We can’t afford to wait until disaster strikes to protect our water supply.

About Us  Established in 1984  Nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to education & outreach on water issues  Regional leader on water policy  Spans Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Ventura & Kern Counties  Diverse membership representing water, business, local government, agriculture & labor  Regional base; statewide influence

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: California’s Water Epicenter

Distribution Center for California’s Water Supply Levees for channeling flows Pumps for moving water to cities and farms Drinking water for 25 million Californians Irrigation water for millions of acres of prime farmland Clean water for businesses and industries statewide

A Threatened Natural Resource Largest estuary on the West Coast Home to 750 species of wildlife and plants 95% of original wetlands erased by levees Invasive species plaguing the estuary Fragile native fish populations

Long-Standing Communities 500,000 acres of farmland, vineyards and orchards Popular boating, windsurfing and ecotourism center Corridor for key utility lines and railways Home to 515,000 people

 Past generations invested in a network of dams, aqueducts and pumps to move water around the state  100-year-old man-made levee system is old and fragile  Much of the land has subsided below sea level  Future sea level rise and changing weather patterns will put greater pressure on the levees A Vulnerable & Incomplete System

“California must implement a science- based plan to ensure safe and adequate water supplies while addressing the severe challenges facing the Delta.” -Governor Jerry Brown

Due to political conflicts, forced to rely on a vulnerable system Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Joaquin Valley, Inland Empire, San Diego and Central Coast all depend on this critical lifeline.

Major Earthquake According to the CA Department of Water Resources : - Levees collapse - Loss of lives - Seawater rushes in; contaminates fresh water - Water deliveries interrupted for up to 1 ½ years - Up to $40 billion in economic damage - Require $2.3 billion in repairs

How likely is a major earthquake (6.7 magnitude) to hit Northern California?

U.S. Geological Survey predicts Bay Area has a 63% chance of experiencing a major earthquake in the next 30 years

It is not an issue of IF It is an issue of WHEN...

“ Should the Delta levees fail, the consequences are likely to be sudden and catastrophic for local residents, landowners, Delta species, and water exporters.” -Public Policy Institute of California

We can act now...

Survival Kit for the Delta: Bay Delta Conservation Plan  Would be one of California’s largest public works and environmental restoration projects  Cooperative effort between federal and state agencies, public water agencies, leading scientists and key environmental groups

Bay Delta Conservation Plan Two Vital Goals Restoring water supplies and reliability Preserving and enhancing the environment for fish, wildlife and people

 Significant habitat restoration  New conveyance facility to protect water supply and environment  Moves portion of freshwater supply under or around the Delta, separating from fragile ecosystem  Engineered to withstand earthquakes, floods and changes in sea level  Operated under nation’s toughest environmental standards Redesigning the System

New Water Conveyance Several Options Under Review Tunnel System Under the Delta Varying capacities under study 35 miles in length Canal System Open air canal Alignment east of the Delta 42 miles in length

A retrofit of the existing system that secures it from risk of flood, earthquake and sea level rise in the Delta is the most sensible approach

Widespread Benefits For People  Water supply protected from earthquakes, floods and sea level rise—restores reliability  Dependable, clean water supply for communities  Improved water quality  Stability for California’s $35B agricultural industry  Security for varied economic sectors

Benefits For The Environment  Protection of endangered fish  Enhancement and preservation of 113,000 acres  Natural floodplains restored  Returns more natural flow patterns to the Delta  Creation and protection of wetlands  Better control of non-native species

Investing In The Seismic Retrofit  Project is prudent, affordable & urgently needed  Cost of the water conveyance project would be covered by public water agencies  ~$10 billion  Project would be financed over many years  No state general fund dollars involved  Broader funding sources, including potentially voter approved bonds, would pay for environmental improvements

An Investment Long Overdue $$$¢ Prisons Public Schools Hospitals Bridges & Highways California’s Water Delivery System

Tough Times in the Golden State One out of three unemployed have been jobless for a year or more 2.1 million unemployed 2nd highest unemployment in the nation

UC Berkeley study shows the tunnel construction alone would create 130,000 new jobs during 7-year period

“…This is the moment to push forward with solutions, apply the best science available, and build a water future for California…” -Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior

“…The Bay Delta Conservation Plan has long seemed to me to be the best hope for ‘peace on the river’: water supply reliability and restoration of the ecosystem.” -U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

Here’s How YOU Can Help  Send a support letter to the Governor and Legislature  Publish an article in your newsletter  Post a banner link to this program on your web site  Submit an opinion editorial or commentary to your local newspapers  Link to this program in your social media outlets  Distribute our brochure and other materials to your membership  Invite SCWC to speak at your regional conferences/events

For more information: Southern California Water Committee State Water Contractors Bay Delta Conservation Plan