Today, Senator Scott Wilk, R- Antelope Valley, announced Senate Bill 634, a measure to create a new valley-wide water district in the Santa Clarita Valley, was approved by the full Assembly.
“Today we are one step closer to the finish line. SB 634 will provide residents of the Santa Clarita Valley with a new, 21st century water agency while providing jobs for local workers and veterans,” said Wilk. “I see it as a win-win for our area. Not only will we be on the cutting edge of environmentally sustainable and cost effective water delivery, our local workforce will benefit from the jobs. I am very proud of our efforts, and appreciate the insight of my colleagues and stakeholders along the way.”
Late last year the boards of the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) and Newhall County Water District (NCWD) voted to dissolve the two agencies and create a new valley-wide water agency. Senate Bill 634 is the fruit of those negotiations. Economic impact and efficiency studies have found that the new district will generate millions of dollars in savings, create more transparency for the ratepayer and enhance environmental and watershed protections.
Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), who presented the bill in the Assembly added, “SB 634 will establish a new water agency that will unify regional water resource management for joint efforts to address the many water challenges faced in the Santa Clarita Valley. This is a well drafted and well thought out bill, and it’s one that will benefit the local community, the environment and the state of California in innumerable ways.”
The bill has one final stop in the Senate for concurrence in Assembly amendments before going to the governor’s desk for his decision.