Water Agency Spokesman Urges Action for Delta Crisis
Association of California Water Agencies Executive Director Timothy Quinn recently provided testimony at a joint meeting before the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and the Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No 2.
"ACWA and its 450 public water agency members appreciate the opportunity to discuss what we view as the single most critical item before the legislature – a comprehensive water solution for California," Quinn said.
He noted that his organization supports Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's approach as well as a legislative plan. He said, "ACWA will do everything it can to help both administrative and legislative solutions move forward and remain consistent with the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan and the Delta Vision process.
he Delta situation is extremely urgent. It is critical to support the sound public processes under way by initiating the time-consuming, legally required study of four options now without delay.
Quinn added that ACWA strongly believes that to provide a reliable, high-quality water supply for the California economy, "we must invest in the environmental integrity of the system so we can meet the joint priorities of environmental protection and economic vitality."
While the solutions to California's water supplies will come from investments in water use efficiency, recycling, and brackish and ocean water desalination, the state also should fund new groundwater surface water storage capacity, he said.
ACWA's 450 members are responsible for about 90 percent of the water delivered in California.