2009 Water Crisis: An Overview

Few issues are more important to our state than water. Californians require clean drinking water, our farmers need it to irrigate their crops, and our industries use it to maintain their businesses. Unfortunately not all regions of the state are equally blessed with this natural and vital resource.

To exacerbate the situation, California is in its third year of a drought. The Governor proclaimed a drought last summer and in late February he declared a state of emergency as a result of the state’s drought conditions. Some areas of the state are facing mandatory water rationing and the temporary shut off of agricultural water supplies.

Any previous attempt at finding a solution has been bogged down in regional differences and squabbling. Southern California wants a water conveyance system, Northern California wants money set aside for surface storage and the Delta Region wants protection for a fragile ecosystem. I believe we must put these differences aside and develop a compromise solution that addresses the concerns of all three regions of the state.

Water is a bipartisan issue; it crosses all political and ideological lines. Its storage and delivery is a necessary piece of infrastructure that individual residents and businesses rely upon. Fixing the delta, building the conveyance system, and maintaining adequate water supplies must be a priority in Sacramento in order to protect our future.

I hope you find this web-portal interesting and informative. I welcome your input and comments on this issue or any other concerns you may have.

Post 2009 Session Update

The Legislature convened a Joint Conference Committee in the waning days of the 2009 legislative session. While the committee met, heard public testimony from water districts statewide, environmentalists and the public, there was little consensus reached on the subject. The legislation ultimately proposed by the majority party did not address the concerns of the many regions of the state and was put on hold while additional solutions were addressed. The Governor has called a special session of the legislature to complete work on this vital topic. Negotiations between legislative leaders and stakeholders continue. It is my hope that we develop a comprehensive solution that encompasses above ground storage, conveyance and much needed infrastructure repairs to the fragile Delta. I will be monitoring this process closely and will update this portal as we proceed.