THE TOP STORY ON MIDDAY EDITION, CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS ARE BRINGING ALARM BELLS EARLY IN THE SEASON TO MAKE SURE WE ALL KNOW JUST HOW BAD OUR FOURTH YEAR OF DROUGHT IS BECOMING. TODAY GOVERNOR. JERRY BROWN UNVEILED A $1 BILLION EMERGENCY DROUGHT RELIEF REQUEST A SIMILAR PLAN LAST YEAR HELPED AID COMMUNITIES FACING ACUTE WATER SHORTAGES. EARLIER THIS YEAR -- EARLIER THIS WEEK THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD MET TO TIGHTEN RESTRICTIONS AND MAKE SURE WATER AGENCIES COMPLIED. JOINING ME TO DISCUSS CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE ARE DANA FREE HALF, SHE IS WATER RESOURCES MANAGER WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY. DANA. WELCOME TO THE SHOW. THANK YOU. MEGAN BEHRENS, WELCOME. MIKE BISHOP. DANA, TO EXPECT ANY OF THIS EMERGENCY DROUGHT RELIEF FUNDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY? ABSOLUTELY. WE DO HAVE, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THE MONIES ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR WATER RECYCLING PROJECTS SO WE HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SECURE SOME OF THOSE MONIES FOR WATER RECYCLING, EXPANDING WATER RECYCLING FACILITIES HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THE LAST MEASURE THAT WAS PASSED IN 2014 WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND SECURE $15 MILLION FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY REGION FROM THE PREVIOUS DROP PACKAGE. WE ARE HOPING AGAIN WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SECURE MONEY FOR WATER RECYCLING AND CONSERVATION AGAIN TO THIS MEASURE. DO YOU SEE -- I KNOW A LOT OF THIS FUNDING, A LOT OF EMERGENCY FUNDING LAST YEAR AND APPARENTLY THIS YEAR WILL GO TOWARDS THOSE AREAS IN THE STATE THAT ARE REALLY FACING SOME HARDSHIPS, THAT PEOPLE NEED FOOD BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER TO GROW FOOD, THEY NEED EMERGENCY, THEY NEED TRUCK AND WATER, BASICALLY. TO ANY OF THESE EMERGENCY FUNDS, YOU SEE ANY USE FOR THEM IN SAN DIEGO'S AGRICULTURAL AREAS? THOSE ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, CONSERVATION EFFORTS THAT THE FARMERS CAN TAKE. THOSE TYPE OF PROJECTS COULD POTENTIALLY BE AVAILABLE FOR FUNDING. SO WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AND WHEN WE SEE -- WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE LEGISLATION YET, WHEN WE SEE THE LEGISLATION WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR OUR REGION. MAKING, IF WE DIDN'T GET ANY OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS HOW WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM USED? THERE ARE REALLY TWO PRIMARY THINGS WE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN AND SAN DIEGO IS PROMOTING THE FIRST AND FOREMOST IS CONSERVATION. USING LESS WATER IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE AND MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO QUOTE UNQUOTE CREATE NEW SUPPLY. HAVING WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE HELP BUSINESSES, HELPED AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY IS LESS WATER AND STILL PRODUCE THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT WE NEED IS NUMBER ONE. THE SECOND IS CAPTURING AND REUSING AND RECYCLING PATHFINDING LOCAL SOURCES BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW BY NOW MOST OF THE WATER THAT IS USED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS IMPORTED FROM OTHER PLACES. THOSE PLACES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HARD-HIT, THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH WATER RATIONING CALL WITH FOOD ISSUES COP WITH ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. THE MORE WE CAN DO HERE TO USE LESS ONE OF THE BETTER OFF WE CAN BE AS A STATE. LET'S LOOK AT -- TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD. A MEETING THIS WEEK. THEY IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS OR AT LEAST TIGHTENED THE RESTRICTIONS BUT THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE ARE DOING ALREADY. AREN'T THEY, DANA? THE CITY COUNTY WATER THE AUTHORITY FULLY SUPPORTS THE STATE WATER BOARD EFFORTS IN EXPANDING THE REGULATIONS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEND A STATEWIDE MESSAGE SO I THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR RETAIL AGENCIES ALREADY HAVE THESE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS IN PLACE I THINK IT JUST ENHANCES THE IMPORTANCE FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO COMPLY AND IF YOU'RE TO THESE MANDATORY REGULATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, LTD WATERING DAYS PER WEEK. I THINK GENERALLY IT'S ABOUT THREE DAYS PER WEEK IN THE SUMMER. AND SO I THINK IT JUST IS SO IMPORTANT WHAT THE SEPARATE HAS DONE TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE TO CONSERVE AND ADHERE TO THESE REGULATIONS. AND, AGAIN, COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY MANDATED IN SAN DIEGO ARE RESTAURANTS NOT JUST ROUTINELY HANDING YOU A GLASS OF WATER WHEN YOU GO BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR IT. YOU CAN ALSO REQUEST THAT HOTELS DON'T WASH YOUR LINEN EVERY SINGLE DAY YOU ARE THERE. THOSE THINGS ARE NOW STATEWIDE BUT THEY HAVE BEEN IN PLACE IN SAN DIEGO. THAT IS CORRECT. WHO WAS ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES, DANA? IT IS THE RETAIL AGENCIES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO OR WATER DISTRICT, THE HELIX WATER DISTRICT OR UP NORTH IT WOULD BE THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE. THOSE ARE THE RETAIL AGENCIES. GENERALLY THEY TAKE KIND OF A PROGRESSIVE APPROACH. FIRST THEY WANT TO EDUCATE THE CONSUMER WITH A CUSTOMER ON WHERE THEY ARE NOT COMPLAIN. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE WATER IS RUNNING OFF OF THE SPRINKLERS OR THEY ARE WATERING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. AND THEN AFTER SO MUCH EDUCATION THEY DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIND A CUSTOMER -- FIND A CUSTOMER IF YOU'RE NOT ADHERING TO PROHIBITIONS. ONE OF THE MESSAGES FROM THE STATE WATER BOARD IF I'M READING IT CORRECTLY IS THAT LOCAL AGENCIES HAVE TO STEP UP THEIR ENFORCEMENT MEASURES. I KNOW THAT COAST KEEPERS HAS BEEN REALLY SORT OF ONTO THIS FOR A WHILE. THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR CAUSES. HOW MUCH IS A LOCAL AGENCIES ARE DOING A PENALIZING OR INSTRUCTING LOCAL WATER WASTERS? THAT IS A REAL CHALLENGE. THAT IS ONE THING WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE COME OUT OF THIS ACTION IS THAT FIRST OF ALL EDUCATION IS NOT ENOUGH. WE HAVE MADE THE STEP TO GO TO MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS WHICH DATA SAYS WORKS BETTER THAN VOLUNTARY SO THAT IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD. WE PLOTTED THE BOARD. STEPPING BACK WITH A HAVE DONE WITH THIS NEW ACTION IS EXTEND THESE MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS. THEY WERE SET TO EXPIRE AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT OUR DROUGHT IS NOT LISTENING, IT IS NOT GOING AWAY, THIS IS REALLY THE NEW WAY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE TO GET USED TO, THEY HAVE EXTENDED THAT AND COMMITTED TO CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW ENFORCEMENT IS GOING BECAUSE WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A WAY TO TRACK THAT. THERE ARE NOT REPORTS COMING OUT THAT TELL US THIS CITY HAS TAKEN THIS NUMBER OF ACTIONS AND THIS HAS BEEN A RESULT. WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IS THAT MAY BE ENFORCEMENT IS STEPPED UP AT LEAST THROUGH SOME TRANSPARENCY MET. IF THERE ARE FUNDS TO BE HAD WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE CONSERVATION, LANDSCAPING TURNOVER BUT LET'S HOPE THAT ENFORCEMENT MOVE FORWARD. IT TAKES STAFF TIME. IT