May 14, 2008

SACRAMENTO, CA – Lt. Governor John Garamendi made the following comments today on the Governor’s revised budget proposal:
 
“Today’s budget revision does not live up to the promise or the needs of this great state and its people. It sorely lacks the long term structural solutions that will move our state forward and cuts right at the heart of the most vulnerable among us – slashing more than $2 billion from the health and human services January proposal.
 
“While some cuts to education were restored, we should be clear that this level of funding will leave our schools and our children's hungry minds on a starvation diet.
 
"I am also concerned that mortgaging the lottery amounts to California taking a risky big spin -- possibly diverting money that has been promised to education, and balancing the budget with the promise of a future ballot measure.
 
“There is no question that our state’s chronic structural imbalance calls us to carefully examine our budgeting priorities and to seek reforms that increase efficiency of all state programs. We must remember that the success of the Golden State over the past half century was based on a robust, entrepreneurial private sector matched by state investments that propelled us into the 21st century.”

John Garamendi

Sacramento Bee, Monday, May 12, 2008

Like a splash of cold water to the face, the recent startling reports from state water surveyors should be enough to wake up our state.

As The Bee reported May 2, the Sierra snowpack stands at just 67 percent of average levels, and March and April were the driest in recorded history. Local governments have been told to prepare for rationing. But as we proceed rapidly into a world changed by global warming, a spring like 2008's may be the new normal.

Climate change is anticipated to have three major impacts on California's future water supply. First, the Sierra Nevada snowpack, California's primary water reservoir, is anticipated to shrink 30 percent to 90 percent by the end of the century. Second, warmer temperatures will produce warmer winter storms – the classic Pineapple Express – which will lead to more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow, increased threat of flooding, more pressure on our already vulnerable levee systems and serious issues surrounding our ability to store water. And third, rising sea levels will lead to an influx of salt water on our coastline and rivers, affecting water quality, habitat and further reducing our already limited freshwater supply.

Add to this the pressure California's population growth (600,000 people per year) is placing on water resources, not to mention the declining health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and shrinking supplies from the Colorado River. The simple truth is California's water infrastructure cannot withstand the dual stresses of climate change and population growth. We must adapt and manage our water more efficiently.