Laserfiche WebLink
107 <br /> <br />SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER POLICY <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />Southern California faces significant challenges in the coming years tn <br />order for the region to COntinue to be a major economically viable urban <br />area. One of the most important challenges is to provide an adequate <br />·mount of good quality water, on a reliable basis, and at a reasonable <br />cost. <br /> <br />According to various estimates, the population in Southern California will <br />increase by about twenty percent over the next fifteen years. Whether or <br />not estimates are precise, every indication ts that population growth will <br />occv-. Meeting Current and future water needs is essential to maintaining <br />the public health and economic vitality of the region. <br /> <br />Water agencies and interests in California should work to increase communi- <br />cation and tnteragency cooperation. The current primary objective of <br />increased communication should be to find areas of statewide consensus on <br />water supply, conservation and resource protection issues. <br /> <br />GOALS <br /> <br />Water policy in Southern California must be based on the following goals: <br /> <br />* RELIABILITY OF SUPPLY <br />* PRESERVATION OF QUALITY <br />* COktMITMENT TO CONSERVATION <br />* AFFOROABILITY <br /> <br />A. RELIABILITY OF SUPPLY <br /> <br />The quantity of imported and naturally occurring water in the Southland <br />varies from year to year because of weather variations which cause wet <br />and dry cycles of one or more years. Such supply needs to ba made more <br />dependable. <br /> <br />Supplies can be made more reliable through implementation of the <br />following policies: <br /> <br />* Establish contingency plans to meet water emergencies on ~ short- <br /> term basis.. <br /> m~ <br /> 1 <br /> <br />Continue to maximize the use of existing local water sources, <br />including efficient groundwater management programs and local <br />storage, extraction, and distribution facilities. <br /> <br />Develop Incentives for lncreastngwater storage in groundwater <br />basins for use during drought. <br /> <br />* Continue the use of Color&do River water where ivatlable. <br /> <br /> <br />