‘Water: Slow Haste’

Your editorial was an excellent, remarkably succinct exposition of the status of our water controversy (perhaps that should be spelled as one word) on the legislative front. I distinguish the legislative front because lots of other efforts are under way to assure our future water supply--water transfers and exchanges, conservation projects, groundwater storage and system improvements, among others. These are enormously important and we and others responsible for water supply are continuing our efforts to bring them to reality.

No less important is the effort to uncripple the State Water Project by relieving the constrictions to water transfer in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. These constrictions cause loss of great quantities of water held in storage at Oroville reservoir through necessary releases to dilute advancing San Francisco Bay saltwater in dry periods, and also prevent maximum capture and storage of surplus flows in wet periods.

A canal to circumnavigate the Delta constrictions was the preferred engineering solution, but not the only one advocated. What has been mentioned by Costa, the chairman of the Assembly’s Water Committee, is the alternative of simply improving the Delta channel system so as to increase the flow capacity. This program is not as comprehensive as the canal solution, but neither is it as offensive to the many interests involved in the Delta. And it will do the job.

Moreover, it will contribute to improve fishery restoration, levee protection and water quality, as well as water transfer. Hence, a number of interests formerly opposed to the canal solution have been working together for several years to find common ground.

It is believed that legislation expected to be introduced by Assemblyman Costa will reflect that accommodation of interests.

No less important will be the renewed efforts of Sen. Ruben Ayala (D-Chino), chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Water Committee, and longtime leader in efforts to solve water supply problems throughout the state. He has already introduced a bill providing for a Delta water transfer facility.

The Times questions whether the necessary consensus is at hand and raises the always pertinent question of the timing of a legislative effort. Politically, this can only be finally determined after the fact. If the legislation is successful, the timing was correct and vice versa. But, from the viewpoint of those responsible for water supply, it is the expected needs that dictate the timing even though the political risks, always present, may be greater than preferred.

We must see that our reliable supply, that which will be available in the dry years that we know are coming, will be adequate for the growing demands. All our efforts are to close the demonstrable gap between supply and demand at different planning intervals in the future. A Delta solution will contribute substantially to closing the gap.

Timing for seeking such legislation is also affected by the actions of others who have Delta concerns--fisheries protection, levy restoration, flood control, etc. Already, legislation is being prepared treating these as isolated problems. We feel that it would be a mistake to treat these problems independently. All problems of the Delta are interrelated and hence the Committee for Delta Resources Improvement, representing many diverse points of view, seeks to focus on all the major concerns bearing on the Delta.

Keeping in mind that such legislation is often followed by lawsuits and that it takes years to complete the necessary improvements in the Delta, the time is now.

The Times likened talking in Northern California about more water going south to yelling “fire” in a crowded theater. Yelling “fire” in a theater has its risks, but is preferable to allowing the show to go on while the theater burns.

CARL BORONKAY

Los Angeles

Boronkay is general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.