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On the Public Record blog on water, population and planning

Posted by: Maven on January 15, 2010 at 8:05 am

From the On the Public Record blog:

“Just listened to the High Country News interview with Matt Jenkins*. No surprises until about minute 12, when the interviewer asked Jenkins if any agency at any level is addressing the issue of population. Jenkins said no, which isn’t quite right. The 2009 California Water Plan, written by DWR, is broaching the matter in the most discreet and non-suggestive way possible, and denying that they mean anything at all by it if you ask them directly. It is all extremely coy.

But, when they project future demand, they model demand for three scenarios (pgs 14-15). The three scenarios have different land use patterns (from dense to sprawling) and three populations (from 45 million to 70 million people, up from 38 million now). The models show that demand is lower in the denser, lower population future. (Climate change increases demand in all three scenarios. The 2013 Update should have supply numbers to pair with those demand numbers.)

Now, DWR does not mean to suggest anything by that. They would never. It is not the jurisdiction of the water department to make such personal and touchy policy recommendations. That would be wrong! The legislature should do that! Or maybe no one should! It should happen however fate intends! However, DWR cannot help but notice that demand would be lower if there are fewer people in 2050. … “

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January 15, 2010 · Filed Under Development & Population

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