Don't stop worrying about water

The rains that have poured down in the Bay Area for a week have brought us a lot of rain, but not so much that we can stop conserving water. That's the word from water experts as reported in the S.F. Chronicle today. One year with plenty of rain--and it's too early to know whether we have that yet--is not enough to end a drought that's been going on for three years. It took three dry years to get to the point we are at now and it will take at least two or three years to build up enough water for a while. The truth is, we will never be secure about water. The climate in the Bay Area was not arranged for the convenience of all the humans who live here, not if they insist on maintaining green lawns and exotic gardens planned for far different climates. Let's face reality. If we want to enjoy the benefits of our mild climate and almost-always sunny skies, we have to change our habits to suit our location. Don't let a few days of rain make us forget that cooperation with nature always works better than fighting against it.

The Time Is Right For Fair Elections In California

First, the good news: a reminder that we voters will be able to say YES! to the California Fair Elections Act next June 2010. We will be able to head down the path to elections money can't buy and to representatives beholden only to we voters.

Now the shameful news: Only 13% of polled Californians said they approve of our legislature in Sacramento. It is the lowest rating in the 25 years this polling has occurred*. The Governor has a 65% disapproval rating; only 27% approve of his performance. Terribly sad considering how much work there is to be done. Trust begets patience. By contrast, we are closer to despair.

But not entirely there. It seems 73% of those polled, equally democrats and republicans, are ready to give it another go. Th0se surveyed believe the legislators should return for a special session to address the State's perilous water situation. We have an endless capacity for optimism. This actually belongs in the good news category.

Let's look ahead of whatever happens this fall in Sacramento, toward transforming the legislator and the Governor. Let's have candidates who are driven to be public servants in Sacramento, and everywhere. Take the money out of politics. When you next see someone pacing with a clipboard with California Fair Elections in bold letters on the back, take a moment to pick up materials to learn more about recovering a government for the people by the people. LLII.

*More about the latest Field poll results here.

Second Act for the San Joaquin River

On October 1 the first phase of a plan to restore the full length of the San Joaquin river was implemented, when engineers began releasing water from the Friant Dam outside Fresno into the artificially dry riverbed. By 2014, the river will flow freely to the Pacific Ocean. Currently it flows, then stops, then flows, then stops, then flows again. Ecosystems were dangerously disrupted to help sustain agriculture. I won't pretend to understand the science of it all, but it seems what may have been brilliant at the time was more than mother nature should have had to bear. A consortium of the constituencies collaborated on the plan that gives the river a second act. They say no one is completely satisfied, so it probably is a good result.

A friend who studies geopolitics told me once that while it used to be all wars are about land, in our lifetime all wars will be about water. Well, certainly we have wars that are just about idiocy, but systemic conflict could turn on water rights and access, in support of farming, manufacturing, energy, and shipping. In short, wars about water for business, which means for money.

Water management, then, could equate to conflict management. Learn more about managing water in California from the Water Education Foundation. The site provides information about the San Joaquin river restoration project among other water topics. If you've deprived yourself and your family of a vacation this year for all the obvious reasons and are going a bit stir-crazy, surely you can rationalize indulging in a tour of the project, for two days and and one night in November. Check it out. Save your sanity by getting away; save civilization by experiencing the peaceful power of water management. LLII.

Another legislative failure

Californians are becoming used to having a legislature which seems unable to cope with the most important issues facing our state. Once again a legislative session has come to an end with many important bills still languishing. The S.F. Chronicle told us today that the legislature failed to pass the water bill despite the urgency of this issue. Was it the process that was at fault? Were not enough people consulted? Opinions differ, but while legislators and commentators argue about whose at fault for the failures, the problems mount. Our coastline is rising, our snowpack grows more unreliable is dwindling, and a drought continues to afflict much of the state. The curious citizen can take a look at California's Water Plan, a document that outlines many of the problems, but our legislators appear unable to accept clear evidence that something needs to be done. We need to get busy and contact our representatives to demand action. This is not the only difficult issue facing the state, but it is a vital one for all of us.