The Environmental Water Caucus:

The Mission of the Environmental Water Caucus is to achieve comprehensive, sustainable water management solutions for all Californians. EWC and its members employ political, legal and economic strategies to restore ecological health, improve water quality and protect public trust values throughout the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta estuary and the Central Valley/Sierra Nevada watersheds.

The EWC was formed in 1991. Active members include most groups advocating for equitable and sustainable California water resource use.

CALIFORNIA WATER SOLUTIONS NOW

CALIFORNIA WATER SOLUTIONS NOW, Second Edition, is a game-changing report published by a broad coalition of 27 fishing, public health, conservation, environmental justice, and tribal organizations. It includes comments related to the water policy legislation that was passed in November 2009 as well as further discussions of water supply options.

Most of the actions detailed in the 48-page report will provide water to people and the environment almost immediately, with significant new jobs, at far lower costs and with significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than new dams and their associated infrastructure. The report shows how California’s water needs can be met with reduced water exports from the Bay-Delta, which precludes the need for a destructive Peripheral Canal.

Based on multiple scientific and engineering studies, it demonstrates how sustainable water management, including groundwater cleanup, water recycling, local storm water capture, careful water transfers, and cost-effective water conservation can provide the water needed to serve California’s projected population, economy, employment and environment through 2050.

The groups are releasing this report to inform the ongoing debate about the methods for supplying water to the state, particularly in light of the $11 billion water bond that will appear on the November ballot. The report, in fact, proposes water delivery and ecosystem recovery actions that can be achieved in a more fiscally responsible and environmentally protective manner than the proposed bond measure.

CALIFORNIA WATER SOLUTIONS NOW shows that, with real reforms, California can have a sustainable water future.

View a copy of the Report Summary, a copy of the complete report, the press release, or a powerpoint presentation of the report.

Current EWC Campaigns:

(See Take Action for details)

Oppose the Water Bond on the California November 2010 ballot.

Amend or Oppose (federal) Senate Water Transfer Bill (S 1759)