TAKES A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITIES AND RETAIL WATER AGENCIES TO TAKE THAT ACTION. LET'S HELP THEM DO THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER NOW, WERE NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH WATER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. MAYBE NOT EVER. WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE LOOK WATER AND REALLY MAKE THAT ENFORCEMENT BE THE TOOL THAT WE USE TO BRING PEOPLE ALONG IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE THAT. AS PART OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THESE STATEWIDE WATER REGULATIONS AND EMERGENCY FUNDS REQUESTED BY THE GOVERNOR THERE WERE OTHER WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON HOW WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING THIS YEAR. EXCEPT FOR THE SNOWPACK THAT IS WAY BELOW AVERAGE THE STATE RESERVOIRS APPARENTLY ARE ACTUALLY DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR. SO, DANA, HOW TO CHARACTERIZE SAN DIEGO'S WATER SUPPLY NOW AND HEADING INTO THE SUMMER? THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF DROUGHT HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON OUR WATER SUPPLIES. LOCALLY OUR LOCAL SERVICE RESERVOIRS ARE AT THE LOWEST THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. AND ALSO WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE CUTBACKS FROM THE LARGE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHOLESALER METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT THIS YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO SEE AN IMPACT THIS YEAR ON OUR WATER SUPPLIES AVAILABILITY OF OUR WATER SUPPLIES DUE TO THIS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. AND ARE CONCERNED IS THAT WE GO TO A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. AND SO IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO CONSERVE, ESPECIALLY OUTDOORS ON YOUR ORNAMENTAL LANDSCAPES, SO THAT WE CAN BE BETTER PREPARED IF WE DO GO INTO A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. ON THE PLUS SIDE ISN'T THE DESALINATION PLANT GOING TO COME ONLINE THIS YEAR? YES. THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT. BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENTS WE HAVE MADE HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOR EXAMPLE TO CARLSBAD SEAWATER DESALINATION FACILITY WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COME ON IN THE FALL AND WE HAVE OUR LONG-TERM COLORADO RIVER TRANSFERS, THESE ARE LONG-TERM PERMANENT TRANSFERS WE HAVE UNDER CONTRACT, BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE RELIABLE WARDROP SUPPLIES WE'RE GOING TO MITIGATE THE SHORTAGES, WE DO GET FROM METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT. ABOUT HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS IS THAT DESALINATION PLANT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLY WATER TO? GENERALLY IT IS ABOUT 56,000 ACRE FEET A YEAR WHICH SERVES A LITTLE OVER 100,000 HOMES PER YEAR. AND THIS IS JUST THE FIRST YEAR, WITH A NUMBER OF UP IN COMING YEARS OR SET THE LIMIT TO HOW MUCH WATER IT CAN DESALINATE? RIGHT NOW THAT IS THE CURRENT PRODUCTION OF THE FACILITY, ABOUT 56 -- 56,000 ACRE FEET. ONE DISTURBING THING WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE YEAR, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY WATER AGENCY POINTS TO SOME BIG MONTHLY WATER CONSERVATION SAVINGS HERE IN SAN DIEGO THE EQUINOX CENTER FOUND THAT LAST YEAR WHEN EVERYBODY KNEW WE WERE IN A SERIOUS DROUGHT SAN DIEGANS ACTUALLY USED MORE WATER THAN IN ANY OTHER PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS. I AM WONDERING WHAT YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THAT AND WHETHER IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE MESSAGE IS REALLY GETTING THROUGH? THERE IS A COUPLE OF FACTORS. SEVERAL FACTORS YOU NEED TO LOOK