There’s no escaping that we need more water storage, says editorial
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 20, 2008 at 7:10 amFrom the Contra Costa Times, this editorial:
It should be becoming increasingly clear to everyone in the state that California needs to start building new and expanded reservoirs now. That would be true even if the state never had another drought.
Huge amounts of Colorado River water that once went to Southern California are no longer available because Arizona and Nevada are taking their full legal share. Pumping of water through the Delta to the Central Valley and Southern California has been sharply reduced by legal action because of increasing threats to the Delta’s ecology.
Conservation, elimination of crops that need large amounts of water and new desalination technology can go a long way toward solving California’s water problems. But there is no escaping that we also need a lot more water storage, and not just in underground aquifers, if the state’s critically important agricultural industry is to survive.
California has not built a large reservoir in decades. During that time the state’s population has doubled and continues to grow by more than 500,000 a year. Even a few years with less-than-average rainfall is putting a strain on our water districts, forcing mandatory cutbacks in some areas.
Despite the obvious need, construction of new and expanded reservoirs remains an issue in Sacramento. Fortunately, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a strong supporter of new reservoirs and has fought hard for funds to build them.
However, the governor also has undermined his own cause by vetoing a bill that would have authorized voter-approved spending for other critical water projects.
Read more of this editorial from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
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