California Water Supply

* The Times is absolutely correct (“Wanted: a New Water Regimen,” editorial, Nov. 23). If the Cal-Fed process doesn’t mandate that we use existing supplies efficiently, why would we build new storage facilities that would use expensive new water inefficiently, too? Yet some of the heaviest water users, particularly in the agricultural sector, which consumes 80% of the state’s water, not only dismiss the opportunity for expanded conservation, but frankly admit they cannot afford the new facilities they demand.

Newly released planning documents now suggest Cal-Fed might accept traditional subsidies to finance new dams, subsidies that have cost taxpayers billions of dollars for projects that supposedly were going to “pay for themselves.” Many also want taxpayers to spend billions on expanded underground storage, but flatly reject the same kind of ground water management program in use in other Western states to ensure that new storage is not depleted.

For Cal-Fed to work, we will need an independent entity to manage the new water plan, to assess whether water users are meeting the mandate to improve efficient use and to gauge the success at meeting the plan’s primary responsibility: restoring the Bay-Delta system.

REP. GEORGE MILLER

D-Martinez

House Committee on Resources

*

* Your editorial misrepresents farmers’ position on creation of new water storage.

Much of the water saved in new reservoirs would be directed toward the Bay-Delta environment. To the extent that “new” water goes to urban or agricultural uses, city residents and farmers should be expected to pay their fair share.

Farmers have been actively storing and managing ground water for decades and we believe that will be a key part of California’s water-management strategy. But we have to make certain it’s done right, fully protecting the water and property rights of existing users. To do otherwise would mire this promising option in court.

Farmers favor a balanced approach to solving California’s water problems. But we also believe more storage will be needed to serve our environment, farms and growing population, and that the time to start is now.

BILL PAULI, President

Calif. Farm Bureau Federation

Sacramento