| Robert Newman For Governor |
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Where there is water there is life. Water is essential for the production of food, both plant and animal.
Water is important for natural and man-made recreation. Water purchased from northern California needs
to be conveyed through a by-pass of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and stored in southern
locations. Water must be recycled as well as conserved.
The State Water Project (SWP) was established in the 1950’s. SWP water is collected behind the Oroville
Dam north of Sacramento. The water is then returned into the Feather River flowing into the Sacramento
River and eventuates in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. So all the water does not flow out to the
Pacific Ocean, some water is pumped out at Tracy into 760 miles of aqueducts, canals, and pipelines.
The water travels south filling man-made lakes which re-charge underground water basins. Various
districts buy the water for filtration or re-charge purposes. As needed the districts pump the water out of
the ground for retail to rate paying customers.
I have studied water issues throughout California for a number of years and have visited sites (via
organized Water Education Foundation tours) all over the state from north of Redding to San Diego
County. I have attended Delta Vision meetings and symposia. I have conscientiously and actively
participated in board meetings of the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency which is the most southern of the
SWP water contractors. During this time period I have participated in Finance and Budget as well as
Engineering Committee meetings.
Last year the Pass Water Agency could only be guaranteed 25% of its water order. This is certainly
frightening! Think of it this way: Would you be concerned if you were told you could only have 25% of the
water allotted to you last year for your current use? We are currently facing a water crisis.
The explanation to this water shortage crisis relates to over development in the area giving rise to over-
drafting of our water basins. Pumping out of the Delta has been drastically reduced by court order due to
threat to the endangered species, i.e., the delta smelt. (And now a legitimate concern for juvenile salmon
has been announced.) The state has received inadequate rainfall. Also, the snow-melt pattern is
changing due to global warming so that the reservoirs are not equipped to receive and release in a
manner consistent with a good conservation effort.
Slowing water consuming development is appropriate so water can be reserved. But concerning water
resources, we truly need surface and basin storage south of the Delta in addition to existing San Luis
Reservoir. We need a peripheral canal correctly called a duel conveyance “isolated facility.” (This new
term is intended to disguise the suggested plan to go around the sensitive delta ecosystem hoping voters
won’t remember the defeat of the “Peripheral Canal” in 1982.) To conserve water, a current and
expensive, active effort by water agencies and districts is in order. In 2007, Pass Water Agency spent
$17,300 to educate people concerning saving water. Other state water contractors have also spent a
great deal of money toward conservation education.
You may be aware of water wars in the Old West but may have forgotten the water well dispute recorded
in Genesis 26:18-25. Water is a precious commodity. We can live without a lot of things but water is not
one of them!
As the government continues to greatly contribute to the water crisis by promoting development, the
problem it creates is currently being placed at our doorsteps through rationing of water and with
concurrent surcharges (by a variety of names). Therefore, I encourage you to attend water board
meetings to learn how your water availability is being threatened.
Water is important for natural and man-made recreation. Water purchased from northern California needs
to be conveyed through a by-pass of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and stored in southern
locations. Water must be recycled as well as conserved.
The State Water Project (SWP) was established in the 1950’s. SWP water is collected behind the Oroville
Dam north of Sacramento. The water is then returned into the Feather River flowing into the Sacramento
River and eventuates in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. So all the water does not flow out to the
Pacific Ocean, some water is pumped out at Tracy into 760 miles of aqueducts, canals, and pipelines.
The water travels south filling man-made lakes which re-charge underground water basins. Various
districts buy the water for filtration or re-charge purposes. As needed the districts pump the water out of
the ground for retail to rate paying customers.
I have studied water issues throughout California for a number of years and have visited sites (via
organized Water Education Foundation tours) all over the state from north of Redding to San Diego
County. I have attended Delta Vision meetings and symposia. I have conscientiously and actively
participated in board meetings of the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency which is the most southern of the
SWP water contractors. During this time period I have participated in Finance and Budget as well as
Engineering Committee meetings.
Last year the Pass Water Agency could only be guaranteed 25% of its water order. This is certainly
frightening! Think of it this way: Would you be concerned if you were told you could only have 25% of the
water allotted to you last year for your current use? We are currently facing a water crisis.
The explanation to this water shortage crisis relates to over development in the area giving rise to over-
drafting of our water basins. Pumping out of the Delta has been drastically reduced by court order due to
threat to the endangered species, i.e., the delta smelt. (And now a legitimate concern for juvenile salmon
has been announced.) The state has received inadequate rainfall. Also, the snow-melt pattern is
changing due to global warming so that the reservoirs are not equipped to receive and release in a
manner consistent with a good conservation effort.
Slowing water consuming development is appropriate so water can be reserved. But concerning water
resources, we truly need surface and basin storage south of the Delta in addition to existing San Luis
Reservoir. We need a peripheral canal correctly called a duel conveyance “isolated facility.” (This new
term is intended to disguise the suggested plan to go around the sensitive delta ecosystem hoping voters
won’t remember the defeat of the “Peripheral Canal” in 1982.) To conserve water, a current and
expensive, active effort by water agencies and districts is in order. In 2007, Pass Water Agency spent
$17,300 to educate people concerning saving water. Other state water contractors have also spent a
great deal of money toward conservation education.
You may be aware of water wars in the Old West but may have forgotten the water well dispute recorded
in Genesis 26:18-25. Water is a precious commodity. We can live without a lot of things but water is not
one of them!
As the government continues to greatly contribute to the water crisis by promoting development, the
problem it creates is currently being placed at our doorsteps through rationing of water and with
concurrent surcharges (by a variety of names). Therefore, I encourage you to attend water board
meetings to learn how your water availability is being threatened.
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Water
| For more than five years I have been actively involved with the water issues of California. Robert Newman |
"The voice of the people"
| Photo by Jaziz Hallas |
