| 09/10/08 |
The SCWC joins with 38 other organizations requesting that Governor Schwarzenegger sign SB XX1 (Perata) that appropriates $820,973,000 from voter approved bond measures, Propositions 1E, 84, 50 and 13. SB XX1 contains funding to ensure emergency preparedness in the Delta; improve stormwater flood management; clean up contaminated groundwater basins; develop integrated regional water management plans and projects; protect endangered species in the Delta; and conduct feasibility studies for surface storage projects. (PDF 338k)
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| 09/09/08 |
SCWC requests Governor Schwarzenegger to sign AB 2270 (Laird/Feuer) which would encourage progress in reaching a statewide goal of recycling one million acre feet per year of highly treated waste water by 2010. (PDF 111k)
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| 09/09/08 |
The SCWC is convinced that the use of voluntary allocation-based conservation pricing is an effective means by which waste and unreasonable use of water can be prevented. We urged Governor Schwarzenegger to sign AB 2882 (Wolk) which could reduce the quantity of water used by customers of water agencies. (PDF 85k)
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| 09/09/08 |
The SCWC has followed closely the various amendments proposed by the author of SB 27 (Simitian) and given that the latest language deals solely with emergency response strategies in the Delta, the SCWC has requested that Governor Schwarzenegger sign the bill to create an interagency unified command system that can implement emergency plans. (PDF 988k)
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| 09/02/08 |
The Southern California Water Committee joins business organizations and water agencies in commenting on the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force's third draft of the Task Force's Delta Vision Strategic Plan. The stakeholders signing this letter agreed that the plan remains a strong document, advancing bold and necessary solutions to achieve the Vision, but identified weaknesses and overly prescriptive solutions and other proposals that detract from the Vision of achieving the Task Force's co-equal goals of ecosystem recovery and water supply reliability. (PDF 128k)
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| 08/15/08 |
The SCWC joins a coalition of water agencies and business organizations in supporting SB XX 1 (Perata) that would authorize the appropriation of bond funds for urgently needed water supply and improvement projects and programs. SB XX 1 (Perata) would create an economic infusion of $807 million for strategic water investments a the local, regional and state level. (PDF 169k)
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| 08/13/08 |
The SCWC continues their opposition of AB 1806 (Wolk) by issuing a floor alert to our Southern California Senate delegation that we believe that AB 1806 (Wolk) imposes additional terms and conditions on the state and federal water projects that are unnecessary given the regulatory and legal endeavors currently underway to provide mitigation of Delta fishery resources. (PDF 217k)
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| 08/13/08 |
The SCWC issues a floor alert to members of the Southern California Assembly delegation urging their vote in support of AB 2270 (Laird/Feuer) that would assist in identifying opportunities to eliminate barriers to the use of recycled water. (PDF 190k)
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| 08/01/08 |
The SCWC joins business and water agency stakeholders in commenting on the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force's second draft Strategic Plan. In broad terms, this second draft contains the right mix of policy changes and physical actions that can chart the course toward a final Strategic Plan. The coalition in their letter, however, does identify substantive concerns and urges the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force to more thoroughly scrutinize some of the concepts presented in this second draft. (PDF 112k)
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| 07/16/08 |
The SCWC joins a coalition in opposition to trailer language adopted by the budget conference committee on Budget Item No. 3860-510-0502. This budget language restricts the activities of the California Department of Water Resources in ongoing planning activities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. (PDF 103k)
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| 07/15/08 |
The SCWC requests that the Assembly Appropriations Committee support SB 994 (Florez/Ashburn/Steinberg) Delta Fisheries which would require the Fish and Game Commission to maintain and operate fish hatcheries for Delta smelt. (PDF 100k)
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| 07/15/08 |
The SCWC requests that Senate Appropriations Committee support AB 2938 (De Leon) Water Diversions because we believe it would evaluate the effects of water diversions and water discharges in the Delta. The SCWC is convinced that no major stress factors in the Delta should be overlooked. In-Delta diversions and discharges represent a very important, but missing piece of the puzzle. (PDF 99k)
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| 07/15/08 |
The SCWC requests that the Senate Appropriations Committee support AB 2425 (Coto) Water Quality: Pharmaceuticals, agreeing with the bill's intent to require the State Department of Public Health to convene a working group of interested parties to advance public knowledge about pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies. (PDF 105k)
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| 07/15/08 |