AT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE EQUINOX REPORT. THEY STARTED IT BACK IN FISCAL YEAR 2010 COMPARED IT TO FISCAL YEAR 2014. NOW FIRST OF ALL YOU LOOK AT WHETHER. IT WAS MUCH HOTTER. WE HAD TWICE THE AMOUNT OF -- HALF THE AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT WE SAW IN 2010. IT WAS HOTTER AND DRIER IN 2014. ALSO WE HAVE SEEN SOME ECONOMIC GROWTH WITHIN THE REGION THAT CAN IMPACT WATER DEMANDS. AND ALSO THAT WE WERE BACK IN 2010 WE WERE ACTUALLY, JUST GETTING OUT OF THE PREVIOUS DROUGHT WE RAN. AND SO WATER USE WAS REAL LOW BECAUSE OF THAT. THERE IS A NUMBER OF FACTORS TO LOOK AT BUT IN THE END I AGREE THERE IS MORE WE CAN DO ON CONSERVATION AND SO THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. IT IS A CHALLENGE WHEN IT IS SO WARM AND DRY OUT. WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST? YOU IN COAST KEEPER, MAKE IT, WEST BE THINKING ABOUT THIS. WHAT COULD COUNTY AGENCIES, LOCAL WATER AGENCIES DO TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THAT THINGS ARE REALLY IN A PRETTY BAD STATE? THEY ARE. THEY ARE DIRE. IT IS NOT -- THERE ARE NO FORECASTS TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER. I THINK WE'RE MAKING EXCUSES. THE HOT FACT IT IS HOT OUT DOESN'T YOU MEAN IT'S OKAY TO USE MORE WATER WHERE WE ARE IN A SITUATION SUCH AS WE ARE IN IN THE STATE AND REGION. THE FACT THAT WE WERE COMING OUT OF A DROUGHT IN PAST YEARS, WE ARE IN A DROUGHT NOW SO LET'S BRING OUR CONSUMPTION BACK TO THAT LEVEL. THE DATA YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PER CAPITA DATA. WHETHER THERE'S MORE PEOPLE ARE NOT THOSE NUMBERS SPEAK THE TRUTH. THERE ARE LOW HANGING FRUIT STILL LEFT ON THE TABLE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING AFTER AND THINGS LIKE REPORTING ON ENFORCEMENT AND PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR REACTION FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT LIKE OVERWATERING. I TAKE A WALK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ICY WATER RUNNING DOWN STORM DRAINS THAT IS JUST WASTE. IT IS NOT EVEN ASKING SOMEBODY TO CHANGE HOW THEY LANDSCAPES, WE ARE JUST THINK WATER THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT AND DON'T LET IT RUN OFF YOUR PROPERTY. IN THE LONG-TERM WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GETTING OUR WATER. THE DESALINATION PLANT IS ONLINE AND IT IS GOING TO PROVIDE WATER AND THAT IS GREAT. HOWEVER, WHEN WE CONSIDER WHAT ELSE WE'RE GOING TO DO TO CREATE THE WATER SUPPLY WE HAVE THE PURE WATER PROJECT FOR THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND A NUMBER OF RECYCLING PROJECTS. WE ARE TAKING OUR WATER AND REUSING IT. WE ARE NOT NEEDING TO IMPORT WATER FROM OTHER PLACES AND IT IS MUCH MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT TO DO THAT THEN DESALINATION AND OTHER OPTIONS. THE WHEN WE TART START TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE NORTH AREAS OF THE COUNTY ON THE SOUTH AREAS OF THE COUNTY ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO IMPLEMENT RECYCLING PROJECTS COAST KEEPER LOOKS VERY FAVORABLY UPON THAT AND WOULD LIKE TO HELP AND ADVANCES PROJECTS FIRST BEFORE WE START THINKING ABOUT THINGS OTHER THAN CONSERVATION INTERVIEWS. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF EDITORIALS WRITTEN ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION IN NEWSPAPERS IN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK BECAUSE WATER WAS SO HIGH AND THE HEADLINES -- LET ME JUST THROW OUT A COUPLE OF IDEAS. I KNOW IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY, DANA, IMAGO CONSTRICTED NOT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOUR OPINION BUT IF YOU DO FEEL SO INCLINED PLEASE DO. SOCON MAKING, WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT BEGINNING A SERIOUS ON ERADICATION PROGRAM IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? I THINK IF YOU USE THE WORD ERADICATION