Comments about water plan welcomed
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, March 18, 2008
SACRAMENTO – The public can comment Friday on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to cut California water use 20 percent by 2020.
The conservation goal was set partly in response to deteriorating environmental conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which provides a portion of the drinking water enjoyed by 25 million Californians. Court-ordered Delta pumping cutbacks have reduced those water deliveries this year.
The California Water Plan Advisory Committee, which reports to the Department of Water Resources, will discuss the conservation target at its meeting Friday in Sacramento at the Doubletree Hotel, 2001 Point West Way. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. and the conservation issue is scheduled for 2 p.m.
DWR Deputy Director Mark Cowin said the state's primary tool to achieve the conservation target will be grants and incentives to local urban water agencies. But it will also consider new legislation that would allow DWR to impose regulations to meet the goal.
For more information, visit www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/ or call (916) 653-7101.
– Matt Weiser