The SCWC requests that the Senate Appropriations Committee oppose AB 2046 (Jones) Water Supply Assessments because we believe that it would discourage the use of groundwater, an important water supply source for Southern California. (PDF 101k)
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| 07/15/08 |
The SCWC requests that the Senate Appropriations Committee oppose AB 1806 (Wolk) Fish Rescue. AB 1806 (Wolk) would impose additional terms and conditions on state and federal projects that are unnecessary given the the regulatory and legal endeavors currently under way. (PDF 85k)
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| 07/15/08 |
The SCWC issues a floor alert in support of AB 2882 (Wolk) Allocation-based Conservation Pricing. The SCWC believes that the use of voluntary allocation-based conservation pricing is one effective means by which waste and unreasonable use of water can be prevented. (PDF 84k)
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| 07/15/08 |
The SCWC issues a floor alert in support of AB 2270 (Laird/Feuer) Water Recycling The SCWC supports AB 2270 which would assist in identifying opportunities to eliminate barriers to the use of recycled water. (PDF 77k)
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| 07/15/08 |
The SCWC issues a floor alert in support of SB 1391 (Padilla) Recycled Water The SCWC supports the bill's language that would require the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt a statewide recycled water policy. (PDF 76k)
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| 07/14/08 |
The SCWC joins a coalition in support of bond funding for near-term water projects, SB XX 1 (Perata et al). SB XX 1 would create an economic infusion of $872 million for strategic water improvements at the local, regional and state level. The SCWC agrees that it is prudent and timely to invest the funds that California voters already have approved for water supply reliability and quality improvements and environmental improvement.
(PDF 125k)
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| 07/14/08 |
The SCWC strongly opposes trailer budget language (Budget item No. 3860-510-0502) that would severely restrict the California Department of Water Resources ability to fund positions required to develop a habitat conservation plan for the Delta that combines restoration activities and water conveyance improvements. The SCWC believes that by prohibiting a detailed study of ecosystem and water system alternatives in the Delta, is a grievous step backward in California step backward in California water policy. (PDF 103k)
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| 07/14/08 |
The SCWC Delta Water Issues Task Force, chaired by SCWC Trustee Richard Jemison, responds to the Delta Vision first strategic draft plan and calls it a “bold step towards a new water strategy for California”. The Task Force commends Delta Vision for advancing the policy basis for moving forward on major infrastructure investments in conveyance and storage to protect the environment and provide for water supply necessary for our state's economic health. (PDF76k)
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| 07/08/08 |
The SCWC supports Senator Reid’s S. 2970 which would enhance the ability of drinking water utilities to develop and implement climate change adaptation programs and policies and respectfully requests that Congresswoman Solis author a companion bill in the House of Representatives. Water agencies in California like those in other states face significant challenges in addressing the impacts of changes in precipitation which have a significant potential to affect water availability, including extended droughts in the West. The research proposed in S. 2970 (Reid) will not only identify the implications of climate change for water supplies, but also provide guidance to water utilities on planning and adaptation strategies. (PDF83k)
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| 07/08/08 |
HR 3445 H.R. 3445 (Udall) establishes in the National Science Foundation, a Board to coordinate, promote, and fund studies and investigations with respect to improving forecast and decision making technologies for weather mitigation operations. The SCWC’s support of H.R. 3445 (Udall) is in context of modifying weather conditions in the Colorado River basin. The Colorado River Basin States agreement on Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operation of Lake Powell and Lake Mead include water supply augmentation programs. Weather modification may be a tool to increase water supplies in the Colorado River Basin. (PDF 95k)
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| 07/08/08 |
S. 2970 (Reid) enhances the ability of drinking water utilities to develop and implement climate change adaptation programs and policies. The SCWC supports the research proposed in the bill because it will not only identify the implications of climate change for water supplies, but also provide guidance to water utilities on planning and adaptation strategies. Given the uncertainties about specific climate changes in particular areas, drinking water agencies must prepare for a wider range of likely possibilities in managing and delivering water. (PDF 79k)
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| 06/25/08 |
The SCWC welcomes your recommendations for our 2008 Water Leadership Award. In 1994, the Southern California Water Committee established an award for leadership, The Harriett M. Wieder Award for Leadership in Pursuit of California's Water Future. For the last 14 years, the SCWC has named, as a recipient, an individual who has shown outstanding leadership and commitment to securing California's water needs.
