Bonds for Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural Lands from Climate Risks
legislative statute
Official Summary
Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention, and protection of communities and lands. Requires annual audits.
Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs of about $400 million annually for 40 years to repay the bond.
support: $10,850,771 - Clean Water Action; CALFIRE Firefighters; National Wildlife Federation; The Nature Conservancy
oppose: $0 - Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Notes
Spending:
$1.9 billion - increase the amount and quality of water available for people to use
$1.1 billion - reduce the risk of floods, such as by repairing dams and capturing and reusing stormwater .
$800 million - various water resilience activities, such as restoring rivers and lakes.
$1.5 Billion - wildfire prevention
$890 million - restore coastal areas and protect them from the effects of rising sea levels
$310 million - improve ocean habitats and protect fish and other marine wildlife
$1.2 Billion - Land Conservation and Habitat Restoration
$475 million - development of wind turbines off the California coast
$325 million - infrastructure such as transmission lines to carry electricity long distances
$50 million - build large batteries that store electricity for when it is needed
$300 million - expand recreational opportunities at parks or reduce the impacts of climate change on parks
$200 million - grants to local communities to build new parks or renovate existing parks
$200 million - repair state parks and provide nature education
$200 million - activities focused on protecting communities from extreme heat
$100 million - places for people to go during heatwaves or disasters
$150 million - grants for local communities to conduct activities that provide environmental benefits, such as reducing air pollution
$105 million - activities that encourage farmers to improve soil health, reduce air pollution, and use less water
$60 million - support community gardens and farmers’ markets, such as by purchasing shade canopies
$135 million - other activities, such as purchasing vans to transport farmworkers and conserving farmland.
At least 40% of the bond money must fund activities to help communities that are low-income or ones that are more likely to suffer from problems caused by climate change.