Governor Asks San Diego to Help Revive Water Plan

Gov. George Deukmejian, whose proposal to bring water to Southern California was rejected by the Legislature last year, asked business leaders in San Diego on Thursday to help him revive his plan by pressuring state lawmakers.

Moments later, Deukmejian told reporters that he is considering launching a statewide campaign to educate the public on the complex and emotionally charged water issue.

“We are considering an effort, in effect, to inform the public, to educate the public, on the entire water needs for the state,” he said.

Last year, the Legislature defeated the governor’s legislation that would have brought water south by constructing new channels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, enlarging existing channels and expanding water storage facilities. Attempting to muster legislative support by appealing directly to the voters, the governor indicated, would be a first step in resurrecting his plan.

Speaking to a luncheon meeting of the San Diego Rotary Club, Deukmejian said, “There is something that you as leaders of the community can do. . . . If there is to be a consensus on water in our state, it must begin with the education of the public, particularly the citizens in Southern California who depend the most on our water programs.

“To be successful, the people must not only support a fair program that respects all regions of the state, they must make their voices heard in the Legislature.”

Deukmejian also outlined a series of steps the state is taking to expand California’s water system: constructing the delta pumping plant, planning for construction of a reservoir south of the delta and negotiating with the federal government to obtain some water on an interim basis.

Borrowing a line from Mark Twain, the governor noted, “In California, whisky is for drinking and water is for fighting about.”

After his proposal was rejected by lawmakers last year, the governor said that he considered it up to the Legislature to develop a plan of its own and indicated that he would take no further steps, although he had earlier threatened to proceed with or without legislative approval through executive authority.