A Sign of The Times: L.A. Editorial Embraces New Water Philosophy

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Traci Sheehan
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League

This Monday the Los Angeles Times made news of its own with a surprising editorial that marks a major shift in long held battle positions in California's water wars.

The editorial strays from the Los Angeles tradition that sought to accommodate new growth with water from a far away river, such as the Owens River, the Colorado River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Instead, the Times blazed a new path that recognizes that increasing demand, climate change and environmental crises make imported water less reliable than ever before. The editorial rightly calls for Southern California to accommodate growth through aggressive development of reliable local water supplies, such as stormwater capture, water recycling, groundwater clean-up, and increased efficiency.

Even more astonishing, the editorial proclaims to be the first in a Times series to "sketch a blueprint for a perfect water system" that "acknowledges how limited a resource water truly is–a plan that seeks to balance the needs of people, the economy, and the environment in considering how best to use and preserve it."

The editorial reflects a growing momentum for a new strategy to meet water needs in California that focuses on regional supply development and decreased reliance on water imports, the cornerstone of PCL's Investment Strategy for California Water (2004).

We look forward to working with progressive leaders in Southern California to implement a new vision for California water.

Administration Peddling Old Water Idea; Legislature Says 'Not So Fast'

Despite the positive developments in Southern California, this week the Administration sent signals that it is focused on implementing an old idea, building a canal or pipe around the Delta in order to export water directly from the Sacramento River for delivery to the San Joaquin Valley, the Bay Area, and Southern California.