A Make the Developers Pay-Water Bill is Being Debated in Sacramento
A bill requiring new development in California to create the water supply that it would need is heading to a vote in Sacramento. While this release from PCL say this bill would encourage "sustainable growth", we know that one person's definition of acceptable growth can still lead to more of our wild lands being paved over. PCL has a mixed record on environmental protection issues, (ie., they often cut deals to get one goal while sacrificing another, often upsetting local activists, such as the recent Tejon Ranch deal, see http://www.pcl.org/newsroom/050808tejonranch.html), but they also have won important water supply cases, such as PCL vs. Department of Water Resources, http://www.pclfoundation.org/projects/landmarkcawatercase.html and they publish a great guide to understanding the California Environmental Quality Act, which you can order at https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5056/t/1915/shop/item.jsp?storefront_KEY=9&t=&store_item_KEY=62
Nevertheless, given that our state has run out of available water for new growth, if this bill requires developers to create their own water supplies rather than rely on taxpayer-funded water systems, this may affect the economic viability/sensibility of new sprawl projects.
--the editor, Rex Frankel
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CALLS NEEDED NOW TO SUPPORT AB 2153 (Krekorian/Hancock) - THE WATER EFFICIENCY AND SECURITY ACT
AB 2153, one of the Planning and Conservation League's top priority bills for 2008, is headed for a vote on the Assembly floor as early as tomorrow, May 28th.
AB 2153 allows California to accommodate growth while maintaining water supply reliability by requiring new development to be water efficient and to mitigate new water demands with water efficiency or the development of sustainable local water supplies. It is supported by a coalition of over 35 groups, including cities, water agencies, environmental justice and environmental organizations.
AB 2153 costs are specifically limited to 1% of the costs of new development. AB 2153 is a cost-effective way to secure water supplies while encouraging sustainable growth in California .
Call Your Assemblymember NOW and Ask Them to Support AB 2153!
Use this link to find your Assemblymember: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
Please call the number at your Assemblymember's Capitol Office (rather than calling a district office), identify yourself as living in the member's district, and ask for an AYE vote on Assembly Bill 2153. If you need other persuasive phrases, see the talking points below…
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please call NOW to ask your Assemblymember to vote YES on AB 2153!
TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR CALL
- AB 2153 is supported by a coalition of over 35 organizations and agencies including cities, water agencies, fishing groups, community groups, environmental and environmental justice organizations.
- As California grows we must protect and secure our water reliability. Water supply reliability is declining, as evidenced by the unprecedented closing of the salmon season, the Delta decline, continuing contamination of groundwater, major rationing in several regions of the state including the East Bay and Southern California. Climate change will further exacerbate these problems. According to DWR, we may lose up to 4.5 million acre-feet of snowpack by 2050.
- AB 2153 allows California to accommodate growth while maintaining water supply reliability by requiring new development to be water efficient and to mitigate new water demands with water efficiency or development of sustainable local water supplies. AB 2153 also ensures 40% of mitigation projects will be directed to disadvantaged communities that otherwise would not be able to afford efficiency and adaptation measures.
- AB 2153 is a cost-effective way to secure water supplies while encouraging sustainable growth in California . AB 2153 costs are specifically limited to 1% of the costs of new development.
- AB 2153 is consistent with policies in California . Several communities in California have implemented similar programs:
- East Bay Municipal Utility District required a 2 to 1 mitigation.
- Los Angeles just announced that they will accommodate all new growth with conservation and water recycling.
- Vote for AB 2153 when it comes to the Floor this week!
CALL NOW & TELL YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER TO SUPPORT AB 2153 - SUPPORT WATER SECURITY!
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