TODAY, Westlands Water District announced that it supports the goals of the
draft California Water Action Plan, a proposal to secure reliable water
supplies, restore important species and habitat, and construct a more
resilient water system to meet changing conditions.
The Action Plan acknowledges that California cannot meet the water
supply needs of the residents of the state or reach its environmental goals
unless critical actions are taken to increase water supply and improve the
state's water infrastructure.
"This Action Plan comes at a critical time for the Westlands
Water District and the people in the San Joaquin Valley who are facing the
prospect of a record low water allocation, an historic low point in water
supply reliability, and yet another year of severe economic hardship," said
Westlands General Manager Tom Birmingham.
The Plan recognizes the need for near-term solutions to respond to
the extreme water supply conditions that currently exist that are adversely
impacting state agriculture production.
The state and federal government must address the short-term water
supply needs of farmers immediately. Westlands will continue to work closely
with the Administration and federal officials to develop solutions that will
protect the farms and families in the areas most impacted by chronic water
supply shortages and to address the inability of the current water
infrastructure to deliver available water.
Failure to address the recurring near-term water shortages will have
a devastating impact on California's agricultural economy and jobs in the
Central Valley, and ultimately the economy of the entire state. Everything
from farm workers harvesting crops for food supplies to agricultural
exports at our ports will be impacted negatively by another crippling water
supply allocation.
Westlands is also committed to the longer-term solution provided by
the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and supports the implementation of the
BDCP as the means of achieving the long-term co-equal goals of providing a
more reliable water supply for California and to protect, restore, and
enhance the Delta ecosystem. Through new conveyance, the BDCP addresses water
supply and delivery problems that have been discussed and debated for more
than 30 years.
State and federal agencies have developed a comprehensive plan that
has been analyzed by numerous experts from the scientific, economic, and
environmental perspective, modified substantially to address issues raised by
interested groups and presented to the public for review in more venues than
any other state project.
As acknowledged by the draft California Water Action Plan, it is
time for the project to begin. We must take action now.
The draft California Water Action Plan is the beginning of an
important dialogue on a comprehensive solution, but dialogue needs to result
in substantial changes. We are optimistic that the Plan will create the
momentum for major water supply and ecosystem improvements throughout the
state.