Post by Logan on Jan 16, 2016 3:26:24 GMT -6
Drought rules could be eased for Sacramento region, other inland areas
Acknowledging the challenges posed by the hot, dry climate endemic to much of inland California, state drought regulators Friday proposed easing the water-conservation rules for Sacramento and other communities where it takes extra water to keep trees from dying.
The new rules also would loosen conservation mandates for communities that have invested in new “drought-resilient” water supplies, as well as those that have experienced rapid population growth in recent years.
All told, the proposed regulations released by the State Water Resources Control Board’s staff would make it unlikely the state would achieve 25 percent urban water savings in 2016 – the goal set by Gov. Jerry Brown last spring. Environmentalists criticized the board’s proposal, saying it would be a major mistake to ease off conservation mandates with the drought still in effect.
But water board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus said the modifications are reasonable, taking climate differences into account and giving communities credit for buttressing their supplies. And she said the board isn’t abandoning the concept of conservation.
Read more here: www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article54957530.html
Acknowledging the challenges posed by the hot, dry climate endemic to much of inland California, state drought regulators Friday proposed easing the water-conservation rules for Sacramento and other communities where it takes extra water to keep trees from dying.
The new rules also would loosen conservation mandates for communities that have invested in new “drought-resilient” water supplies, as well as those that have experienced rapid population growth in recent years.
All told, the proposed regulations released by the State Water Resources Control Board’s staff would make it unlikely the state would achieve 25 percent urban water savings in 2016 – the goal set by Gov. Jerry Brown last spring. Environmentalists criticized the board’s proposal, saying it would be a major mistake to ease off conservation mandates with the drought still in effect.
But water board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus said the modifications are reasonable, taking climate differences into account and giving communities credit for buttressing their supplies. And she said the board isn’t abandoning the concept of conservation.
Read more here: www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article54957530.html