Schwarzenegger Uses Drought Proclamation As Opportunity to Push for Dams: A Look at the Larger Picture

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Dan Bacher

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a drought proclamation and called for "immediate action" at a press conference at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Tuesday, using the event to campaign for his plan to build more dams and "improve conveyance"- a euphemism for the construction of the peripheral canal - to increase water exports from the California Delta to agribusiness and southern California.

For the areas in Northern California that supply most of our water, this March, April and May have been the driest ever in our recorded history, Governor Schwarzenegger said. As a result, some local governments are rationing water, developments can’t proceed and agricultural fields are sitting idle."

The final snow survey of 2008 in May by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) showed snowpack water content at only 67 percent of normal and the runoff forecast at only 55 percent of normal.

Before gathered members of the press and the governor's staff including DWR Director Lester Snow, and Chief of Staff Susan Kennedy, the Governor signed an Executive Order proclaiming a "statewide drought" and directing the Department of Water Resources and other entities to take "immediate action" to address the situation.

The Executive Order does not mandate water rationing, but relies on voluntary measures, so it is largely symbolic. The order directs the DWR "to facilitate water transfers to respond to emergency shortages across the state and work with local water districts and agencies to improve local coordination and help local water districts and agencies improve water efficiency and conservation."

The order also directs DWR "to coordinate with other state and federal agencies and departments to assist water suppliers, identify risks to water supply and help farmers suffering losses, and expedite existing grant programs to help local water districts and agencies conserve."

The document also encourages local water districts and agencies to voluntarily promote water conservation."They are encouraged to work cooperatively on the regional and state level to take aggressive, immediate action to reduce water consumption locally and regionally for the remainder of 2008 and prepare for potential worsening water conditions in 2009," according to Schwarzenegger.