California League of Conservation Voters Praises Historic Water Policy Package

Package Represents a Comprehensive Approach to State Water Management

OAKLAND, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2009) – The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) – the non-partisan political arm of the environmental movement in California—praised the passage today of a package of water policy bills that represents a comprehensive approach to state water management. CLCV joined several other environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and Defenders of Wildlife, in support of the legislation.

CLCV’s central mission is to elect environmental champions to statewide office and hold them accountable to a strong environmental agenda. CLCV staff and members of the Board of Directors decided to support the package due to the historic importance of the issue and the merits of the legislation.

“This historic package includes strong protections for the Delta as well as landmark Delta ecosystem protections, conservation and groundwater monitoring measures,” said Warner Chabot, CEO of CLCV. “This water package has strong support from many diverse interests including environmental leaders, the business community, progressive urban water agencies, and even some in agriculture. While not perfect, this package provides a strong basis for critical reforms to California’s complex water issues.”

The legislation:

sets conservation as a cornerstone for water policy;
reduces reliance on the Delta for water supply;
improves environmental standards for Delta planning;
develops good science to guide California underground water resources;
improves enforcement capacity at the state water board.

“Along with some in the environmental community who opposed the legislation, we wish some of the provisions were stronger. But it embodies a far-reaching set of new policies to guide more holistic decisions about how best to manage the state’s water supplies,” said Chabot. “Water management decisions have major impacts on California’s environment, and under this landmark package we believe those decisions will result in a more sustainable future for all Californians.”

About the California League of Conservation Voters

The political muscle of the environmental movement in America’s leading environmental state, the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) is the nation’s oldest grassroots environmental political action organization. CLCV uses sophisticated campaign tools to help elect pro-environment officials — and to hold them accountable for passing legislation to protect health, communities and the environment. CLCV publishes the annual California Environmental Scorecard, which rates the actions of every state legislator and the governor on the state’s environmental priorities each legislative year. For the results of the upcoming annual California Environmental Scorecard, and for information on CLCV’s campaign to “Build a Greener Governor” in 2010, visit www.ecovote.org.

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