Sierra Water Work Group Summit June 2014

1. Sierra Water Work Group SummitJune 2014 The 2014 Water Bond Debate Getting our Fair Share….. Or Not

2. What’s wrong with this picture? • 25% of State’s Area • 60% + of State’s Developed Water Supply • Historically +/- 1% of Dedicated Bond Funds

3. Water Bond Proposals • Total Sierra Nevada Share* • 2009 Bond $ 11.14b $ 119m 1% • 2014 Bond Proposals • Rendon AB 1331 $ 8b $ 99m 1.2% • Wolk SB 848 $ 6.83b $ 65m 1% • Perea AB 2686 $ 10.25 $ 94m <1% • Rendon AB 2554 $ 8.5b $ 203m 2.4% • *Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Mt. Counties Overlay

5. Sierra as the Source • The Sierra is largely unrecognized in policy debates as CA’s primary source of water for communities and farms. • Delta-centric nature of water discussions; majority of freshwater flowing to Delta starts here. • Very little understanding of the relationship between healthy watersheds and water supply, quality, and timing of flows.

7. Some Positive Steps • Language in AB 2554 recognizes the unique and important role that the Sierra-Cascade area plays and provides funding based on this importance. • Governor’s CA Water Action Plan recognizes needs of source watersheds. • Greater recognition and support from statewide organizations, in particular Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy.

8. The Need to Invest • Unhealthy Forests and Watersheds • Overgrown forests on public lands • Mercury Contamination in many areas • Many Sierra Meadows are not functioning as natural storage • Working landscapes and natural lands in need of protection • Climate Change • Less snow, more rain • Increased temperatures mean longer, more severe fire seasons

9. This or That