A Dam Deception: Schwarzenegger's Greenwashing Attempt All Wet

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Gary A. Patton
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League

The Governor wants the Legislature to authorize a new bond issue for dam construction. In fact, he wants the people of the state to borrow more than $9 billion dollars, and to spend at least $5.6 billion dollars of that to build more dams. The measure would also provide funding for a Peripheral Canal or Peripheral Pipe.

While the Governor wants to spend big money on new, economically inefficient and environmentally destructive dam projects, he doesn't want the voters to know. Hidden in the text of the Governor's proposal is an unusual provision that would essentially repeal the normal procedures that ensure that voters receive an impartial ballot title and summary. Instead, the summary would emphasize "environmental restoration projects,"
even though the vast majority of the funding would be to construct dams!

"Notwithstanding any other provision of law...all ballots...shall have printed thereon and in a square thereof, exclusively, the words: 'Water Supply Reliability Bond Act of 2008' and in the same square under those words, the following in 8-point type: 'This act will provide financing for Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Sustainability, water supply reliability, and environmental restoration projects by authorizing a $9.085 billion dollar bond act.'"

Even the Governor seems to recognize that the voters would likely reject his plan to spend big money for more dams, if they knew what he was actually proposing. His attempt to employ disingenuous and deceptive advertising in connection with the proposed $9 billion dam-driven bond act reinforces the fact that this is NOT a good way to provide for the future water supply and water quality needs of the people of California.

Gary Patton is the Executive Director of the Planning and Conservation League, a statewide, nonprofit lobbying organization. For more than thirty years, PCL has fought to develop a body of environmental laws in California that is the best in the United States. PCL staff review virtually every environmental bill that comes before the California Legislature each year. It has testified in support or opposition of thousands of bills to strengthen California's environmental laws and fight off rollbacks of environmental protections.