Another push for the argument that ignores municipal growth driven by the desire of people from much of the country to live in California.
Until public policy advocates begin flowing with reality on the ground instead of ignoring it, we will continue to have great difficulty providing the water and infrastructure needed by California’s growing public.
Peter Gleick: Turning Delta ruling into opportunity
By Peter Gleick - Special To The Bee
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, September 9, 2007
On Aug. 31, a federal judge acknowledged what many people have long known -- we have run up against the limits of our water supplies. U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger ruled that state and federal water managers must change how they operate California's water system to reduce environmental harm.
It now seems inevitable that the total amount of water taken from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta will have to be scaled back. While the details and magnitude of these changes still must be worked out, we're already hearing the predictable cries of catastrophe, economic collapse and impending doom.
This crisis has been coming for a long time, but it isn't a surprise and need not be a disaster.
We now have the opportunity to discuss issues that have long been ignored or considered taboo: inappropriate water rights and allocations, groundwater management and use, real land-use planning, and water-use efficiency.
