Forming a vision for the Delta

From the Vacaville Reporter:

A promising vision of the Delta’s future is taking shape, thanks to a panel of experts appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Delta Vision blue ribbon task force is taking a balanced approach, strongly urging protection of the Delta ecosystem as well as ensuring the critical water supplies that the state’s economy relies on. However, to both protect the threatened Delta and still supply enough water for urban and agricultural use, some significant changes in water policy must be made.

No longer can increasing supplies of water be sent to the Central Valley and Southern California, the task force says. In fact, there could be less water pumped southward in the future, but enough if farmers increase conservation efforts.

The panel understands that if the state is to reduce its reliance on the Delta, greater regional self-sufficiency will be needed throughout California. That means more local water projects.

But the task force also recognizes that sufficient and dependable supplies of fresh water cannot be made available without new storage. The panel favors both in-ground aquifers and above-ground reservoirs, which the governor advocates. The purpose of the new reservoirs would be to capture water during the wet months, when there is the least damage to the environment. Then the water must be efficiently moved to areas where it is needed.

The panel believes that improved conveyance must be constructed, such as an aqueduct. However, building an aqueduct alone without new storage capacity would threaten the Delta environment, according to the draft report.

The final report is due to the Governor by January 1st, and then the hard work of developing the implementation plan will begin.

To read the full text of this article from the Vacaville Reporter, click here.

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