What major water-related proposal was overwhelmingly defeated in 1982?

Proposition 9, known as the Peripheral Canal package, was a significant water-related proposal in California that aimed to address the state's water supply issues by constructing a canal to divert water from the Sacramento River around the Delta and deliver it to agricultural and urban users in the southern part of the state. The proposal sought to improve water quality, increase supply reliability, and reduce ecological impacts on the Delta.

However, the Peripheral Canal package faced substantial opposition from various stakeholders, including environmental groups, fishing interests, and some communities within the Delta, which feared negative consequences on local ecosystems and water quality. As a result, the public overwhelmingly rejected the proposal in the 1982 ballot, showcasing the contentious nature of water management in California and the challenge of balancing water supply needs with environmental protections and local community concerns.

The other options, while important in their own right, did not pertain to a specific water infrastructure plan that faced such a significant and public defeat at the ballot box. The Reclamation Reform Act relates to land management and irrigation reforms, the California Coastal Act addresses coastal resource conservation, and the Safe Drinking Water Act is a federal regulation focused on ensuring safe drinking water standards. None of these reflect the direct conflict and rejection associated with the Peripheral Canal package in that