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Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics
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Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

Jan 03, 2016

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Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics. Water and Environmental Politics. Water Stories and Water Lessons Los Angeles and Chinatown The Bay Delta and the Peripheral Canal San Diego and the Imperial Irrig. District The Endangered Species Act A Zero-Sum Game? - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Page 1: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

Poli 103A: California PoliticsWater and Environmental

Politics

Page 2: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

Water and Environmental Politics

Water Stories and Water Lessons•Los Angeles and Chinatown

•The Bay Delta and the Peripheral Canal

•San Diego and the Imperial Irrig. District

The Endangered Species Act•A Zero-Sum Game?

•The Wedge of Environmentalism

Page 3: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

Los Angeles and Chinatown

The Need for Imported Water.•From 1868 to 1910, Los Angeles’ 1,596

artesian wells nearly dried up the area’s underground pools and reservoirs.

•In 1900, the new Department of Water and Power projected shortages for the fast-growing city of 102,249.

•San Fernando Valley farmers had lost their riparian rights on the LA River.

Page 4: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

Los Angeles and Chinatown In 1903-5, J.B.

Lippincott (US Bureau of Reclamation) and Fred Eaton (former LA Mayor) bought up lands along the Owens River, which fed flourishing farms.

In 1905 and again in 1910, a syndicate led by Harry Chandler, Joseph Sartori, Henry Huntington, and M.H. Sherman bought 108,000 acres of Valley land at $5-10 an acre.

Page 5: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

Los Angeles and ChinatownUnveiling the Plan. In July 1905,

the LA Times announced the plan to build a $25 million aqueduct, which was approved by voters in September after water dumping and rationing.

Owens Valley Resistance. After losing in the Legislature and courts, farmers dynamited aqueduct in 1924, but by 1927 saluted their conquerors.

Page 6: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

Los Angeles and Chinatown The Owens Lake is

dried up, dusty The Valley sold for

$50-100 an acre.

Page 7: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

Los Angeles and Chinatown

Water Lesson #1: Water changes the value of land. In a state of deserts, land value is built by moving water.

Water Lesson #2: Public relations are paramount. Votes for bonds need attention, while devious dealings need to be kept low profile.

Page 8: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

The Bay Delta and the Peripheral Canal

Red lines are state projects

Yellow are federal projects

Green are local projects

Page 9: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

The Bay Delta and the Peripheral Canal

“Crossroads of California’s Water.” Where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers meet and flow into the San Francisco Bay:•Local farmers and residents use water.

•Environmentalists try to protect wetlands in Delta and fish upstream.

•Freshwater is pushed across the Delta on its way to the Central Valley and SoCal.

Page 10: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

The Bay Delta and the Peripheral Canal

Jerry Brown backed an initiative to complete his father Pat’s legacy with the peripheral canal, with strings.

The environmental strings were too costly for Central Valley farmers, who bankrolled the opposition to canal.

Public vote on the canal lost 37-63% on the June, 1982 ballot.

Page 11: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

The Bay Delta and the Peripheral Canal

Water Lesson #3: Alliances of convenience don’t last forever. Farmers’ political muscle and SoCal ratepayers money not a strong bond.

Water Lesson #4: Water politics is

regional politics. 60% support for canal in Los Angeles, but only 10% support in the Bay Area.

Page 12: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

San Diego and the Imperial Irrigation District

Huge price disparities between residential and agricultural users:•Residents pay $0.49-3.78 per 748 gallons

•Farmers pay $14 per acre/foot, or $.03 per 748 gallons, with federal subsidies

Water Transfers. In 1992, Bill Bradley, George Miller, the EDF, and the Met changed federal law to allow the sale Central Valley Project water to urbans.

Page 13: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

San Diego and the Imperial Irrigation District

The Metropolitan Water District (Met) is an enormous special district that sells and transports water to member cities in Southern California.

San Diego and neighboring cities are at the “end of the Met’s pipe.”

Imperial Valley has Colorado River rights, weak efficiency incentives.

Page 14: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

San Diego and the Imperial Irrigation District

Texans Sid and Lee Bass attempted a second Chinatown by buying Imperial Valley water rights to sell to cities.

San Diego wanted to buy the water, but the Met’s infrastructure became the physical and legal sticking point.

October, 2003 deal sends 65 billion gallons a year to S.D for $50 million.

Page 15: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

San Diego and the Imperial Irrigation District

Water Lesson #5: Price disparities create resentment, inefficiencies, and the opportunity for big deals.

Page 16: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

The Endangered Species Act:A Zero Sum Game?

What the Acts Say:•1973 Federal ESA and CESA say that

scientists determine whether species are “threatened” or “endangered,” then agencies adopt conservation plans and prohibit private “takings” of species. Agencies can’t jeopardize habitat.

•Logging, development, or highways can be halted if spotted owls, gnatcatchers, or kangaroo rats are harmed or jeopardized.

Page 17: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

The Endangered Species Act: The Wedge of Environmentalism

The case of the addition of “incidental take” permits to the CESA reveals the surprising politics of the environment.

•Attempts to roll back the CESA after the Republicans took control of the Assembly in 1994 reached far and failed.

•After Democrats retook control, SB 879 (Johnston, D-Stockton) passed over opposition of most environmental groups, but with a neutral Sierra Club.

Page 18: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

The Endangered Species Act: The Wedge of Environmentalism

Support for agriculture in the Central Valley and development in Orange and Riverside Counties drive a wedge inside the Democratic Party.

Support for coastal and mountain

environmental preservation splits Republicans in San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Silicon Valley.

Page 19: Poli 103A: California Politics Water and Environmental Politics

Discussion Questions

Should the sins of Mulholland in the Owens Valley be visited upon today’s Los Angeles water ratepayers?

Why is water priced lower for agricultural uses than it is for domestic use? Should it be?

Is environmentalism a wedge issue at the statewide level?