One of the major public leaders who understands the need for balance in being able to deal effectively with the water issues facing Californian, writes about the importance of increasing surface water storage.
Lester Snow: Conservation alone can't fix water crisis
By Lester Snow -
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The battle cry to "fix the Delta" is being heard loud and clear. The region, a vital estuary that provides water for 25 million Californians and 2.5 million acres of farmland, is in the midst of a severe ecological crisis. Much attention has been focused on the plight of the Delta smelt and a promising "Delta Vision" process launched by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to find long-term solutions for the environment and water supply reliability.
But fixing the Delta will also take changes to other parts of our water system, including the development of new surface storage.
The governor's water plan calls for more surface storage. We need this water for many reasons. Our state is growing – adding nearly the equivalent of a state of Wyoming each year. Climate change has arrived, bringing sea level rise and changing how and when precipitation falls. Delta water deliveries to Central Valley farmers, the Bay Area and Southern California are being drastically cut to protect a threatened species of fish.
But there are also specific and direct benefits for the Delta. In fact, we cannot fix the Delta without more surface storage. That's because additional water is needed to stabilize the environment and fish populations in the Delta. The water is needed to improve water quality in the Delta, benefiting local residents as well as farmers and residents who receive water supplies from the region. Reservoirs will help stabilize the hydrograph and respond to the higher river peak flows we are experiencing in the winter. This helps protect aging Delta levees from flooding.
Capturing water in new reservoirs also provides an important source of drinking and irrigation water for Californians during dry years.
