| San Diego County, CA | November 4, 2008 Election |
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California's Water: A Crisis We Can't Ignore.By Richard K. SmithCandidate for Director; Helix Water District; Division 5 |
This information is provided by the candidate | |
The statewide water delivery system faces a complex set of problems that threatens water supplies for people, the econemy and the environment.Southern California is experiencing a threat to it's water supply. First there has been an eight year drought in the Colorado River Basin and a reduction of the water supply from Northern California through the Delta, from which Helix, via the Metropolitan Water Authority and San Diego County Water Authority receives a significant portion of its water. Second, there are local dry conditions, the last two years have been the driest since 1820. Third, a federal judge ordered a 30 percent reduction in pumping of water from Northern California to save the Delta Smelt and three other fish species from extinction resulting in significant water supply reductions for two-thirds of the state's residents, millions of acres of productive farmland and hundreds of thousands of businesses throughout the state. It is clear that we will need awareness, knowledge and experience in developing strategies such as water recycling, water use efficiency, conjuntive use of surface water and groundwater and regional water storage to allow us to meet our future water needs. As most Californians remember, the state faced an energy crisis in the 1990's because it failed to build power plants to keep up with the demand. Making that same mistake with water would be a disaster. As a Helix Water District Director, a San Diego County Water Authority Director and an Association of California Water Agencies Groundwater Committee member I take my responsibility seriously and have diligently and enthusiastically worked to protect the Helix Water Districts present water allocations while vigorously pursuing avenues to secure alternative water supplies which include continued water conservation, water transfers, groundwater and reservoir augmentations and seawater desalinization. I bring that dedication, awareness, knowledge and experience to the Helix Board to make sure we can store and deliver the clean water we need, but I need your Vote. |
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ca/sd Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 20, 2008 15:47
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