Riverdale farm labor contractor Piedad Ayala's plan to storm the Capitol today with buses of farmers and farmworkers was foiled by one simple fact: lawmakers aren't here today.

Fridays are usually quiet in Sacramento and today was no different, even though legislators still haven't reached a deal on a state budget, which will be 12 days late as of Saturday. Gov. Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, is in Los Angeles.

So the farm caravan -- designed to bring attention to the state's growing water crisis -- was postponed, possibly until July 23.

"An event like that is probably best suited to have legislators there, so they have an opportunity to hear them," said Mario Santoyo, assistant general manager of the Friant Water Users Authority, which has lobbied for state money for dams.

On Thursday Gov. Schwarzenegger unveiled his latest proposal to solve the state's growing water needs, a $9.3 billion bond for water supply and conservation projects. The proposal, which is similar to what he floated unsuccessfully last year, got a lukewarm response from Sen. President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, who said lawmakers should first focus on state budget negotiations.

Ayala, who headed a similar Capitol caravan in 1990, is growing frustrated that the governor has not been able to cut a water deal.

"I know he's said he's going to do a lot for the state, but nobody has done anything for the water," he said.