The News Review:

- Cities face 20% cuts in water use
- Lawmakers seek billions to expand improve California’s water supply
- The water front

Cities face 20% cuts in water use
San Francisco Chronicle
tmpl –> Despite heavy rainstorms this month state officials say California’s water supply remains critically low because of three dry winters in a row restrictions on water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and a population that has grown by 9 million since the last drought in 1991. In making the declaration Schwarzenegger said the state must prepare for several more years with little rain. Experts predict this year’s runoff – the critical spring melt from Sierra Nevada snow – will be 57 percent of normal. “This drought is having a devastating impact on our people our communities our economy and our environment – making today’s action absolutely necessary” Schwarzenegger said. The governor’s proclamation stopped short of invoking mandatory statewide rationing but officials said that option – which would be a first in California history – is available if other tactics fail.

Lawmakers seek billions to expand improve California’s water supply
Los Angeles Times
By Patrick McGreevy February 27 2009Reporting from Sacramento — With California’s budget crisis resolved for the moment state lawmakers Thursday turned their attention to another emergency: a three-year drought that has left key reservoirs at 35% of capacity. Legislators stepped forward with plans to ask voters to borrow as much as $15 billion for projects to expand and improve the state’s water supply. “This is the session to aggressively solve California’s water challenges” Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) said Thursday. He added however that the state should spend some of the $7 billion in bonds previously approved for water projects before going back to voters for money needed to complete the work.
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The water front
San Bernardino Sun
Trying to place blame won’t produce more water just endless court battles. If we’re going to solve this crisis we will have to do it together. We will all need to use the most efficient means to supply the water needed but not more than is needed. Improvements in irrigation practices on the farms and in the neighborhoods are vital. Indoor water conservation is now the norm for new construction and retrofits to low water-consuming fixtures in older homes are subsidized by the local water agencies. peration of our major statewide water distribution systems – including the construction of surface storage groundwater banking and the Peripheral Canal – will need to be more closely coordinated with meeting reasonable goals for environmental uses while meeting the needs of the people to live work and play. We will all need to share in the responsibility – and the sacrifices – of ensuring that we have a reliable water supply.