UPDATES ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS IN CALIFORNIA

In our largely arid state, with a population of over 37 million, assuring adequate water is essential. Improving water use efficiency is both the most cost effective and least environmentally damaging way to meet our needs. We are working closely with cities, counties, and water agencies in efforts such as the California Urban Water Conservation Council to improve and expand water conservation and efficiency efforts. We also work with the state’s Department of Water Resources on the development of the California Water Plan, the state’s 5-year guide for water resources, and on reducing outdoor water use by working to update the state’s model landscape ordinance.

In addition to our involvement in water supply issues, Sierra Club California is also working on water quality issues. Too many of California’s streams and lakes are impaired by urban runoff, logging, and agricultural operations. We lobby the Water Board to beef up enforcement against polluters and illegal water diversions. For the past two years, we have been fighting to protect California’s coast and marine environment by working to eliminatethe harmful effects of “once-through-cooling” at coastal power plants. We have lobbied and testified against this practice before the State Water Board, the State Lands Commission and the Ocean Protection Council, urging them to curtail this destructive practice. And we hold decision makers accountable at the State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards as they adopt plans and approve permits.

We know what is at stake: clean water is California’s most valuable resource.

July 14,2008 interview, "Which Way LA" (NPR)

[Skip in player to "Schwarzenegger and Feinstein Team Up on a New Water Bond," starts at 13:27]

"It's hard to say that one more dam would actually improve California's environment."

-Sierra Club California Senior Advocate Jim Metropulos