Last Thursday, the Kern County Water Agency voted to support Cal Water Fix. I held this on Friday, expecting a press release from KCWA, but none arrived, so here are the reactions I received, listed in alphabetical order.
From the Delta Counties Coalition:
The Delta Counties Coalition issued the following statements in response to Kern County Water Agency’s (KCWA) vote to finance the State of California’s proposed Twin Tunnels project (known as “WaterFix”):
“KCWA’s unwillingness to seriously consider other more viable alternatives to the tunnels should be of great concern to the agency’s customers and all Californians,” said Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli. “The billions of dollars a few water agencies have approved to spend on the tunnels ought to be spent elsewhere. Investments in wiser more cost-effective projects that will increase the supply of water throughout the state without harming Delta communities and environment are what is really needed.”
“KCWA’s vote not only exposes its customers to significant rate impacts but also disregards the environmental and economic impacts to the Delta and its residents,” said Yolo County Supervisor Oscar Villegas. “Each agency, like KCWA, who votes for WaterFix moves us farther away from meaningful, statewide solutions that meet California’s water needs today and into the future.”
“It is disappointing to see Kern’s vote in favor of expensive, outdated water infrastructure that will take needed funds away from projects to recharge groundwater and create new water supplies. WaterFix will not satisfy thirsty, unsustainable crops in the desert, and would destroy the Delta region in the process” said Solano County Supervisor Skip Thomson.
“Kern County will regret this decision when its ratepayers get stuck with much higher water bills than originally promised without the water security they were guaranteed for this massive investment,” said Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. “Californians deserve better than this disastrous, fatally flawed project. They deserve common sense, affordable solutions that address the state’s water supply shortage and won’t pit one part of the state against another, “The ‘everyone for themselves’ vote cast today does a disservice to every resident or business who relies on water in this state.”
“It’s inconceivable how anyone can support such a massive project for which costs are still not clearly calculated, and construction and operation plans are yet to be drafted. Even worse, this poorly planned project will not add any more water for our state’s residents, businesses, farmers or environment,” added San Joaquin County Supervisor Chuck Winn. “The DCC has consistently advocated viable alternatives that cost less, improve the Delta and provide more water for all Californians.”
The DCC is an alliance of the counties of Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano and Yolo. The DCC advocates for protecting the interests of the Delta and California’s water supply and has produced a set of approaches that will achieve balance for the economic and environmental health of the Delta while also improving water supply stability.
For more information regarding the DCC and its ideas for fixing California’s water issues, please visit sharedwatersolutions.com
From Restore the Delta:
Executive Director of Restore the Delta, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla said:
“Stewart Resnick’s Kern County Water Agency is looking to MWD ratepayers to pay the bill for water that will cost too much to farm. Southern California ratepayers will be on the hook for Beverly Hills billionaire farmers and Delta people will pay the environmental cost.”
To read more about expenses for Kern County, click here for our prior press release.
From Secretary John Laird:
California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird issued the following statement regarding today’s decision by Kern County Water Agency to participate in the California WaterFix project.
“Today’s unanimous vote by Kern County Water Agency’s board shows a strong commitment to protect water supplies for agriculture in their region. California WaterFix is this generation’s opportunity to invest in a future that includes more reliable water deliveries to support the agricultural economy and promote sustainable groundwater management.”
California WaterFix is a science-driven proposal to upgrade the state’s outdated water system and maintain a reliable source of water for 25 million Californians and more than 3 million acres of farmland in the Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California.
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