A sweeping measure that would pour billions of dollars into securing and conserving California’s water got Castaic Lake Water Agency’s hesitant support Wednesday night.

Despite concerns over whether the $11 billion Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Act of 2010 is money well spent, the Castaic Lake Water Agency board of directors joined dozens of other agencies across the state in supporting the act, which will be on November’s ballot.

The board considered tabling the measure again but ultimately took the plunge, though not without reservation.

“Is this the best we can do?” asked director Peter Kavounas. “It’s repulsive that we’re shoehorned into this decision. It may generate jobs for biologists and bureaucrats, but it’s just lip service.”

In the end, Kavounas joined his peers in supporting the act, saying he was relying on the opinions of other agencies to make his decision.

The act is part of the follow-through from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2009 Comprehensive Water Package. Most of the money would go to delta conservation and water-supply improvements statewide.

Several board members decried the act’s special projects and wondered how much — or how little — of the spending will directly help Castaic Lake Water Agency. Some had concerns that spending money on delta conservation and upgrades aren’t enough, or that not enough of the projects would benefit the Santa Clarita Valley.

Nevertheless, the board voted 10-0 to support it, noting the statewide significance of securing the water supply.

The State Water Project provides half of Santa Clarita Valley’s water supply, and it’s all routed through the delta now.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is bursting at the seams with old, earthen levees that are vulnerable to earthquakes. The delta has recently been susceptible to environmental regulations that dictate when and where water can be pumped into or out of the wide expanse of land in Northern California.

About $3 billion would go to water storage projects, considered crucial given the state’s inconsistent water supply and the unstable nature of the delta. About $2.25 billion would be dedicated to sustainability efforts in the delta after recent lawsuits brought on by environmentalists.

Directors William Cooper and Jerry Gladbach agreed while they didn’t like the “pork” in the bill, the issue is too critical to not support it.

Director Ed Colley abstained, after he made a motion to table the resolution for a second time. That motion failed 6-5.

“I’m not ready to make up my mind tonight,”  Colley said.

The agency board tabled the resolution in February, with some board members saying they’d like to hear from other agencies, particularly the State Water Contractors Association, before deciding. The association has yet to back the bond measure, but may take a vote in April, said Dirk Marks, the agency’s water resources manager.

Director Dean Efstathiou was skeptical that any progress would be made on the act. If it passes in November, Efstathiou said he wasn’t sure that the bonds would be sold or if the act’s individual projects could survive rigorous environmental reviews.

Director B.J. Atkins strongly supported taking a vote to back the legislation Wednesday night.

“We need to pinch our nose and vote on this,” Atkins said. “We’re going to be the sage advice for the electorate in this valley. We need to lead. We need to take a position. Any good negotiation that doesn’t make all parties happy is just that, a good negotiation.”

Atkins went on to say that he didn’t like the pork either, but “things are going to be desperate if we fail in November.”
One resident spoke on the item.

Kevin Korenthal, a 28-year resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, said he opposed the bill since it would be putting money into a nearly broken delta system, which he felt can’t be fixed while it’s still in use.