Voters could have a chance as early as February to vote on a plan that could have a major impact on California's water future.

During a news conference Monday on the shores of the San Luis Reservoir in Merced County, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that if a deal can be reached with lawmakers, a bond measure could be added to the ballot for the Feb. 5 primary.

The ballot would let the voters decide whether to spend billions of dollars to build dams and a canal to divert water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.