California Proposition 9 (June 1982)

From Ballotpedia

Proposition 9, also known as the Peripheral Canal Act, was on the June 8, 1982 ballot in California as a veto referendum. Voters rejected the act on the ballot, which was 980 Cal. Stat. 632, SB 200, an act of the California State Legislature.

Proposition 9, if it had passed, would have authorized building a canal around the periphery of the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta that would have moved water from Northern California down to Central and Southern California.^[1]

The campaign on Proposition 9 has been described as "the largest north-south ballot split ever seen in California" as northern Californians argued that "their water would flow south and they would be left high and dry, with ruined fisheries and rotten water quality in the Delta."

Ballot summary

Proposition 9's ballot summary said:

"Designates additional facilities and programs, including a peripheral canal as units of Central Valley Project. Specify requirements regarding feasibility, environmental impacts, design, construction, operation, financing and protection and enhancement of fish and wildlife for project units. Requires compliance with designated water quality standards and conditions. Specify other responsibilities and matters."