There are more people and business needing water in our area since the last dry spell and how it all works out will be telling, particularly if this year is followed by another.
It is refreshing that the Governor realizes the planning for additional water storage needs to continue and becomes ever more vital during dry years.
Scarce winter snow seen as warning
Poor snowpack is a 'wake-up call' to conserve, chief says.
By Matt Weiser - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, May 2, 2007
The dry winter was a "wake-up call" for more conservation and infrastructure investment, California Water Resources Director Lester Snow said Tuesday.
His comments came as the state released its final snow survey of the year, showing the snowpack stands at just 29 percent of normal.
"It's a manifestation that things are different" because of climate change, Snow said. "Current and future droughts are going to be deeper and longer than historic droughts. The extremes are going to be more extreme. There was a time California led the nation in conservation, and we need to redouble our efforts."
The state wants local water agencies to call for much more conservation to avoid drawing down reservoirs excessively this summer. The state plans to offer technical assistance and fund conservation projects from Proposition 84, the $5.4 billion bond measure approved by voters in November.
But the Schwarzenegger administration is "not pulling anything off the table," Snow said, referring to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan for two new reservoirs, recently rejected by the Legislature.
