"Water--a Quality of Life Issue"

By Lawrence "Larry" Gilbert

"In a stinging rebuke of state water policy, a Sacramento appeals court has sided with environmentalists who say California is fueling excessive development--particularily in southern California--by promising more water than it can realistically deliver." With a finite supply and growing demand I have been concerned about our future availability of safe drinking water. We need to formulate a Strategic Management Plan to guide future policy decisions into the first quarter of the 21st Century.

In his Sept 24th article, Sac Bee political columnist Dan Walters reported that: "just last week, a state appeals court ruled that a 1995-vintage agreement revamping water deliveries from the Delta promised more water than it could deliver and thus is invalid." In that same story Dan mentions our projected population growth over the next 25 years from 35 million to 50 million people. This does not count the water required to support the 6-7 million jobs that would accompany such population growth or the agricultural needs to feed these new residents.

The headline of Sac Bee staff writer Stuart Leavenworth's Sept 19th article reads: "State water policy rebuked by court: California promises more water than it can deliver, ruling says." "In a stinging rebuke of state water policy, a Sacramento appeals court has sided with environmentalists who say California is fueling excessive development--particularly in southern California--by promising more water than it can realistically deliver."

A lawsuit was just filed by the Regional Council of Rural Counties against the CalFed's water plan/accord. RCRC Chairman Tom Bamert stated: "California can't continue to promise more water than is available for urban growth."

I mention these facts in that some of our water is purchased from the Delta. We are now faced with meeting a major reduction in our apportionment of water. SMWD's primary source of water is the Colorado River Aqueduct through our contract with the Metropolitan Water District of Orange County. We are being asked to reduce our consumption to 4.4 million acre feet, representing a 15% reduction. At the same time we need to increase our connections to new homes and businesses in Ladera and Talega adding roughly 20% to current users.

With my concern for providing a continuous supply of safe drinking water at reasonable rates, I recently toured the new $2 billion Diamond Valley Lake reservoir with Ed Royce, Sr., VP Metropolitan Water District of OC. It is re-assuring to learn that this reservoir will eventually contain six months of emergency storage south of the San Andreas Fault. It will also reduce the threat of water shortages during droughts and peek summer needs.

With my background in planning, major contract negotiations, and my relationships at the state Capitol, I feel qualified to effectively represent the Santa Margarita Water District ratepayers and bring a new dimension to the Board of Directors.