Water Project Reform Proposals

While a green lawn is a questionable symbol of the need for Central Valley Project reform legislation (“A Lawn for City Kids Comes First,” July 22) the article is important and timely.

Obviously each competing interest has some legitimacy in its position and so the challenge becomes what balance is equitable and therefore politically acceptable. The elements to be balanced in CVP reform legislation must include:

(1) Economic reform of this heavily subsidized project and, at the same time, agriculture water supply contract renewals.

(2) Environmental restoration including present access to a reasonable amount of water.

(3) The shifting of some of the CVP agricultural supply to meet increasing municipal and industrial needs, by way of voluntary water marketing. (A recent study of selected industries found that a 30% water shortage in any year could cost the Southern California economy nearly $12 billion in production and 46,000 jobs.)

Two bills addressing these issues have made their way to conference committee in Congress. One is authored by California’s newest senator, John Seymour, and one by Rep. George Miller, a long-time advocate of CVP reform. While the bills differ, they have much in common and provide hope for effective compromise legislation in this session.

CARL BORONKAY, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District