Countywide : Plan to Cut Water Supply Criticized

A proposal to reduce the flow of Sacramento delta water to Southern California drew criticism Friday from elected officials and business owners, who argued that a water reduction could have a negative economic impact on Orange County.

At a State Water Resources Control Board hearing in Santa Ana, the officials and residents urged the board to consider the quality of life and the state of the economy in the county in meeting Gov. Pete Wilson’s call to preserve wetlands and fisheries in the Sacramento delta.

In April, Wilson revealed a state water plan to solve problems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the major transfer point for Northern California water to Southern California cities. Agricultural drainage and saltwater intrusion have degraded the quality of the water shipped to the south, and continued pumping during drought years has endangered fish and wildlife species in the delta’s channels and marshes.

The water board is considering whether to cut back supply to Southern California to restore and maintain the wetlands. Orange County Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder told board members that any decrease in the county’s water supply will translate into job loss as companies leave the state in search of cheaper and more plentiful water.

“Yes, the delta must be fixed, and yes, there are environmental issues we must consider,” Wieder said. “But those environmental concerns cannot be met at the expense of our fragile economy.”

Dick Clark, manager of Rockwell International’s Anaheim facility, said the aerospace company has already moved most of its manufacturing out of California and may be forced to move additional jobs out of state if it cannot be guaranteed a steady water supply.

“We already treat water as a valuable resource at our plant,” Clark said, explaining that the company has cut back more than 13% of its water consumption since 1990. “But we can’t cut back indefinitely.”

Instead of cutting supply, speakers at Friday’s hearing urged the board to consider a proposal to isolate the delta by linking a canal from the Sacramento River to pumps carrying water south.

“This will increase the availability of quality water and ensure drinking water which is free from contamination from the agricultural drains and ocean salts present in the delta,” Wieder said.

Environmentalists also asked the water board to ensure Southern California a share of water from the north, but they also urged that preservation of habitat and wildlife be kept on equal footing with the needs of people.

Representatives from the Sierra Club, Heal the Bay and Amigos de Bolsa Chica asked the board to adopt policies mandating customers receiving delta water to implement conservation practices, including recycling water.