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COMMON GROUND VOL, 11 NO. 4 MAY /JUNE 2000
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<br /> California , from page 1 ers rejected a $2 billion parks bond in June
<br /> gained 5 million residents, one reason the 1994 . That year, a huge earthquake badly
<br /> pressing need for park spending resonated damaged the San Fernando Valley, Califor-
<br /> with voters . The Department of Parks and nia was still mired in its worst recession
<br /> The most Recreation will receive $544 . 75 million to im- since the Great Depression and Newt
<br /> s2gn2ficant aspect prove the state park system . Local agencies Gingrich was preparing to ride a conserva-
<br /> o the water bond will receive $ 826 . 5 million in grants for ur- tive, anti-tax revolution into Washington .
<br /> fban parks, trails and recreational facilities . But the sun is shining again on
<br /> act is what it The state Wildlife Conservation Board will California' s economy, the biggest difference
<br /> doesn 't contain get $265 . 5 million and the Coastal Conser- in the political climate compared with 1994,
<br /> DY more vancy will receive $220 . 4 million . said Jerry Meral, executive director of the
<br /> move
<br /> yf The most significant aspect of the water Planning and Conservation League (916 /
<br /> dams . bond act is what it doesn' t contain—money 4441mmmm8726, www . pcl . org) , an environmental
<br /> for more dams or other environmentally de- lobbying group in Sacramento that was ac-
<br /> structive proposals . Instead the state will tive in both campaigns ,
<br /> boost its water supply by 1 million acre feet Placing multibillion dollar environmen-
<br /> (3 %) through water conservation, wastewa- tal bonds on the ballot this year after losing
<br /> ter reclamation and other measures . The act the 1994 vote might have seemed reckless ,
<br /> includes grants of $ 190 million to restore wa- But early polling showed strong support for
<br /> tersheds and control non-point pollution . both measures, Meral said . Bipartisan legis-
<br /> Another $ 100 million in grants and loans is lative support last summer coupled with
<br /> devoted to other clean water projects . backing by the new Democratic governor
<br /> Grants and loans totaling $90 million Gray Davis helped the measures immensely .
<br /> focus on cleaning up coastal nonpoint pollu- The $ 7 million war chest also allowed sup-
<br /> tion, particularly along southern California porters to buy TV time to sell the proposals,
<br /> beaches . A $95 million river protection pro- with a focus on clean water and urban parks .
<br /> A new $ 70 million gram will fund acquisition and restoration of The business community also backed the
<br /> habitat along rivers and streams . And $25 bond acts . The California Environmental
<br /> program will allow
<br /> on will be spent to acquire and restore Dialogue, a nonpartisan business-environ-
<br /> levees to beset millisalmon habitat. A new $ 70 million grant ment coalition whose membership includes
<br /> back and rivers program will acquire and restore floodplains Bank of America, Chevron and Walt Disney,
<br /> to meander. and wildlife habitat and preserve farmland released a report (www . cedlink . org, 415 /
<br /> by setting back levees and allowing rivers 512-7890 ) just months before the vote that
<br /> to meander . identified a need for $ 12 . 3 billion over 10
<br /> The successful outcome shows how years to protect 5 . 4 million acres of open
<br /> times have changed in California since vot- space and farmland in California .
<br /> ap'��v`riIsm
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<br /> ® Meltdown : The Antarctic ice cover, which ® One -fourth of all major water polluters in
<br /> averages 7,500 feet in thickness, represents the U. S . are operating with expired permits
<br /> 91 % of Earth' s ice and 70% of its fresh water . to discharge waste into the nation' s waters .
<br /> If it melted, it would raise sea levels by 230 Of 6 ,700 permits, 770 expired two years ago
<br /> feet . It hasn't melted yet, but a recent report and 251 expired five years ago, according to
<br /> by the Worldwatch Institute (202 / 4524999, the " Clean Water Report Card " (202 / 66741111
<br /> www . worldwatch . org) says the Earth' s ice 6982, www . ewg . org) by the Environmental
<br /> cover is melting in more places and at record Working * Group and Friends of the Earth .
<br /> rates . In the Antarctic, another Delaware- Texas leads all states in expired permits,
<br /> sized chunk of ice broke off recently and with 135, followed by Louisiana ( 116) , Ohio
<br /> three ice shelves have fully disintegrated in (96 ) , California ( 85 ) and Indiana ( 81 ) . Lack of
<br /> the last decade . The Arctic sea ice, the size of money, changing regulations and a feeling
<br /> the U . S . , shrank by 6 % between 1978 and that permits aren' t a priority were common
<br /> 1996 and has thinned by 40 % to less than 6 reasons given for the backlog . But states and
<br /> feet in thickness in 30 years . Half the world ' s the Environmental Protection Agency can' t
<br /> glaciers could melt by 2100, leaving large run an effective water pollution program
<br /> patches only in Alaska, Patagonia and the when more than 10 % of permits have ex-
<br /> A Himalayas . The Glacier National Park area in pined, the groups said . Among the report' s
<br /> Montana, home to 150 glaciers in 1850, has recommendations : charge new or increased
<br /> fewer than 50 . All could be gone in 30 years . fees to combat the funding problem .
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