(July 24, 2009) The California Chamber of Commerce is supporting a petition to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and President Barack Obama to keep water flowing and save jobs.
The CalChamber is encouraging California businesses to sign the petition to urge Governor Schwarzenegger to use his authority to ask the federal government to convene the Endangered Species Committee to exempt the operations of state and federal water delivery systems from measures that will inflict serious economic and social harm on millions of Californians.
Favorable action on this petition spearheaded by the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) will permit water to be pumped from the Delta for growers and others that rely on this important supply.
PLF points out that federal bureaucrats have imposed a regulatory drought on California by requiring that water supplies be diverted from farms and cities to various fish species. The basis of the requirement is a federal “biological opinion”— a plan to protect several species.
Governor Schwarzenegger has said that the biological opinion used to justify severe water restrictions in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta "puts fish above the needs of millions of Californians and the health and security of the world's eighth-largest economy."
Statewide Drought
The water system that contributed to California’s emergence as one of the world’s major economic powers is faltering. Existing facilities are barely able to meet current public demands. Over the next 25 years, demand for water statewide will grow between 2 million and 6 million acre-feet, yet California is still a dry winter or two away from a drought and subsequent water rationing for parts of the state.
As a result of California’s third consecutive year of drought, the Governor proclaimed a state of emergency in March and ordered immediate action to manage the crisis.
In the proclamation, the Governor directs all state government agencies to utilize their resources, implement a state emergency plan and provide assistance for people, communities and businesses impacted by the drought, pointing out that the drought and water restrictions are causing additional devastating economic and business losses.
Agricultural revenue losses exceed $300 million to date and could exceed $2 billion in the coming season, with a total economic loss of nearly $3 billion in 2009, according to the proclamation.
To sign the petition, visit the Pacific Legal Foundation website.