Most of the rivers and streams of California are over-appropriated, the state and federal water distribution systems are not being managed in the public interest, and our groundwater resources are being polluted and depleted at a rapid clip. At the same time, the population of California is expected to increase 50% by 2025. We must act now to reshape California's relationship with water.

Among other things, the environmental damage caused by water supply projects (dams, reservoirs, and aqueducts) has not been fully mitigated by project beneficiaries. These projects have degraded water quality, contributed to the imminent collapse of many river and estuarine ecosystems (including the San Francisco Bay Delta), and threaten several protected species with extinction. Proposals from the water industry generally favor increased water diversions, building more dams and export facilities, which will only exacerbate the problems now experienced by the estuaries, rivers, and streams of California.

Two immediate issues link our concerns about our water future: the reliance of developers on “paper water” to meet projected future needs, and the push to deregulate and privatize our water resources - turning water into a commodity as a way of dealing with the increasing competition for this precious resource. Our response, after broad consultation, is a list of 16 Principles for a Sustainable Water Future. These were developed in an open and inclusive manner, working with other environmental, environmental justice, and grassroots organizations, with the goal of providing an adequate, healthful water supply for homes, businesses, workers, farmers and the environment.

Paper Water. All of the publicly funded water supply projects built in California are now over-subscribed, incapable of delivering water as originally planned because of water quality and environmental constraints. Water that has been contracted for, but cannot be delivered, is called “paper water.” Many new developments, new towns, and proposals to mitigate environmental damage are dependent on just such “paper water,” water that exists only in the contracts.

Deregulation/Privatization. As competition grows for our water resources, there are those who would sell water that belongs to all of the people to the highest bidder, for personal profit. They believe that the market should decide how to allocate this resource for its highest and best use. However, many, including C-WIN, believe this publicly owned resource should remain in public hands, and that it is the job of the state to allocate water to meet the needs of all the people and the environment. We must remember what happened when California’s energy was deregulated and subjected to market forces. Our economy was devastated. We must not let this happen with our water.

The Role of the Public and this Website. All segments of the public must be involved in the critical decisions facing our state with regard to how our water supply is managed. Having one place for all those working on water issues to share their thinking, to ask for help from others facing similar issues in different parts of the state, and providing a source of solid scientific information is extremely important if we are to build the public consensus needed for us to assert control over our water future. That is the intended function of this website. We have just begun this process, so please check back frequently for additional information and collaboration tools

Principles for a Sustainable Water Future. A sustainable water policy for California must be integrated, comprehensive, and foster cooperation between and among agencies. It must start with the Public Trust Doctrine, which provides that water belongs to all of us and that it is the State’s job to allocate water fairly to meet the needs of all. Everyone in the state is entitled to a clean, healthful, and affordable drinking water supply. There is plenty of water in the state to meet all the needs of a growing population, a vibrant agricultural economy, and to restore our decimated rivers and streams. It just needs to be used and managed more efficiently.


CURRENT C-WIN ACTION PLAN

There are presently nine major projects and programs moving forward in California that depend on “paper water” and deregulation/privatization. These projects and programs are interrelated and, if permitted to proceed, will increase the demand on the Sacramento/San Joaquin Bay-Delta by as much as a million acre feet per year. C-WIN is actively engaged in halting some of these. The tenth item in our action plan is our positive approach – an integrated, holistic response that is embodied in our Principles for a Sustainable Water Future.

1. SAVING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY DELTA

The Delta is in crisis. Fish populations are crashing because not enough water is being allowed to flow unencumbered through this wetland, once the largest and most productive west of the Mississippi. C-WIN is working before the State Water Resources Control Board and elsewhere to ensure that a adequate water supply for the Delta ecosystem.

2. THE MONTEREY AGREEMENT

The Monterey Agreement was negotiated in secret between State Water Project (SWP) contractors and the state Department of Water Resources (DWR). The intent was to change the SWP from a state-owned and operated water supply project into a contractor-controlled project, and to convert all the contracts into firm entitlements. In this way, if the state could not deliver water because of water quality or endangered species issues, the contractors could sue the state, and force it to produce the water or pay them off. This change would also allow the sale of publicly owned water, including “paper water,” to the highest bidder. The profits would be reaped by the water districts dominated by giant corporate agribusiness interests. No benefits would go to the public, to the environment, or to the other water needs of the state.

The first EIR written to justify this agreement was challenged in court, and declared inadequate. DWR and the contractors were ordered to prepare a revised EIR, which was released in draft form on October 12, 2007.  C-WIN is working to prepare comprehensive comments on this draft EIR and, if necessary, will become the lead plaintiff in any further challenges that might be required to protect California’s water supply.   C-WIN's board is composed of people who are very knowledgeable about the Monterey Agreement litigation, and are prepared to continue that fight.

3. WATER BANKING

Storing water underground in aquifers with available capacity is a good way to store flood flows against times of drought by banking wet year surpluses for dry year need. Unfortunately, when water banking is combined with deregulation and privatization, the public loses control of its water to those operating the banks. Profit becomes the driving force for managing the bank instead of common sense and good public policy.

The State plans to give away the Kern Water Bank as part of the Monterey Agreement. It is located at the juncture of the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP) on the Kern River fan. Because of successful litigation, the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) must conduct a new EIR on the operation of the Kern Water Bank. It is now being operated on an interim basis by a quasi-public entity known as the Kern Water Bank Authority. Paramount Farming Co., the largest grower in the state, now owns a controlling interest in the Authority. The bank is used as a switchyard for all sorts of water, real and “paper.” Individuals and corporations stand to reap huge profits from the transfer and sale of water through these banks -- water that ultimately belongs to the people of California.  C-WIN is monitoring the new EIR, and we will do everything we can to get this water bank back in public ownership.

4. URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS

Urban Water Management Plans (UWMP) by law must be prepared and filed every five years to reflect the water needs of an area, the expected growth of that area, and the ability of the local water district to meet those needs, even during times of drought. C-WIN helped fund a lawsuit challenging the validity of the UWMP filed with DWR by the Castaic Lake Water Agency because we believe that much of the water being counted on to serve the 22,000-home Newhall land development in the Santa Clarita Valley is “paper water” from the SWP. Much of the groundwater on which Newhall is depending is contaminated with ammonium perchlorate. The lawsuit, supported by C-WIN, is the first challenge ever filed to an UWMP. In October 2004, the 5th District Court of Appeal agreed with C-WIN and overturned the Castaic Lake Urban Water Management Plan. A major impact of winning this case is the precedent it establishes, stopping a bogus water management plan from being used as a water source for development.

5. PRINCIPLES FOR A SUSTAINABLE WATER FUTURE

Stopping bad projects must be balanced by a positive response. We cannot just say ‘no’ without providing a solution to what is perceived to be a growing water shortage/crisis. That is the genesis of our proposed Principles. They are also a valuable organizing tool, to marshal support from all those working on water issues, a rallying point for everyone to come together around that is comprehensive, coherent and integrated – a true vision for the future of water in California.


IN CONCLUSION: Water issues have played an enormous role in the history of California.  In California, water equals wealth. We are now at a defining moment in our history, when many decisions are being made that will influence our future for generations to come. How and where water is used needs to be rethought, and new policies need to be developed to manage our water future. This must be done in open public debate, with all interests at the table, helping to think through this difficult process. That is the function intended for this website. C-WIN is dedicated to this process, to ensure that the public interest and the public trust are protected.