Proposed bond may help Barstow water supply

If California voters pass a $11.4 billion bond designed to update the state’s water system a year from now, Barstow area residents can expect greater access to it, according to the Mojave Water Agency.

Due to court rulings having to do with endangered species in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River deltas, water allotments from the California Water Project to the High Desert and other areas of the state has been limited, said Kirby Brill, general manager for the Mojave Water Agency. The $11.4 billion bond, which passed the state Senate on Tuesday and Assembly on Wednesday, would pay for new dams, groundwater cleanup, water conservation and habitat restoration, according to the Associated Press.

“The desire and hope and intent is to have this legislation kind of restore the delta,” Brill said, adding that the legislation is a comprehensive passage that includes four or five pieces of legislation. “If that were to occur we would then have a greater supply that’s available to all of our areas including the ability for us to deliver greater amounts of water in the future down to the Barstow area.”

The Mojave River pipeline, which was completed in Newberry Springs in early 2004, will prepare the area for greater access to “imported” water, Brill said.

The California Aqueduct is long overdue for a major overhaul, said Bev Lowry, a Barstow Heights resident who is on the Mojave Water Agency board of directors. Lowry said she hopes the decision will end the water dispute over smelt in the delta.

“Also the way it would help Barstow is we’ll get more water down here,” she said. “California’s in a world of hurt because of drought and the extra population using water like it’s going out of style.”

The City of Barstow is also happy over the state legislature’s recent decision.

“The bond measure plan recently submitted to the Governor is expected to increase the amount of water available to Barstow from the State Water Project,” said Ron Rector, the city’s community and economic development director. “A sustainable water supply is key to Barstow’s future growth.” 

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(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com