For more information on how nominate a candidate for the 2008 Water Leadership Award, please link to "Water Award Telegram Announcement" (PDF 195k) and "Water Award Nominations Form" (PDF 345k)
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| 06/17/08 |
The SCWC urges the California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water to vote "no" on AB 1806 (Wolk) Fish: Rescue or Relocation, because it would impose additional terms and conditions on state and federal projects that is unnecessary given regulatory and legal endeavors that are currently underway in the Delta. (PDF 97k)
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| 06/17/08 |
The SCWC requests that the California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water vote "yes" on AB 2913 (Salas) Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Strategic Plan. Assemblywoman Salas' bill is designed to complement the important work of Delta Vision, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and the other actions of the legislature to develop a strategic plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. (PDF 99k)
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| 06/17/08 |
The SCWC urges the California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water to support AB 2938 (de Leon) Delta Diversions, because we believe it would create a necessary baseline of water diversion information in the Delta. Farming activities within the Delta are likely to divert more water in an average year than is exported from the estuary to Southern California. (PDF 99k)
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| 06/17/08 |
The SCWC also signs a letter to the Senate Committee on behalf of a coalition of businesses and water agencies in support of AB 2938 (de Leon). We all agree that Assemblyman de Leon's bill promotes better information and science in the Delta. (PDF 56k)
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| 06/17/08 |
The SCWC requests that members of the California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water vote to pass AB 2270 (Laird/Feuer) Water Recycling, because it would assist in identifying opportunities to eliminate barriers to the use of recycled water, as well as providing incentives for recycled water use, including using recycled water for groundwater recharge. (PDF 101k)
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| 06/17/08 |
The SCWC expresses its support for SB 994 (Florez / Ashburn / Steinberg) Delta Smelt, to the State Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife and urges that the pass the bill at their hearing on June 24th. SB 994 requires that the Fish and Game Commission to maintain and operate fish hatcheries for Delta smelt as one strategy to help increase their population. (PDF 100k)
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| 06/12/08 |
The SCWC supports SB 1391 (Padilla) Groundwater Recharge and urges the State Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials to vote for its passage. SB 1391 (Padilla) would remove restrictions to recharging groundwater basins with recycled water as long as the water meets all public health standards. As California's population rises, and as our climate changes, recycled water could free up potable water supplies to meet nearly 30 percent of water demands. (PDF 98k)
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| 06/09/08 |
The SCWC requests that members of the California State Senate Committee on Local Government vote to pass AB 2219 (Parra) Subdivisions: Water Supply. Assemblywoman's Parra's bill would provide incentives for home builders to reduce the anticipated water demand for a project based on their providing voluntary water demand management measures. (PDF 99k)
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| 05/21/08 |
The Southern California Water Committee expresses to Senators Florez, Ashburn, and Steinberg of our support for SB 994 Delta Smelt. Given that Delta smelt are listed as threatened under both the California Endangered Species Act and the federal Endangered Species Act, it makes sense to operate a fish hatchery in which Delta smelt are spawned and reared to the tools necessary to increase their population in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. (PDF 99k)
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| 05/21/08 |
The SCWC sends a Floor Alert to members of the Southern California Assembly Delegation urging their passage of AB 2219 (Parra) Subdivisions: Water Supply which would provide incentives for home builders to reduce anticipated water demands for a housing project based on their providing voluntary water demand management measures. (PDF 173k)
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| 05/21/08 |
The SCWC also issues a Floor Alert to members of the Southern California Assembly Delegation opposing AB 2046 (Jones) Water Supply Assessments because it would discourage the use of groundwater, an important water supply for Southern California. The SCWC believes that AB 2046 (Jones) is unnecessary, given that all water supplies must be treated to comply with state water quality standards. (PDF 188k)
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| 05/20/08 |
The SCWC requests that the California State Assembly Appropriations Committee oppose AB 1806 (Wolk) Fish: Rescue or Relocation. It is widely acknowledged that the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta is in decline, however, this bill's goal to provide “reasonable mitigation for direct and indirect adverse impacts” on Delta fisheries is already being addressed in numerous regulatory and legal proceedings (PDF 97k)
