SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- It took long months of delicate negotiations - and the last-minute deletion of a project dear to the heart of the state's most powerful legislator - for California lawmakers to craft what could turn out to be one of the most pivotal water deals in state history.

Now comes the hard part:

The plan's proponents must convince a debt-weary, politician-leery electorate that it's a deal worth what could be a $25 billion-plus price tag by the time it's paid.

"We're done with part one," Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, DLos Angeles, said Wednesday. "Part two is we need to take the message out (of Sacramento) ... first and foremost we have to begin by educating voters about water."...

The bills were sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who effusively praised them.

"This is without any doubt the most comprehensive water infrastructure package ... in the history of California," the governor said.