Cogdill Disappointed Legislature Stalled Serious Action to End State Water Crisis

Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto), who also serves as the vice chairman of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, today issued the following statement after legislative action on water stalled:

“We have an obligation to get a comprehensive water solution accomplished but what’s on the table is not a serious attempt to get water flowing in our state and help our economy get back on track.

“There are quite a few hurdles to overcome – but they are not insurmountable. The proposals that the majority were putting up for a vote would have not added a single drop of new water in our state. Republicans agree our fragile Delta needs to be fixed, but we have been clear that environmental protection should not come at the price of economic destruction. We also need to better manage our water resources and the way the bond is currently written only creates trap doors to surface storage projects that will significantly improve the state’s water reliability.

“Despite today’s setback, we are making progress and I will continue to work until we achieve a complete solution that meets California’s water needs now and into the future.” Cogdill has carried legislation for the past three and a half years to implement reforms to California’s water supply and delivery systems. This year, Senator Cogdill introduced the Safe, Clean, Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act, comprehensive legislation focusing on water supply, conveyance and Delta protection.