BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- State water experts held a water forum Friday morning at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools to discuss a proposed water plan, the SB 59 Reliable Water Supply Bond Act.

As Bakersfield suffers from a severe outbreak of West Nile virus linked to shrinking watering holes where waterfowl gather, and other areas in the state suffer from severe drought, it’s a much needed debate on protecting the reliability and quality of the state’s water supply.

Only, not everyone in California supports the latest version of the water plan that plans on utilizing northern California water resources.

Part of the bill's solution is to build two reservoirs, one on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, and the other on the San Joaquin River east of Fresno.

Speakers from the California state Senate, Association of California Water Agencies, Kern County Water Agency, Friant Water Users Authority, Department of Water Resources and the California Building Industry Association discussed the growing problems within the state’s water supply and how state government agencies can deal with the growing crisis by supporting the SB 59 Reliable Water Supply Bond Act.

The L.A. Times reported that San Bernardino County is in a water crisis and has asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency. The sfgate.com reported a huge water shortage in the San Francisco Bay area, even though people still deluge their lawns with water. Paso Robles may order mandatory water restrictions, according to the Associated Press.

Kern County is also part of the state's ongoing water crisis which Senator Dave Cogdill of Modesto called the worst drought in California history.

State Senator Roy Ashburn who called the forum believes Californians need to have more water, build more damns, and build more reservoirs. He said California has more water in north and not a lot in the south or in Central California.

According to a report sent out by Senator Cogdill, the $3.95 billion SB 59 Reliable Water Supply Bond Act would solve the crisis.

The bill has stalled in recent months from Democrat opposition in the California State Senate. Four Democrats opposed the bill and one abstained. According to the Aquafornia blog, water flowing one way from north to south is a problem in itself, and northern California water officials claim details are lacking regarding the water plan.

Senator Ashburn said, “It’s been decades since we’ve made any changes in our water supply, yet we’ve continued to grow.”

The report claims that California’s water system is in need for improvements. Declining snow pack levels and increased population growth mean that more storage capacity for water is needed, especially for dry years like 2007.

“It’s been very difficult to construct more water facilities in this state. Because every time we start talking about it, someone files a law suit or an environmental challenge,” Senator Ashburn said. He claimed that California’s water crisis is in a critical stage and may be necessary voters to address.

State Senator Dave Cogdill said the bill could add 3 million acre feet of storage to reservoirs in the north and add improvements on the delta.

“The biggest challenges will be from the environmental community. They do not support surface water storage as a viable option for providing water,” Senator Cogdill said.

Senator Cogdill also claimed the reason there is water in California during dry years is from water stored above ground.