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| 05/20/08 |
Although the SCWC is a strong supporter of cost-effective water conservation in new housing developments, we urged the Assembly Appropriations Committee to join us in opposing AB 2153 (Kerkorian) Energy and Water Conservation because the bill is contrary to California's Environmental Quality Act's (CEQA) purpose of identifying and disclosing actual environmental impacts. By placing AB 2153's requirements within CEQA, the premise is that any water consumption by a new development would result in significant environmental impact. The SCWC urged the Assembly Appropriation Committee to vote 'no' on AB 2153 (Kerkorian) because it would shift water planning responsibilities from water agencies to land planning agencies. (PDF 98k)
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| 05/20/08 |
The SCWC believes that water use efficiency is key to California's water supply reliability and has an ongoing commitment to increasing water recycling. AB 2270 (Larid/Feuer) Water Recycling would encourage progress in reaching the Legislature's statewide goal of recycling one million acre feet per year of highly treated waste water by 2010. The SCWC requested that the Assembly Appropriations Committee pass this bill. (PDF 80k)
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| 05/20/08 |
The SCWC supports AB 2913 (Salas) Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Strategic Plan because it is designed to complement the important work of the Delta Vision, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and other actions of the Legislature to develop a strategic plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Our letter requests that the Assembly Appropriations Committee vote 'yes' on this bill. (PDF 96k)
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| 05/20/08 |
AB 2938 (DeLeon) Fish: Screening Delta Diversions creates, in the SCWC's opinion, a necessary baseline of water diversion information. Farming activities within the Delta divert more water in an average year than is exported from the estuary to Southern California. Without information on the quantity and timing of all significant diversion within the estuary, efforts to better manage the struggling ecosystem will be compromised. The SCWC urged the Assembly Appropriations Committee to pass AB 2948 (DeLeon). (PDF 99k)
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| 05/12/08 |
SCWC testifies at Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) public scoping meeting held in Los Angeles on May 8, 2008 that there is an urgent need for action in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and that the BDCP process is critical to map out a comprehensive solution that improves the sustainability of the Delta, including improvement of the Delta's environmental integrity and provision of reliable, high quality water for California's economy. (PDF 86k)
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| 05/01/08 |
The SCWC supports H.R. 3957 (Matheson) because it would increase federal funding for research, development, and education for water use efficiency and conservation. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to establish programs that include technologies, and processes that enable the collection, treatment and reuse of rainwater, and greywater; water storage and distribution systems; and remove behavioral, social, and economic barriers to achieving greater water use efficiency. (PDF 85k)
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| 05/01/08 |
U.S. Senator Baca proposes a creative solution to increase water conservation and efficiencies. The SCWC applauds his original approach in H.R. 4571 by allowing individual taxpayers a tax credit for reducing water usage in their residences. (PDF 100k)
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| 05/01/08 |
The SCWC writes U.S. Kay Bailey Hutchinson in support of her bill S.1807 that would establish in the National Science Foundation, a Board to coordinate, promote, and fund studies to improve forecasting and decision making for weather mitigation. The SCWC's support of S. 1807 (Hutchinson) is in context of modifying weather conditions in the Colorado River Basin as weather modification may be a useful tool to increasing water supplies in the Basin. (PDF 96k)
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| 05/01/08 |
S. 1949 (Reid) would provide loans to governors of eligible states to prevent and remediate the impacts of invasive species on habitats and ecosystems. Given California's significant challenges in controlling the invasion of quagga mussels, the SCWC supports Senator Reid's S. 1949. (PDF 78k)
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| 04/14/08 |
The SCWC urges the Senate and Assembly budget committees to oppose a proposal by the California Legislative Analyst's Office to reallocate local property taxes from water and wastewater districts for the purpose of funding a criminal justice parole realignment plan. The SCWC believes that this proposal disproportionately impacts Southern California and is ill-conceived considering the precarious state of California's water resources. (PDF 102k)
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| 04/10/08 |
The SCWC opposes AB 2046 (Jones) because it would discourage the use of groundwater--an important water supply source for Southern California. Given that Southern California is in the midst of a 8 year drought in the Colorado River Basin, and that the State Water Project deliveries have been reduced by 35%, we need to be able to draw upon all of our local water resources. AB 2046 (Jones) moves state water policy in the wrong direction. (PDF 107k)
