For immediate release:  July 14, 2008

For more information:  Patty Friesen (925) 688-8194

 

CCWD Supports Democratic Water Package

 

Concord - The Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) supports Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata and Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass as they introduce the Democratic proposal for a water package. CCWD supports both SB XX 1 – Water Quality, Flood Control, Water Storage, & Wildlife Preservation (Perata, Machado, Steinberg, Simitian) and AB 2175 – Water Conservation (Laird). Together, these bills promote placing water conservation as a top priority and funding immediate actions in the Delta which are critical to water supply reliability, ecosystem restoration, and Delta sustainability.

 

The Contra Costa Water District is the largest urban water agency to rely solely on the Delta as its drinking water supply. The District has identified water quality projects for Delta sustainability that are “ready to go” and need the directed funding in SB XX 1, since the Senate and Assembly versions of the proposed State’s FY08/09 budget contain minimal funding for water resources projects.

 

“This represents the final opportunity in the special legislative session on water to direct funding, on an urgency basis, from Propositions 50, 1E, and 84 towards critical projects that produce statewide benefits,” said CCWD General Manager, Walter J. Bishop. “CCWD commends the Democratic leadership for recognizing the urgent nature of funding emergency projects in the Delta and moving forward with immediate action.” With the future of the Delta at risk, SB XX 1 also provides funding for water quality/ecosystem demonstration projects such as Franks Tract and fish screens at Clifton Court Forebay. These projects are critical actions to move Delta improvements forward, are based on sound science, and have broad stakeholder support.

 

For decades, the District has been a strong advocate for water conservation and has implemented an aggressive conservation program. CCWD supports AB 2175 – Water Conservation, and is working with the author to move the bill forward by actively engaging in the establishment of equitable statewide water conservation targets. This bill would provide an important tool towards achieving the Governor’s goal of a 20% reduction in per capita water use statewide by 2020.

 

The District commends the Assembly leadership on providing funding for the immediate actions needed to sustain the Delta and fulfill the mandate of the voters who approved the bonds to build water infrastructure to sustain the future of California.

 

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