More water storage capacity is a must

Assemblymember Marie Waldron

AD-75 (R)

We are all hoping the current El Niño will bring an end to the drought. Whether or not, we’ll continue to receive normal or above-normal precipitation is still a question, though an end to the drought may be unlikely this year. Whatever the outcome this year, future droughts are certain.

In 2014, California’s voters passed Proposition 1, a $7.12 billion water bond. While the bond contained $2.7 billion earmarked for water storage projects including dams and reservoirs, few if any such projects are currently under way.

I have just introduced AB 1647 to help speed water storage projects throughout California. Similar to legislation I introduced two years ago, AB 1647 will facilitate expansion of existing surface storage facilities by streamlining certain regulatory requirements if the projects meet specified criteria. These include providing water for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes, thereby reducing the need for imported water. The projects must replace or expand existing facilities by no more than 25 percent, must comply with all applicable federal and state safety guidelines and must be necessary because the existing facilities may fail during a significant earthquake.

Continued reliance on inadequate storage facilities designed 50 years ago for a population half its current size is not smart. We need to increase our water storage capacity sooner, not later.

Passage of AB 1647 will be a big step toward a sustainable water supply for all Californians.