Governor Brown earlier today delivered his inaugural address to the Legislature in our State Capitol. With three dry years behind us and many challenges facing water suppliers throughout California, water was a central part of Governor Brown’s remarks and he provided a roadmap for California with respect to our precious water resources.
“We also have the people to thank for Propositions 1 and 2, which save water and money and prepare us for an uncertain future. These are measures that nearly every Democrat and Republican voted to put on the ballot and nearly 70 percent of voters ultimately approved. And I’m proud to report that as a result, by the end of the year, we will be investing in long overdue water projects and saving $2.8 billion in the state’s new constitutionally protected Rainy Day Fund.”
Governor Brown also added that “we are confronting the drought and longer-term water issues” and “we must also deal with longstanding infrastructure challenges. We are finally grappling with the long-term sustainability of our water supply through the recently passed Proposition 1 and our California Water Action Plan.”
As we look to the future in Northern California, we are poised for innovative 21st century water management to support our region’s economy and the environment. We appreciate and commend the efforts by Governor Brown, the Legislature, and the people in California to set the stage for investment in projects that will benefit both our economy and the environment. Our Northern California leadership stands ready to implement Governor Brown’s California Water Action Plan and Proposition 1 in the Sacramento Valley. Now is the time for progress to develop the infrastructure and the regulatory and operational certainty this region needs to flourish into the future.
