Presented by Debbie Davis Policy Director Environmental Justice Coalition for Water May 26, 2010 California’s Just and Resilient Water Future

About The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water Statewide coalition of more than seventy community-based and non-profit organizations Fighting for water justice in California Safe drinking water, waterways that support subsistence fishing, tribal cultural uses, recreational access

Water Bond 2010 An Expensive Recipe for Disaster Expensive $22 billion price tag – Largest Water Bond Ever $800 million annual debt service 19 th Century Plan $3 billion continuously appropriate for storage ($200 mil) Limits Spending to $5.57 billion through 2015 Ignores Core Needs Less than 1% guaranteed to most vulnerable communities Under invests in climate-resilient water strategies

Facing a $19 billion shortfall this year Bond Freeze has meant that dollars already authorized have not gone out Still more than $7 billion in authorized water bond dollars that have not been spent California Cannot Afford to add $22 Billion in Dept to the Balance Sheet “…further increasing the General Fund’s debt burden, especially in the next three difficult budgets, would require cutting even deeper into crucial services already reeling from billions of dollars in reductions. “ State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, 2009 Debt Affordability Report

19 th Century Practices Lack Climate Resilience - Agriculture 80% of California’s Developed Water Global Water – Food – Climate Crisis Requires a Shift from Industrial Agriculture to Sustainable Agriculture Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

19 th Century Practices and Old Infrastructure – Domestic Use Transporting, Heating, and Treating Water Uses 30% of California’s Gas and Electricity 60% of water delivered for domestic use is used on outdoor irrigation. Old Infrastructure leaks and forces flushing of the system wasting treated water.

Ignores Core Needs - Less Than 1% Guaranteed to Go to the Most Vulnerable Communities More than 1.5 million Californians are without safe drinking water in the Central Valley Alone. Millions are on failing septic systems. Tens of millions rely on old and decrepit water and wastewater infrastructure.

Climate Is Changing Successful Navigation of Energy-Water Nexus is Critical to Addressing Climate Change Uncertainty is the Only Rule A Few Facts About California Water and Climate We can’t stop climate change, but we can choose to accept climate change as an opportunity.

Good News: We Can Chart a Climate Resilient, Just Water Future Sustainability Climate Resilience Fiscal Responsibility Equity Environmental Justice Regional Equity

A Truth About California Water “…we have enough to live on, but not enough to waste.” Dorothy Green, October 8, 2008