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Lester Snow: we need to store more water and restore the Delta

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 28, 2007 at 8:24 am

From Capital Weekly, an article written by Lester Snow in support of Schwarzenegger’s $9 billion water plan:

California’s population is expected to jump from 37 million to 49 million by 2030, increasing water demand as it grows. Meanwhile, climate change will lead to higher temperatures, a decreased Sierra snowpack and higher peak river flows and flood threats. Without a comprehensive fix to restore the Delta that responds to changing conditions and improved conveyance systems to provide reliable water supplies, California’s future water needs cannot be met.

History should teach us that inaction has a high price. In today’s dollars the 1976-77 drought would have cost the state $6.5 billion dollars. This year, local water agencies are calling for mandatory and voluntary conservation measures to stretch their water supplies. Conservation is vital, but the governor’s plan also provides additional flexibility and tools to handle drought, flooding and environmental risks that are built into California’s water supply system.

Three new surface storage facilities will provide additional water for families, farms, industry and fish. With more storage, we can significantly improve the flexibility of our water management systems to meet future needs and cope with uncertainty and variability. These multiple-benefit projects provide and store water that will be used to help ecosystems, fish and wildlife. They also improve flood protection, flexibility to respond to climate change impacts, recreation, and an emergency water supply.

Snow says these dams will have an operational flexibility that will allow each dam to address many different conditions and needs. “These projects are not the dams of the past”, writes Snow.

To read the full text of Lester Snow’s article on the Capital Weekly, click here.

September 28, 2007 · Filed Under Water Legislation