Mention "Prop. 13" to most Californians and at first they'll probably remember the famous 1978 property tax freeze initiative with that ballot number. But on March 7, 2000, California voters approved another Proposition 13, called the "Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection and Flood Protection Act."

The omnibus measure, which voters approved by nearly 65 percent, authorized the state to issue $1.97 billion in bonds to fund projects under the title's numerous categories. The proposition was promoted as a solution to California's water supply, water quality and flooding problems, as well as the piggy bank for numerous other regional and local water-related projects.

So now, a year later, what has Proposition 13 accomplished?

"Prop. 13 monies are now being distributed and communities throughout the state will soon begin to see direct benefits through worthy water quality, water conservation and water management projects," said Steve Hall, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies.

In fact, "Proposition 13 is being implemented at light-year speed, as opposed to (the previous water) Proposition 204 in 1996, and we're very pleased with our progress," said Lucinda Chipponeri, assistant director for legislation at the state's Department of Water Resources (DWR). DWR will administer about half of the bond money.

Andy Sienkiewich, section manager in Metropolitan's Water Resources Management Group, agrees. "Actually, considering the magnitude and scope of the bond measure, progress has been quite rapid."

Chipponeri said, "Approximately $378 million in Prop. 13 funds, administered by DWR, were released by the Legislature in the fiscal year 2000-2001 budget, the vast majority of which will be distributed through competitive grants and loans."

Indeed, Metropolitan itself has been designated by the state to administer $69 million of Prop. 13 funds for aquifer storage programs and other projects.

"The governor's office made an initial allocation from which Metropolitan received $69 million," said Bob Harding, senior engineer in MWD's Water Resources Management group. "Of that, $45 million will fund Southern California conjunctive use projects, where imported surface water is stored in local aquifers, and then pumped out and used during dry spells.

"Metropolitan issued a request for conjunctive use proposals to our member agencies last November," Harding said, "and we received 18 responses, which we're reviewing. We expect to make recommendations for allocating the $45 million to our Board at its April meeting."

And, Harding added, "There's another $200 million out there (in Prop. 13 money) for conjunctive use programs, and we expect to apply for some of that as well."

Twenty million out of the $69 million will promote partnerships between Metropolitan and water interests in the San Joaquin Valley to improve the quality of water Metropolitan receives from the State Water Project, while investing in local infrastructure to assist San Joaquin Valley interests to improve management of their water supplies

The remaining $4 million from the $69 million will advance the Desalination Research and Innovation Partnership (DRIP), a program designed to develop cost-effective, advanced water treatment technologies for desalination of Colorado River water, brackish groundwater, municipal wastewater and agricultural drainage water. DRIP partners who will share in the $4 million include the Orange County Water District, West Basin Municipal Water District, San Diego County Water Authority, Santa Clara Valley Water District, University of California, and Metropolitan.

Metropolitan recently submitted nine proposals to the DWR for some of the Prop. 13 monies the department is administering. Five proposals for CALFED water-use efficiency projects were submitted; two for water conservation project feasibility studies; one proposing a study of storing Colorado River water in the aquifers at Chuckwalla; one for construction of aquifer storage at Hayfield; and one for construction of San Bernardino's Central Feeder pipeline to connect with Metropolitan's Inland Feeder pipeline.

"Our applications were mailed to DWR Director Thomas Hannigan in mid-February, and we hope to hear by late spring whether they've been approved," Sienkiewich said. "They total about $9.2 million: $6.6 million for groundwater programs and $2.6 million for conservation programs."

In addition to the money DWR is administering, other state agencies doling it out include the state Reclamation Board, Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game, State Water Resources Control Board, and Department of Health Services.

Over at the loans and grants division of the State Water Resources Control Board, staff members are reviewing applications they received for Prop. 13 funding including 30 Southern California wastewater recycling projects totaling $198 million. Proposition 13 promised 60 percent of its recycling funds to Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Peter MacLaggan, a consultant to the WateReuse Association on Prop. 13 recycling funds, says the Southern California projects are competing for approximately $30 million in grant funds and $30 million in low-interest loans. Grants will be issued for up to 25 percent of the eligible project cost, up to $5 million. The balance of a project, up to $20 million, could be funded by low-interest loans.

Other Prop. 13 funds coming to Southern California include $3 million to the San Diego County Water Authority to study the feasibility and alignments of a potential aqueduct to bring Colorado River water to the Tijuana-Rosarito-Tecate and San Diego areas. An additional $2.5 million for the study was approved in a previous statewide bond measure in 1996.

One of the largest recipients of Prop. 13 funds in Southern California is the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), whose jurisdiction follows the Santa Ana River's route through San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles counties. The proposition earmarked $235 million for the watershed, and Mark Norton, SAWPA senior project manager-planning, says $131 million has already been appropriated for the first year, and that projects by Authority member- and sub-agencies have been selected by SAWPA's Board and are moving toward construction.

Links to water agencies:
Department of Water Resources (DWR) - http://www.dwr.water.ca.gov/
CALFED - http://calfed.ca.gov/
Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) - http://www.sawpa.org/

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