SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was a familiar sight this year at farm worker rallies organized to promote rebuilding California's water system.

Yet agricultural relief from bills Schwarzenegger has signed into law over the past week will not be immediate. That means the state that grows half the nation's fruit, vegetables and nuts will face a repeat of this year's tough times unless the winter brings epic rain and snowfall.

Most of the reforms included in the legislation won't produce measurable results for years. The projects funded through an $11.1 billion water bond are far from getting started -- and that's assuming voters pass the spending measure in November 2010.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)