Securing Southern California's water future

By: LESTER SNOW - Commentary: | Monday, September 24, 2007 7:47 PM PDT ∞

Last week, Gov. Schwarzenegger introduced a $9 billion water bond package to help address California's water crisis and ensure clean, safe water for generations to come. With our rapidly growing population, drought conditions in many parts of the state, a changing climate and an aging water system, now is the time for leadership and bold action.

The governor's plan allocates more than $5 billion to build new above- and below-ground surface storage. In addition to providing reliable water supplies, these facilities also address a broad range of public benefits including habitat and restoration needs, in-stream flows and river temperature requirements, flows to manage Delta salinity, management of the timing of diversions from and releases to rivers and streams, effective conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, and flood management.

The governor's plan also addresses the problems in the Delta head on and provides a foundation for improved water conveyance through or around the Delta. His plan will pave the way by providing funds for permitting, environmental review and other non-construction related hurdles. The governor recognizes the need for Delta improvements, including conveyance, and has never shied away from the topic. He also agrees with Southern California water officials that any package must be comprehensive and balanced. This is why his proposal includes storage, conveyance, ecosystem restoration and local conservation and water management programs. It's a flexible plan that's the right fit for a state with a wide variety of water demands.

California greatness is due, in part, to the vision of previous generations who built our statewide water system. But now that system needs an extreme makeover. The governor's plan will make investments to existing and new infrastructure that can help move water to where it is needed, and do so in a way that is more efficient and that protects our environment. This focus is particularly vital in the Delta, where there is an emerging consensus that we need to find new and better ways to protect the estuary and provide reliable water deliveries.

The governor's proposal also includes funding to expand water conservation programs and other local efforts such as desalination and water recycling to help meet California's water supply and quality needs well into the future.

The San Diego region is highly dependent on imported water, including deliveries from the Colorado River and the Delta. Additional funding from this plan will support a variety of water conservation and recycling efforts in the San Diego area, including upgrading existing wastewater treatment plants, promoting desalination and investing in the many proposed improvements to existing water systems in the region.

California needs a comprehensive water plan. The argument shouldn't be over which water management tools we will need in the future. California will need all of them. The focus should be on using every water management strategy properly to assure a vital economy, a healthy environment, and a high standard of living.

Making investments to have the right infrastructure and resource management programs in place can help ensure we have a flexible, long-term solution to California's water crisis.

-- Lester Snow is director of the California Department of Water Resources.