Yesterday, Governor Brown delivered his State of the State address, focusing some attention on levees, climate change, and of course, water. Here are the reactions to what the Governor said about water that I could find from legislators, organizations, and interest groups.
I’ll continue to add others if I receive any more, but here’s what they had to say, listed alphabetically:
From Senator Patricia Bates:
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) today issued the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s 2016 State of the State address:
“The governor’s emphasis on paying for the commitments our state has already made is absolutely right on target. With California’s taxpayers already bearing the sixth highest state-local tax burden in the nation, there is no excuse for the state to live beyond its means.
“Unfortunately the focus on fiscal restraint is severely undermined by the continued pursuit of high-speed rail. The insistence on building the project, despite rising costs, overshadows the work we need to repair the state’s decaying infrastructure. To raise taxes and fees on drivers while spending more on the train makes no sense.
“On water, the governor is right that there is no magic bullet in solving the drought, but we must do more to ensure that the water we do have goes to people. Our economy and quality-of-life depends on reliable water supplies and we must do more to encourage additional sources, such as storage and desalination.”
From the California Farm Water Coalition:
We are encouraged by Governor Jerry Brown’s comments in his State of the State address recognizing the need for increased water storage in California. Coupled with his recognition that all avenues for water management must be explored, it appears a water plan benefitting all water users may be on the horizon. It’s true: pitting farmers against fish gains no ground for either. The best way to ensure this does not continue in the future is to base environmental decisions–especially those in the Delta– on science, not unsubstantiated fear.
Better science is needed for a healthy Delta
In just the last two weeks another 83,000 acre-feet of water that could have been stored for use later in the year instead went to the ocean. For 25 years regulators have diverted water away from farms for the purpose of helping threatened and endangered salmon and Delta smelt but those and other fish continue to struggle. It is long past time to revisit the decisions that have led to these failed ecosystem policies. Governor Brown is in a position to urge federal fishery managers to do a better, more comprehensive assessment of the real problems plaguing the Delta. Only then will California begin to recover and meet the co-equal goals of a more reliable water supply and improved ecosystem.
From the California Water Alliance:
California Water Alliance (CalWA) executive director Aubrey Bettencourt today issued the following statement in response to Governor Brown’s state of the state address in relationship to California’s ongoing water crisis. CalWA is sponsor of the California Water Priorities Initiative.
“It was encouraging that the Governor devoted time in his speech to underscore that ‘water goes to the heart’ of who we are as Californians and that it is folly for some to frame the water debate as farmers versus fish,” said Aubrey Bettencourt, executive director of the California Water Alliance.
“We believe Governor Brown overlooked a silver bullet for solving California’s chronic water crisis. The diverse list of water needs the governor outlined can be addressed and at no new cost to the people of California. The answer is to be found in CalWA’s proposed ballot measure that will transfer funds from a bullet train and invest them instead in vitally needed water storage projects necessary to California,” Bettencourt continued.
She said that water storage, groundwater recharge, water recycling, storm-water capture – all of these projects are critical to providing more secure, safe water to California’s communities, farms and its natural beauty. Through this disastrous drought, we have seen efforts for relief, but minimal investment in projects that would provide real answers to our state’s water needs for generations to come. In a crisis it’s about priorities. Priorities focus our attention and resources to solving the problems. It’s time to get the priorities of our state straightened out and aligned with the pressing needs of the people.
She pointed out that it was also noteworthy that Governor Brown failed to mention his legacy high speed rail project, but talked about fixing roads, highways, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.
Perhaps Brown’s omission reflected recent polling data showing Californians strongly support eliminating the high-speed rail project in favor of creation of new water storage, a policy issue far more important to voters than the other infrastructure projects he mentioned.
Urban dwellers, farmers, businesses – even environmentalists – are lining up to support CalWA’s proposed ballot measure. It redirects up to $10.7 billion in previously authorized High-Speed Rail Project and 2014 Water Bond general obligation bond authority and funds construction of specific water-storage related projects throughout the state, with no new taxes or any new debt. It also amends the state’s constitution to prioritize the beneficial uses of the state’s water resources, putting people’s needs first.
The High-Speed Rail Project approved by voters in 2008 polled as the least important state infrastructure priority for voters out of 20 options, according to a recent Hoover Institution at Stanford University/Golden State Poll. Dealing with the state’s water problems is the voters’ top priority according to the same poll.
“In his speech, the Governor might have seized the initiative most important to Californians, reprioritizing the state’s direction and reflecting today’s needs – choosing new water supplies instead of a $68-billion-dollar high speed train from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Instead, we will give voters the opportunity to make their feelings clear at the ballot box in November,” she concluded.
