would chop state funding in half, to 30 percent, and triple federal funding, to 21 percent of the overall cost.

The burden assumed by major water users would increase by half, from 6 percent to 9 percent, while the proportion paid by local governments and water agencies would increase from 27 percent to 40 percent.

The plan It>calls for $1.5 billion in state funding over 10 years, twice what had been allocated for CalFed under the $3.4 billion Proposition 50 water quality bond approved by voters in 2002.

It assumes $1.7 billion in scarce federal funding, more than four times the recent CalFed congressional funding level.

Yet the $800 million-a-year finance plan already is 36 percent smaller than the plan that has guided the authority the last four years. CalFed has been funded largely by voter-approved state water bonds, but the money is projected to soon run out, leaving the agency in a funding crisis.

The plan is driven by what needs to be done, not what money is likely to be available, said authority Chairman Gary Hunt. Without significant new funding, "we can maybe get the $395 million out of the federal government, and then we can pack up and go home in about three years."

"We've got to shoot high," said authority Director Patrick Wright. "We think the plan is reasonable."

The plan will go to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for consideration in next year's state budget, and to Congress for consideration in the 2006 fiscal year.

The shortfall has sparked a battle over how much should be paid by the public at large, and how much by beneficiaries like water districts that provide water to urban and agricultural users.

A coalition of environmental groups and Bay area municipalities says there should be no taxpayer or bond money used. The California Farm Bureau Federation and a coalition of water agencies -- including the giant Westlands and Metropolitan water districts -- says Delta improvements carry public benefits and deserve public funding.

The plan calls for shifting about 15 percent of the cost from taxpayers to users. "The question is, is that enough?" Hunt said.

The authority will spend the next three to four months debating the details of how to meet the funding goals in the finance framework. The plan will then be reviewed annually to match spending to actual funding.