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Executive Summary
California’s growing population, our $1.4 trillion
economy and our natural resources all require clean, reliable
and affordable water. At the same time with extremely limited
federal, state and local budgets we cannot afford to make
investment decisions that will not produce results.
This Investment Strategy for California Water identifies
the most cost-effective, environmentally beneficial and socially
acceptable water management strategies. It directs public
investments to local planned and implemented programs to increase
regional water self-sufficiency. This Investment Strategy
will serve as our framework for sponsorship and support of
the next state water bond.
The Investment Strategy analyzed a wide range of management
options, all the way from conservation and recycling to transfers,
desalination and building new dams. The Strategy was developed
in a fully open and inclusionary process. All drafts were
posted for comment on the PCL website. Input from two public
workshops helped guide development of the Strategy. Each of
the recommendations is fully documented by multiple, credible
sources.
The table below demonstrates that we can more than meet California’s
water supply needs with the Strategy’s identified priority
investments.
| Additional Needs |
million acre-feet |
| Population Increase |
2.0-2.4 |
| Environmental Restoration |
1.0 |
| Total additional needs |
3.0-3.4 |
| First Priority Options |
million acre-feet |
| Urban Water Conservation |
2.0-2.3 |
| Agricultural Water Conservation |
At least 0.3-0.6 |
| Recycled Water |
1.5 |
| Groundwater Treatment and Desalination |
At least 0.29 |
| Total First Priority Potential |
At least 4.09-4.69 |
In addition there are other options that are being considered
to meet California’s water needs.
Water transfers will continue to be a significant strategy
for meeting needs. However, they can also harm third parties
and the environment. Therefore the Investment Strategy sets
forth conditions needed to ensure transfers will not harm
areas of origin, areas through which the water is conveyed,
and areas receiving the water.
The Investment Strategy looked at current proposals to increase
reliance on additional exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Bay Delta Estuary. The recent study done for the Bay Delta
Authority demonstrated that there is a 64% chance that the
Bay-Delta will experience abrupt changes resulting from flooding
or seismic activity within the next fifty years. A reasonable
level of investment needs to be made to protect the Delta
including existing export capability. However, it is not prudent
to risk California’s economy and water supply by relying
on increased exports from such a fragile system.
Water storage is another strategy that was reviewed. Groundwater
storage, frequently done as part of a conjunctive use program,
can have significant benefits as long as the sources of the
water are protected.
There is much rhetorical support for new surface water reservoirs.
However despite tens of millions of taxpayer dollars spent
studying the proposals in the CALFED Record of Decision, not
one has been found to be cost effective or environmentally
acceptable.
Furthermore not one of the potential beneficiaries of the
proposed surface reservoirs has offered to use their own money
to pay for their benefits. The Investment Strategy includes
recommendations on how to protect taxpayers by implementing
the “beneficiary pays” principle.
Desalination is another option that was reviewed. Groundwater
desalination is a cost effective and environmentally beneficial
method for restoring groundwater storage capacity and providing
additional water supplies. However, unscreened ocean water
desalination perpetuates the loss of marine species. Until
adequate screening can be accomplished, that type of desalination
is not recommended.
Potential effects of global climate change on water supply
were analyzed. The first priority recommendations - conservation,
recycling and groundwater treatment – all meet the criteria
as “no regrets actions” (strategies that make
sense whatever the impacts of global climate change.)
The Strategy also sets forth important priorities to provide
water quality, environmental restoration, social equity, a
strong economy, viable agriculture and preservation of open
spaces, as well as integrated resource management.
For additional information please contact:
Mindy McIntyre
Water Policy Specialist
Planning and Conservation League
(916) 313-4518
Download the Full Text (PDF) Document of the Investment Strategy
for California Water
Investment
Strategy for California Water (503K PDF file)
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