Rep. Costa Statement Regarding the Delta Water Ruling
"Today's ruling by Judge Wanger to again reduce water deliveries south of the Delta is deeply disappointing to me and the people I represent who rely heavily on these water deliveries for drinking supply, water quality, and crops. While the calculations of the impacts are still being developed, it is clear that the net impact will be staggering. To say that these water supplies are the life-blood of many areas is not an understatement.
It is unfortunate that once again, one portion of the state is compelled to shoulder the burden of sacrifice while 20 plus million residents of the state of California utilize the waters of the Delta. Water deliveries pumped south of the Delta represent only one of the many possible reasons for the decline of the Delta Smelt. The impact of nearly 1800 unscreened diversions in the Delta or the impact of water temperature, toxicity factors in and around the Delta, as well as competing species and predators do not receive the same scrutiny. Decisions such as this do not take into account fully the human costs, the economic and quality of life impacts faced by the disadvantaged communities and industries that rely on the flow of this vital resource. I would again call upon the courts and the appropriate agencies to apply an even hand in the carrying out these mandates. The lives and livelihoods of millions of Californians depend on it.
This decision makes it imperative now more than ever that we focus on increasing the water supply for our state. Climate change is happening, and our water supply and delivery system has changed little over the last 35 years when our population was less than 20 million people. Our population is now 37 million and growing, and we need to address the supply and delivery of water systems to sustain that growth for our cities and farms. Solutions that are practical and cost effective must be implemented for the Delta, as well as the state's water supply, water quality and flood control, while balancing the needs of the environment. We must come together at the federal, state and local levels on the water crisis facing us, because what's at stake is California's economic future."