Supervisor Knabe Supports Governor’s Water Plan

Editorial

Los Angeles, CA

July 2007

There has been much news in the last week about Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's visits to numerous parts of California to raise awareness surrounding his $6 billion statewide water plan and I urge every resident in Los Angeles County to pay attention. Water storage and water shortages are no longer just a Northern California issue. The future of our region and our entire state depends on the political leadership in Sacramento coming together to pass some version of the Governor's plan. The plan I refer to is and must stay comprehensive - that means a workable plan must provide for storage, conservation and movement of water.
 

To understand why this is critical to Los Angeles County, you must understand how the California Water Plan works. The Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta may appear on the surface to simply be a large maze of levees, islands and farmland, but below the surface, it is critical for moving the normally plentiful Northern California snowmelt throughout the state via a series of canals and aqueducts. Unfortunately, the Delta has been deteriorating for some time with crumbling levees, increasing ocean salinity and other severe problems.
Our local dependence on statewide water has a long history. It has given us plentiful and affordable water and has allowed the area to grow and thrive. With a statewide population expected to hit 60 million by 2050, climate change and aging infrastructure, we have an enormous challenge to make sure Los Angeles County has the water it needs in the years to come. That is why the Governor has proposed a comprehensive water strategy to help California sustain its people, its vibrant economy and a healthy environment.
 

New infrastructure is needed to reliably supply the domestic, industrial and agricultural water needs of California. We must capture more water from storms and snowmelt run-off. The Governor's plan calls for a multibillion dollar investment in surface and groundwater storage. The funding in the Governor's plan will also help implement his Delta Vision, a process created last September to develop a long term Delta management plan.
Very real factors outside of the Delta are also threatening our water supply. Planning and conservation are essential to provide water to communities throughout California and to keep the state moving forward.
Conservation is a constant necessity in all water planning, but it is especially critical in dry years, such as this one. A dry winter reduced this year's snowpack to record lows, leaving us with less summer runoff to feed the Delta and fill our reservoirs. If California had more water storage, we could have captured more of last year's rainfall to help us cope with this year's shortage and potential shortages in years to come.
 

Our water system must be ready to cope with too much water, or too little, and it must have the capacity to handle large population growth. We are planning not just for the near future, but for generations to come. The Governor’s plan is a bold move in the right direction, but his plan cannot succeed alone. Los Angeles County may be far from the politics of Sacramento, but we must be engaged locally. Do your part this summer, conserve water and talk to your friends and neighbors about the Governor's plan. What happens in Sacramento does not just stay in Sacramento. It affects every Los Angeles County resident, visitor, and business.

DON KNABE
Supervisor, Fourth District
County of Los Angeles

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