The Santa Clara Valley Water District Monday welcomed California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s call to act now to resolve the state’s water crisis, including fixing the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Santa Clara County (PRWEB) July 17, 2007 -- The Santa Clara Valley Water District Monday welcomed California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s call to act now to resolve the state’s water crisis, including fixing the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The water district CEO Stan Williams, who joined the Governor at his news conference (view video) in front of an almost empty San Luis Reservoir, said that the Delta, which delivers water to the reservoir, is in crisis.
The Delta delivers almost half of Santa Clara County’s water supply and is key to the future of the Silicon Valley’s economy, environment and its quality of life. A large portion of this imported water must be conveyed through the San Luis Reservoir.
“We are pleased that the Governor is bringing attention to a problem that has been coming for a while. Water district staff has been working on the issue and we are happy that the Governor is putting his full weight behind resolving this urgent problem,” said Williams.
The water district board of directors, he said, supports Governor Schwarzenegger’s $5.9 billion comprehensive Water Infrastructure Plan that includes $1 billion towards fixing the Delta.
A network of ageing and eroding levees, subsiding islands, climate change, pollution, mounting regulatory uncertainties, and a struggling ecosystem plague the Delta more so today than ever before.
The quest to find both long term and immediate solutions to the water supply and environmental problems confronting the Delta is now at a critical juncture, with major policy recommendations expected to be made in the coming months.
The water district uses the water imported from the Delta to supply treated drinking water to the county’s 1.7 million residents, to recharge the groundwater basins, to prevent land subsidence and saltwater intrusion, and to help create and preserve local habitat for threatened or endangered species of fish.
Failure of the Delta to deliver water would have catastrophic impacts on the county. The water district is committed to finding solutions to preserve the Delta ecosystem, while ensuring a secure, high-quality water supply for now and the future generations.
If you are interested in an interview, contact Susan Siravo at ssiravo @ valleywater.org or
(408) 265-2607, ext. 2290.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages wholesale drinking water resources and provides stewardship for the county's five watersheds, including 10 reservoirs, more than 800 miles of streams and groundwater basins. The water district also provides flood protection throughout Santa Clara County.
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