In Opposition-permanent water conservation, expanded regulatory powers, and other proposed legislation

In a hand-carried letter to each and every California Senator and Assembly Member’s office on Friday, April 14, MCWRA took a position to strongly oppose the budget trailer bill that would impose mandatory water conservation measures and expand regulatory powers and authority.  “This draconian and arbitrary rationing decision tramples upon the personal rights of individuals to make choices on their beneficial use of water, undermines local conditions, undermines local control, the state’s water rights priority system and Area-of-Origin water right assurances in this region” said executive director John Kingsbury.  The state would greatly benefit from a more strategic approach to water management than what is being proposed in Sacramento.  In the 7-page letter, Kingsbury said that he also took the opportunity to lay out several of the regional and statewide issues to help educate those legislators removed from water issues.

Letter to State Senators – Water Conservation

Letter to State Assembly Members – Water Conservation

The bill makes water use efficiency a way of life in California in a manner that accounts for local conditions, while also recognizing and incentivizing sustainable, balanced approaches to water management. AB 968 will establish a collaborative stakeholder process to continue improvement in water use efficiency beyond 2025.

The bill would prohibit a water supplier from being required to reduce its use or reliance on any water supply available beyond the steps specified in its water shortage contingency analysis, protecting water suppliers’ and their customers’ investments in resilient water supply sources.

MCWRA also hand-carried and delivered 94 letters specific to two significant Assembly bills headed through the political system; AB 975 and AB 1667.  MCWRA has OPPOSED both bills.