Changing Conditions and Water Elections

Abstract

For over two decades, Santa Barbara County, Calif., has been struggling with problems concerning water supply. Within a space of 12 years, there was a major evolution in both expert and lay understanding of local water resources conditions and development alternatives within Santa Barbara County, Calif. As a result of this greater comprehension and easing of certain political pressures, the June 4, 1991, bond elections held throughout various localities on the issue of connecting to California's State Water Project were largely successful, despite the continuing controversial nature of the issue. In contrast, the March 4, 1979, countywide bond election on essentially this same matter (but following a very wet year) had failed miserably according to Lawrance in 1981. This paper summarizes both the inescapable sociopolitical aspects and certain technical aspects of the project alternatives as they evolved over 12 years.