Chapter 2. Findings of California Water Code >> Division 26.7. >> Chapter 2.
The people of California find and declare all of the
following:
(a) Safeguarding California's supply of clean and safe water for
homes, businesses, and farms is an essential responsibility of
government, and critical to protecting the quality of life for all
Californians.
(b) Every Californian should have access to clean, safe, and
reliable drinking water.
(c) California has been experiencing more frequent and severe
droughts and is currently enduring the worst drought in 200 years.
These droughts are magnifying the shortcomings of our current water
infrastructure.
(d) California's water infrastructure continues to age and
deteriorate. More than 50 years ago, Californians approved the
construction of the State Water Project. In recent decades, however,
that infrastructure has proven inadequate to meet California's
growing needs.
(e) This measure provides funding to implement the three
objectives of the California Water Action Plan which are more
reliable water supplies, the restoration of important species and
habitat, and a more resilient and sustainably managed water
infrastructure.
(f) Developing and guarding our water resources is critical for
California to maintain vibrant communities, globally competitive
agriculture, and healthy ecosystems.
(g) Encouraging water conservation and recycling are commonsense
methods to make more efficient use of existing water supplies.
(h) Sustainable water management in California depends upon
reducing and reversing overdraft and water quality impairment of
groundwater basins. Investments to expand groundwater storage and
reduce and reverse overdraft and water quality impairment of
groundwater basins provide extraordinary public benefit and are in
the public interest.
(i) Protecting lakes, rivers, and streams, cleaning up polluted
groundwater supplies, and preserving water sources that supply the
entire state are crucial to providing a reliable supply of water and
protecting the state's natural resources.
(j) The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act
of 2014 provides a comprehensive and fiscally responsible approach
for addressing the varied challenges facing California's water
resources.