WE ARE GOING TO GET SOME STRONG FEEDBACK. YES, WE NEED TO LANDSCAPE APPROPRIATELY FOR OUR REGION. THIS IS A LONG-TERM PLAN. ONE THING WE DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE IS WHAT -- IS MARCH RIGHT NOW A VERY HOT, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO TERROR OUT THERE LANDSCAPE AND REPLACE A RIGHT NOW. IN HOTTER MONTHS OF THE YEAR IT IS GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH THOSE PLANS AND THEY DO NEED EXTRA WATER. WE SHOULD BE MAKING PLANS NOW AND WHEN IT COOLS DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND DOESN'T REQUIRE SO MUCH WATER LET'S USE SOME NATIVE AND CLIMATE APPROPRIATE PLANS. LET'S CHANGE YOUR MINDSET AND DECIDE GRASS -- GREEN GRASS IS NOT BEAUTIFUL. IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE. IT IS WEIRD TO DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND SEE LAWN AFTER LAWN AFTER LAWN. IF WE ARE PUTTING DRINKING WATER ON GOLF COURSES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH US. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT USING RECYCLED WATER ONLY IN THOSE SITUATIONS. HAVING A BIG GRASSY LAWN FOR THE COMMUNITY BUT NOT NECESSARILY AS AN ORNAMENTAL ASPECT. THIS IS ONE YOU MIGHT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, DANA, THAT IS SETTING ACTUAL TARGET FOR WATER AGENCY BASED ON PER CAPITA WATER USE. I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN SORT OF A HESITANCY ON THE STATE LEVEL TO ACTUALLY DESCRIBE WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE USING. WHAT KIND OF WATER LEVEL THEY ACTUALLY SHOULD BE USING. WOULD THAT BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT ACTUAL NUMBER THAT YOU ARE AIMING FOR? THE AGENCIES, THE URBAN WATER AGENCIES ALREADY DO HAVE A TARGET SET, A GALLON PER CAPITA AMOUNT THEY NEED TO REACH BY 2020. A LOT OF THE AGENCIES ARE ESTIMATING PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS TOGETHER. SOME HAVE ALREADY REACHED THEIR TARGET. WATER USE IS DOWN 20% DOWN ARE READY SINCE 2007. BUT I THINK OUR FOCUS IS ALSO REALLY ON TARGETING OUTDOOR WATER USE. WE SEE THAT TO BE WHERE WE CAN GET THE MOST SAVINGS. I THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE A WHOLE MARKET TRANSFORMATION WHERE LIKE MEGAN SAYS WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE STREET YOU SEE MORE LOW-WATER USING DARTS INSTEAD OF LAWN. WATER AUTHORITY DOES OFFER A FREE SURVEY OR AUDIT TO HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES IF THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO START. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY CANNOT TERROR OUT THERE LAWN RIGHT NOW HOW HIM I GOING TO WATER MOST EFFICIENTLY? WE CAN SEND A PROFESSIONAL OUT THERE WHO CAN LOOK AT YOURS BURGLAR SYSTEM AND LOOK INDOORS AND SEE AND FIND WAYS YOU CAN CONSERVE. MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU, DANA, IS YOU SAID I JUST REALLY HOPE WE DON'T GO TO A 50 YEAR. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A LEVEL II DROUGHT EMERGENCY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. WHAT WOULD BRING US TO A LEVEL III? I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE THAT AFTER WE SEE HOW DEMANDS, HOW PEOPLE PERFORMANCE AND AS FAR AS THEIR WATER USE GOES IS COMING YEAR AND LOOK AT THE SNOWPACK, LOOK AT THE RESERVOIR STORAGE LEVELS AND MAKE A DETERMINATION AT THE TIME. RIGHT NOW WE SEE OURSELVES STAYING AT A LEVEL II THIS YEAR BUT WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE FACTORS BOTH DEMANDS AND SUPPLIES TO DETERMINE WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT. I WILL LEAVE IT THERE. I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH DANA FREE HALF THE WATER RESOURCES MANAGER FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY AND WITH SAN DIEGO COAST KEEPER'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEGAN BEHRENS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY.
