the diversion of the north coast rivers was abandoned in the plan's early stages after strong opposition from locals and concerns about the potential impact on the salmon in north coast rivers. the california water plan would have to go ahead with the development of the feather river alone, as proposed by edmonston. the burns-porter act of 1959 provided $1.75 billion of initial funding through a bond measure. construction on stage i of the project, which would deliver the first of water, began in 1960. northern californians opposed the measure as a boondoggle and an attempt to steal their water resources. in fact, the city of los angeles – which was to be one of the principal beneficiaries – also opposed the project; locals saw it as a ploy by politicians in the other colorado river basin states to get los angeles to relinquish its share of the colorado river. historians largely attribute the success of the burns-porter act and the state water project to major agribusiness lobbying, particularly by j.g. boswell ii of the j.g. boswell cotton company. the bond was passed on an extremely narrow margin of 174,000 out of 5.8 million ballots cast.