Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Thursday 22 February 2018
Some fear California drought cuts could erase water rights

By JONATHAN J. COOPER wasteful water use rather
Associated Press than rely on policies that
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) encourage neighbors to
— A proposal to make develop good practices.
California's drought-era Water board chairwoman
water restrictions perma- Felicia Marcus said the re-
nent could allow the state strictions are hardly a long-
to chip away at long-held term solution to California's
water rights in an unprec- drought problems but "the
edented power grab, rep- least we should do."
resentatives from water “We’re not in an emergen-
districts and other users told cy right now, but shame on
regulators Tuesday. us if we just bury our heads
Members of the state in the sand ... allow people
Water Resources Control to go out and waste water
Board delayed a decision by washing down the drive-
about whether to bring way with a hose when a
back what had been tem- broom would do,” she said.
porary water bans from The plan also includes leg-
California's drought, span- islation that would create
ning 2013 to 2017. The plan customized water-use lim-
is part of an effort to make its for urban water districts,
water conservation a way which would risk state en-
of life, with climate change In this July 8, 2014 file photo, a sign alerts visitors to water conservation efforts is displayed on a forcement if they fell short.
expected to lead to lon- parched lawn at the state Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. Lawmakers also are con-
ger, more severe droughts. Associated Press sidering whether to allow
It comes after U.S. officials districts to enforce drought
declared that nearly half decision is now expected would give cities and coun- water use, and they have regulations, a power now
the state, all of it in the by April 17. ties until 2025 to stop water- no plans to add more en- reserved for the state.
south, is back in drought Hotels would have to ask ing ordinary street medians. forcement officers if the Gov. Jerry Brown lifted
just months after emerging guests if they really need Restaurants would be al- permanent restrictions are California’s emergency
from it. their towels and sheets lowed to serve water only adopted. drought status a year ago,
Officials from several irriga- washed each day. Run- on request if the governor Generally, first-time offend- after a wet winter. Strict 25
tion and water agencies ning an ornamental foun- declares a drought emer- ers would get warnings, percent conservation or-
said the restrictions are rea- tain without a recirculating gency. while repeat offenders risk ders for cities and towns
sonable, but not the plan and other restrictions then
to impose them under the were phased out.
state Constitution's prohibi- Some climate scientists
tion on the "waste or unrea- say the drought never fully
sonable use" of water. That ended in parts of Southern
would create a slippery California. The Los Angeles
slope of allowing the board area has received just a
to repeatedly chip away at fourth of normal rainfall so
California's historic protec- far this rainy season.
tion of water rights for land- In the Northern Sierra Ne-
owners, they said. vada, the winter so far has
"Erratic individuals can oc- been the third-driest on re-
cupy great positions of cord for the year’s wettest
power in government, and three months — Decem-
you had better believe ber, January and February
they will occupy your chair — produced very little rain-
someday," said Jackson fall, said John Leahigh of
Minasian, an attorney for the California Department
Stanford Vina Ranch Irriga- of Water Resources.
tion Co. "Their view of what The water content of the
is 'waste and unreasonable Sierra snowpack, which
use' will be radically differ- feeds water supplies, is
ent than yours." about 20 percent of normal
Some water users also said for this time of year, he said.
permanent mandates Most of California’s reser-
would be too rigid in a voirs are at or slightly above
sprawling state with needs their historical average for
that vary by region. this time of year, but ex-
The restrictions, punishable In this Feb. 12, 2016 file photo, a cyclist rides along recently installed temporary flood control walls perts expect that to fall
by a $500 fine, include pro- along the low level L.A. River in Los Angeles. when water is released in
hibitions on watering lawns Associated Press the spring and summer and
so much that the water not enough melting snow
flows into the street, using can replenish it.
a hose to wash down side- system would be barred, Water officials expect fines. “This is a very ugly picture
walks or using a hose with- as would watering outside neighbors to be responsible Environmental groups in terms of the water supply
out an automatic shut-off within 48 hours of a good for detecting and report- urged officials to crack management,” Leahigh
nozzle to wash cars. A final rain. Another measure ing most of the wasteful down more aggressively on said.q