From Senator Jim Nielsen:
Governor Brown today delivered his State of the State address to lawmakers. Senate Budget Vice Chair – Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) – issued the following statement:
“The State’s first priority must be saving money for the Rainy Day fund to ease the pain of budget cuts in an economic downturn. Programs that provide care to the most vulnerable Californians like Developmental Disability Services have not been adequately funded.
“To better serve people with developmental disabilities, I introduced Senate Bill 818, a bill similar to the one I introduced in Special Session last year. My commitment to make this funding permanent in the State’s General Fund is unwavering.
“And I am so glad to hear that the Governor reaffirmed his commitment to build water storage. We must increase the state’s above-ground water storage.
“Conservation alone won’t get us out of this historic drought nor will it help get us through the next drought.
“Sites Reservoir is shoveled-ready to store up to 1.8 million acre feet of water.
“Planning for access to clean water is essential to the prosperity of future generations.”
From Restore the Delta:
In his State of the State address today, Governor Jerry Brown said:
“The challenge is to solve today’s problem without making those of tomorrow even worse.”On water issues he said:
“There is no magic bullet, but a series of actions must be taken. We have to recharge our aquifers, manage the groundwater, recycle, capture stormwater, build storage and reliable conveyance, improve efficiency everywhere, invest in new technologies – including desalination – and all the while recognize that there are some limits…Pitting fish against farmer missed the point and grossly distorts reality. Every one of us and every creature that dwells here form a complex system that must be understood and respected.”Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta responded:
“We are thrilled to hear Governor Brown’s commitment to protecting ecological systems. And we are glad he has committed to solving today’s problems without making them worse.
“Unfortunately, Governor Brown insists on moving forward with the Delta tunnels project despite serious environmental concerns raised by numerous organizations including the Environmental Protection Agency which found the plan ‘incomplete’ with required analysis ‘not yet done.’
“The tunnels will destroy the sole source of drinking water for one million Delta residents, the physical environment and the state’s most magnificent fisheries and breathtaking habitat for birds on the Pacific flyway, not to mention the agricultural and related economies for an additional three million Delta area residents.
“The Delta tunnels will cost $17 billion before cost overruns and interest, and will not make any new water for California. Perhaps the Governor should take his own advice and drop his bad Delta Tunnels plan.”
From the Southern California Water Committee:
Governor Jerry Brown today delivered California’s State of the State Address, in which he laid out his priorities for California in 2016. In his address, the Governor noted that California’s economy and all those who live and work in the state depend on a reliable and secure water supply. He underscored the importance of investing in our water conveyance system in addition to moving forward with other critical water supply projects such as stormwater capture, groundwater cleanup, recycling and desalination.
Charley Wilson, Chairman, Southern California Water Committee issued this statement:
“We applaud the Governor for highlighting the critical need to invest in water infrastructure. In Southern California, we continue to move towards additional creative water supply enhancements like conservation efficiency, stormwater capture, recycling, desalination and groundwater cleanup but we need California WaterFix. At the end of the day, we must fix the Delta because it’s the linchpin to California’s water planning.”
Established in 1984, the Southern California Water Committee is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public education partnership dedicated to informing Southern Californians about our water needs and our state’s water resources. Spanning Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Ventura and Kern counties, the SCWC’s members include representatives from business, government, agriculture, water agencies, labor and the general public. Visit us at www.socalwater.org and find us on Facebook.
From Senator Andy Vidak:
Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford) issued the following response to the governor’s State of the State address:
‘Water, water everywhere, nor any a drop to drink.’ That is the true state of our state under a governor who, despite his rhetoric today, continues to put his pet bullet train boondoggle ahead of reliable water storage for all Californians.
From Senator Lois Wolk:
Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) issued the following statement today regarding Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.’s State of the State address, presented this morning before the State Legislature:
“The Governor’s message today was one of cautious optimism. As the Governor said, we do have much for which we can be thankful—a healthy surplus, a growing rainy day fund, reduced unemployment and increased funding for our schools and healthcare. But we also must be prepared for future economic uncertainty. That means continuing on our current path of fiscal restraint, continuing to pay down our state debt and build our state surplus.
As the Chair of the Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation, I am pleased to see that the Governor has continued to prioritize investments in water management. The Governor recognizes that, despite current weather patterns, the state continues to be in a drought. I applaud the Governor’s investment in conservation efforts and, particularly, his call to take the much-needed step of managing our state’s groundwater.
But I caution against the Governor’s proposal to use state budget funding to push the Delta Tunnels project into the Delta Plan, prior to the completion of environmental analysis and review. Doing so would compromise the plan’s credibility and the future of the Delta. I will be closely following this, as well as any other plans for the Delta in the year ahead.
I also support the Governor’s call to invest in our state’s crumbling infrastructure. Our economy depends on working roads, highways and bridges. It’s time we brought our transportation infrastructure into the 21st century.
I look forward to working with the Governor, the Pro Tem and my other colleagues in the Legislature to make this a productive year.”
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