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We must enhance our water supply. Droughts happen here about every eleven years or so. If a drought as serious as the one in 1977 occurred today, we would have to ration out water to less than 50% of our current consumption. It's true that some additional conservation measures could be enacted. But we have already enacted many such measures and we are among the most water saving communities in the country.

If we do not enhance our water supply to cover our needs in time of drought, not only will we have water hardships, but businesses will be forced to close and our economy will suffer major reversals. Responsible leadership cannot allow this to happen!

We ARE increasing conservation measures. But, there is not a lot more saving to be gained from such measures. We still need to stop water wasting. Irrigation runoff is intolerable.

In 2000 I advocated use of reclaimed water to recharge North-Coast aquifers. Sadly, that idea has been vetoed by State Parks officials. To overturn that decision would require a major campaign at the State level that we are not likely to win.

We are left with the conclusions of the Integrated Water Plan report that some version of a desalinization facility is our best option at present to provide us the needed water supply in times of drought. A great deal of community discussion will be held on this subject during the next six months.

In the long term, we should develop the recovery of storm runoff and storage via ground water recharge.

Watershed Management: We must recognize and protect all of the important elements that contribute to our natural watershed and avoid shortsighted actions that would compromise it.