Proposition 1 and Dams

by Mark Fernwood

Prop. 1.” The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act” of 2014

Prop. 1, $7.545 billion in bonds, was sold to the public as funding for much needed water storage. It is easy to list how much has been built, 10 years later, -0-.

$ 450 Million has been used, however, for demolishing 4 major dams on the Klamath River! Dams that had long provided hydro-electric power and needed water. There are no known plans for providing water to homes and farmers. Left now are expansive mud flats, with streams were there used to be beautiful lakes. Lakes that served wild animals, birds and fish.

The motive behind this is to satisfy environmental groups that hate all dams and modification of streams. This also was the long-standing demand of native Indian tribes that wanted to return to their ancient tradition of subsistence, salmon fishing.

Governor Pat Brown (Dem. 1959-1967) designed a comprehensive plan to meet the State’s water needs then, and to meet future population growth. It included huge projects built then and more planned for the future. It is called the “California State Water Project.” In the 50 years since, little has changed in our water storage system while the population has doubled. Over 75% of the fresh water available in California, each year, flows out to the ocean, unused.

Mark Fernwood

California Dam Demolitions a Victory for Some, Devastation for Others | The Epoch Times  article