MONTEREY, CA--(Marketwire - May 6, 2010) - The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today awarded Sen. Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) with its 2009 Legislative Leadership Award for his efforts in advancing an $11.14 billion water bond as part of a historic water package passed by the Legislature in November 2009.
The award is presented to legislators for outstanding achievements in water policy or remarkable efforts to advance key water legislation.
The award, presented at ACWA's 2010 Spring Conference & Exhibition in Monterey, recognized Cogdill for authoring and winning passage of SB 7X 2, the Safe, Clean, Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010. The bill, which was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, placed a comprehensive water bond on the November 2010 ballot that includes funding for local water resources, surface and groundwater storage, water recycling projects, water conservation and ecosystem restoration.
If approved by voters, the measure will help accomplish the co-equal goals of improving water supply reliability and ecosystem health by reinvesting in the state's water infrastructure and providing funding assistance for ecosystem restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
"Senator Cogdill demonstrated years of foresight, determination, legislative skill and fearless leadership in securing passage of the historic comprehensive water package and working tirelessly to champion a key component of the package -- an $11.14 billion water bond measure," said ACWA President Paul Kelley. "His leadership is apparent to us now, but will become increasingly more appreciated in years to come when we look back on this historic accomplishment with fresh amazement that it really did get completed."
ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 450 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Jennifer Persike
ACWA Director of Strategic Coordination and Public Affairs
916/441-4545
916/296-3981 (cell)