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| 04/08/08 |
The SCWC expresses support for SB 1391 (Padilla) which would remove restrictions to recharging groundwater basins with recycled water as long as the water meets all public health standards. A statewide approach that fosters a consistent application of requirements for recycled water would encourage and broaden its usage. (PDF 106k)
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| 04/08/08 |
The SCWC supports AB 2938 (DeLeon) because we believe that it would create a necessary baseline of water diversion information in the Delta. Farming activities within the Delta likely divert more water in an average year than is exported from the estuary to Southern California. The SCWC is convinced that no major stress factors in the Delta should be overlooked in an effort to better manage the Delta's struggling ecosystem. (PDF 106k)
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| 04/08/08 |
The SCWC supports AB 2219 (Parra) which would provide incentives for home builders to reduce the anticipated water demand for a project based on their voluntary installation of water demand management measures. These savings than could be considered by city and counties in their water supply assessements. (PDF 84k)
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| 03/06/08 |
The SCWC joins with other business organizations in supporting a comprehensive set of actions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger in his letter to Senators Don Perata, Mike Machado, and Darrell Steinberg. The Governor's call for expedited interim actions in the Delta and for proceeding with a feasibility study under the California Environmental Quality Act of various long term options is critical to resolving the Delta's complex problems. (PDF 100k)
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| 03/04/08 |
The Southern California Water Committee applauds Governor Schwarzenegger's call for a comprehensive set of actions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta identified in a February 28 letter to key members of the California legislature. The SCWC agreed that it is time for action and supported the steps the Governor is proposing to address California's water supply and ecosystem, particularly his directive to study alternatives for improving the Delta water conveyance system. (PDF 81k)
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| 02/25/08 |
Southern California Water Committee Chairman Charles Wilson responds to the Los Angeles Times first in a series of editorials on water and water policy. He comments that local supplies are an important component of Southern California's water supplies, but urges that the Los Angeles Times editors not ignore the potential catastrophic consequences if our state does not invest in vital infrastructure. (PDF 100k)
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| 02/21/08 |
The SCWC joins a coalition in support of bond funding for near-term water projects. The SCWC agrees that SB XX 1 (Perata) provides funding for a comprehensive package of short term actions to address threats in the Delta ecosystem and the state's water supplies and urge Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to move forward with SB XX 1 (PDF 165k)
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| 02/07/08 |
The SCWC supports the preliminary analyses by the Bay Delta Conservation Plan Steering Committee that to achieve better management of the Delta ecosystem and provide a reliable water supply for California will require a dual conveyance with new diversion intakes located on the Sacramento River that would convey water around the Delta to the South Delta, Central Valley Project and State Water Project.
(See attached letter to Resources Agency, Undersecretary Karen Scarborough - PDF
97k)
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| 02/07/08 |
The SCWC requests that the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force, as they begin shaping their implementation plan that is due to Governor Schwarzenegger by October 2008, consider structural changes in the Delta that will elimination long term conveyance system constraints and provide much needed water supply operational flexibility and greater opportunities for habitat improvements and fishery protections. The SCWC has urged the Blue Ribbon Task Force to give serious consideration to a conveyance alternative that includes a dual conveyance system with new diversion intakes located on the Sacramento River that would convey water around the Delta to the South Delta, Central Valley Project and State Water Project.
(See attached letter to Blue Ribbon Task Force Chair Phil Isenberg - PDF
107k)
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| 01/31/08 |
The SCWC continues their support of S. 300 (Kyl) and the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program. (PDF
108k)
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| 01/10/08 |
SCWC Chairman Charley Wilson responds to a guest column in the Los Angeles Times by Peter Gleick that asserts that water efficiency measures can yield more water than new water infrastructure. Chairman Wilson comments that conservation, recycling, and groundwater are important tools, but they alone cannot solve the current water crisis. “We cannot ignore the potential catastrophic consequences if our state does not invest in vital infrastructure to protect our region's water supplies”. (PDF
123k)
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