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HISTORIC RAIN, YET DROUGHT REMAINS <br /> <br /> <br />ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY 2022 I 2023 Page 5 of 57 <br /> <br />REASON FOR STUDY <br />The Western United States is experiencing a water crisis. The climate is changing, and <br />our supply of water has diminished while our population has increased. This situation <br />did not occur overnight and the efforts to mitigate the crisis have been slow and <br />ineffective. <br />Existing water agencies in Orange County are not adequately structured or managed to <br />implement the transformational strategies necessary to create a new source of potable <br />water, specifically through desalination. It is possible that a merger of two or more <br />agencies could pivot this new source, but they are already performing the functions for <br />which they were created and it might be difficult to assimilate new functions. The <br />Orange County Grand Jury recommends the creation of a new agency, a Climate <br />Resiliency District, to develop and manage this drought-resistant resource. <br /> <br />Local water suppliers, including cities and special districts, are to be commended for <br />attempting to meet the crisis within constraints. The Orange County Water District very