Dams won’t hold back California water wars

A wave of California lawmakers flushed out an $11 billion fix to the state’s massive water conundrum. The problem? While the majority of people live in the deserts of Southern California, most of the water comes from the north.

To solve it, Gov. Terminator is proposing new dams so the Golden State can save up water for dry times. The measure will be up for a vote next November.

But as water expert Peter Gleick pointed out to the Environment Report, the idea fails to make water users accountable for their long showers and untamed irrigation.

“We will never ultimately, sustainably manage our water resources if we don’t know who is using how much water to do what,” he said. “And we don’t, with any degree of accuracy. And that’s still not addressed in this bill.”

Southern California – like the rest of southwestern United States – isn’t suitable for green grass and water slides. Any viable solution to the growing water crisis must include conservation measures. Diverting water from other parts of the country will only divert the problem temporarily.

Schwarzenegger’s solution seems to cater to the majority of Californians, located around Los Angeles and San Diego. “For decades, Californians have been fighting about water,” Schwarzenegger told the Associated Press. “I’ve heard the pleas of the people here from this valley, I have heard the pleas of the people of the state of California, and I think the legislators have heard those pleas as well. So I am here to tell all of you help is on the way.”

But water policy can’t just cater to pleas. Of course Californians want an easy fix, but hopefully come next November they’ll realize why other states – and even California – are taking down dams to protect wildlife.

So don’t drink up California, demand some accountability on water use and vote down this $11 billion band-aid.