As California copes with a fourth straight year of drought, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders on Thursday proposed legislation to accelerate more than $1 billion in water spending and urged residents to do their part to conserve.
Winter is ending in California without enough snow and rain to replenish reservoirs, offering little relief from the worst drought in a generation.
The proposed legislation includes $128 million to ease dire water shortages in some communities; the financial struggles of unemployed farm workers in the Central Valley; and dry conditions that contribute to wildfires.
The rest of the funding comes from voter-approved bonds — including a $7.5 billion water measure passed in November — to speed up water projects that can help communities prepare for future dry years.
"We need to get the money out the door now for shovel-ready projects and existing water programs that only need funding to get started," Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon said. "No delay. No red tape."
Nearly two-thirds of the funds in the package would go to improve flood control structures by using leftover money from a 2006 voter-approved bond measure.
Lawmakers said climate change is contributing to sudden floods — even in dry years — and flood protection protects drinking water supplies.
"We maximize the water we do have if we can direct the flood waters in a way that's safe for communities," said Assemblyman Marc Levine, a San Rafael Democrat who chairs a water committee.
More immediate funding includes $20 million for additional emergency drinking water for communities with dry wells; $24 million for food banks; and $16 million to help fish and animals threatened by vanishing streams and rivers.
Unemployment in the agricultural Central Valley has reached 14 percent and domestic wells are running dry in a handful of parched communities such as East Porterville, where the state has already spent $500,000 to provide bottled water for 290 families.
Brown said the drought has highlighted fundamental questions about how the state uses water and will require Californians to adopt innovative solutions.
"Growing a walnut or an almond takes water. Having a new house with a bunch of toilets and showers takes water," Brown said. "So how do we balance use and efficiency with the kind of life that people want in California?"
The measures are expected to come for a vote within a week and will need majority approval from the state Legislature which is controlled by Democrats.
Republican legislative leaders joined Brown at a news conference supporting the bills Thursday but were not involved in crafting the proposals.
Such spending is normally approved as part of budget negotiations that last through June, but lawmakers said their action will help kick-start the projects sooner.
The plan is labeled as emergency legislation, but much of the funding has been available to the state for years. It could take more than year for some of the projects to produce a noticeable increase in water supplies.
"This is a Band-Aid," said Assembly Minority Leader Kristin Olsen, a Modesto-area Republican. "This is a temporary small step toward fixing a monumental problem."
The water in the Sierra Nevada snowpack — California's largest water source — is far below normal. Some drought observers fear it may never return to normal, requiring a fundamental change to California water policy.
Continuing dry conditions drove state water regulators to ramp up mandatory water restrictions this week that prevent Californians from watering their lawns daily and require that customers ask for water at restaurants rather than having it automatically served.
Critics have questioned whether the measures go far enough given the severity of the drought.
Brown said he's prepared to ramp up action if the drought gets worse.
"Don't have any doubts. We are going to increasingly control the use of water to the point where you have to get a lot more efficient, it's going to be expensive and everyone has got to do their part, and they will," Brown said.
The water spending legislation came a year after Brown signed a $687 million drought-relief package, most of which went to accelerate water infrastructure projects. A third of that funding has still not been allocated and the Department of Water Resources has not yet recommended how the money should be spent.
