Strickland: Jobs and Water Must Be a Priority

As published in the CA Political News on September 11, 2009

California is facing an epic water crisis due to a combination of natural and man-made shortages that are taking their toll on Central Valley farmers who produce one-quarter of the nations food supply. Already, 25,000 jobs in the Central and Sacramento valleys have been lost largely due to consecutive years of drought.

Yet, the Democrats in the legislature are seeking to further limit and restrict the water available to farmers. Agriculture is a $36.6 billion industry in California, helping to secure the states ranking as the eighth largest economy in the world. So why are we forcing our farmers to make do with just 10 percent of their allotment while the majority of the water gets flushed out to sea--to ensure the health of the Delta.

The key players in the water wars will tell you a mindset of co-equal claims exists in this state to provide water to farmers, industry, and residents and to ensure the survival of endangered species, including fish like the smelt. But when you actually read the language of the proposal being taken up by the Legislature, its difficult to see how that claim can be supported.

In fact, the Democrats legislation would mean higher water costs and less water. It creates additional hurdles for any new infrastructure being planned to convey more badly-needed water throughout the state. It adds more layers of bureaucracy and imposes more environmental restrictions. It exacerbates the imbalance between the needs of fish and those of humans.

There is a better way. Senator Cogdill, the vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, has proposed legislation that would address the need for more water storage. His legislation also ensures reliability in existing water supplies, encourages conservation and efficiency, reduces contamination of groundwater, and increases treatment of wastewater and stormwater. This plan uses common sense solutions to balance the needs of people and the environment, a much better alternative than creating more government bureaucracy and impediments to new infrastructure.

The water crisis is not going away. Whether or not the current drought conditions continue, our infrastructure to store and convey water to all communities throughout the state must be updated to ensure a safe, reliable, and sustainable source of water for farmers, industrial and residential needs, and environmental purposes. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population of California will rise to 42.2 million by the year 2020. Meeting the critical water needs of another 4 million people means something has to be done to increase supply, water storage capacity, and conveyance and to make regulations on conservation and usage more effective.

California already has the dubious distinction of having the worst business climate in the nation. We have that distinction partially because of our burdensome regulatory codes, which already drive businesses out-of-state and family farms out of business. If we dont address our water shortage and critical infrastructure needs instead of just creating more bureaucratic hurdles, we are going to find Californias economy withering on the vine. Senator Cogdill has a better way and it is time the legislature followed his lead and example.