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November 2, 2009
Chamber Supports Water
Package
The Long Beach Area
Chamber of Commerce supports the proposed comprehensive
legislative package which holds the promise of a restored Delta
ecosystem and a reliable water supply for 25 million
Californians, a multi-billion dollar economy and millions of
acres of farmland. Maintaining the status quo is unsustainable
and unacceptable, given the severe water crisis we currently
face statewide.
Despite extensive investments in alternative water supplies,
storage and conservation, the combination of drought and
regulatory restrictions have nearly depleted Southern
California’s water reserves. Without a comprehensive habitat
plan for the Delta, statewide water management reforms and
financing, we risk losing more than water resources -- our
economic foundation at risk.
The Delta Legislative package offers three critical elements
lacking in past Delta efforts: a Delta Plan, built upon the Bay
Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), that outlines a path to achieve
the co-equal goals of water supply reliability and ecosystem
restoration; a Governance Structure, in the form of the Delta
Stewardship Council, to ensure the plan is implemented and to
provide accountability; and a Delta Conservancy that can manage
the complex and comprehensive habitat restoration projects
needed for species recovery. In addition, the legislation
provides valuable tools to improve water use efficiency,
groundwater reporting and water rights enforcement essential to
managing our limited water supplies.
California’s water crisis threatens our jobs, our agriculture,
our fisheries and our way of life. The solutions outlined in
this legislative package are a critical step, but only the first
step, in a long-term recovery effort. Delay is no longer an
option. We are at a historic crossroads, with a clear path to
achieve comprehensive reform.
Strictly Business
| March 19, 2009
Waste
Not, Want Not
 With
all of the ills and challenges facing us every day, it
is difficult to think that the one thing that appears to
be endless may be the most in danger. However,
California has suffered through an extreme drought for
three years now, and our water supply is quickly
dwindling due to decreased snowfall and other factors.
The time has come to focus our attention on this issue,
so that our state may continue to provide the resources
that California residents and businesses have enjoyed
for so long.
When Governor Schwarzenegger declared a drought
emergency in February 2009, it was the first that many
had heard of the issue. But, its effects have been
hitting businesses for some time. The agricultural
industry estimates 80,000 jobs and billions in revenue
lost to the lack of crop production. The Governor called
for urban cities to reduce consumption by at least 20%,
in part so that rural production may continue. But even
some farmers are being forced out of their water
supplies, which has not happened since severe droughts
in the late 1970’s.
Here in Long Beach, its residents and businesses have
made significant strides in setting an example for the
entire state of California on how to save and conserve.
The Long Beach Water Department recognized the problem
early, and declared a “Declaration of Imminent Water
Supply Shortage” in September 2007. A massive and
fruitful educational campaign was launched, encouraging
residents to conserve. Long Beach has been a benchmark
since that time, enjoying sixteen record-setting months
of low consumption.
California’s water systems are outdated and deteriorated
and further action is needed. Farmers and rural food
production industries have been hit hard by the drought
and many have left the business due to ruined crop
opportunities and a bleak future. Without improvement to
our state systems, these businesses will face rough
times ahead.
The situation is too dire for our elected officials to
ignore. Until our state decides to take action, there
are ways for you to contribute to the solution.
I urge you
to visit
www.lbwater.org for information on water
conservation. Also,
you can join the Long Beach Water Department
conservation efforts by click on the following online
resources:
Twitter,
YouTube,
Blogger,
Ning,
Facebook, and
MySpace.
It is up to
us to return California to its place atop the
agricultural industry as a provider of jobs for
thousands and food for millions…
…and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
 December 11, 2008
Chamber Calls for Comprehensive
Water Reform
The Chamber continues to urge the State Legislature to place a
comprehensive water bond on the statewide ballot in 2009. Our
state’s water crisis threatens our environment, the long-term
stability of our economy and Long Beach’s overall quality of
life. The Chamber’s call to action comes as Governor
Schwarzenegger recently issued a state of emergency due to
severe water shortages.
“The Long Beach business community can no longer wait for
legislative leaders to agree on legislative reforms,” stated
Joanne Davis, Chair of the Chamber’s Government Affairs
Committee. “Some legislative leaders are considering a measure
on the ballot in two years. Delaying action will cause
irreparable harm to our environment and to our economic
vitality. The funding that is created by a comprehensive water
bond will allow our state to invest in areas to promote both a
healthy water ecosystem and an adequate water supply for our
economy,” continued Davis.
Specifically, the Chamber supports efforts to immediately
allocate existing voter-approved bond funds to fix the State’s
delta and secure enough water for southern California. The
Chamber believes another comprehensive bond will finally secure
the additional funding to address the critical water issues.
Further investments will restore and enhance the northern
California Delta ecosystem, improve its physical infrastructure
to avoid conflicts with the environment, ensure reliable
delivery of water and better protect against floods, earthquakes
and other natural disasters. A bond must also invest in projects
that reduce contamination of groundwater basins, improve
wastewater treatment and storm water management, and protect
water quality for the environment.
Climate changes are reducing our mountain snow pack and we need
to improve existing water storage facilities and develop new
water storage capacity. This will help capture rainfall and
runoff and ensure adequate supplies of safe, reliable water in
dry years. Additional storage will also better equip our system
to meet temperature and flow requirements for species such as
salmon.
“We must also invest in water conservation efforts statewide,
including aggressive programs to encourage residents, growers
and businesses to conserve water,” stated Randy Gordon, Chamber
President/CEO of the Long Beach Chamber. “Our very own Long
Beach Water Department is at cutting edge of water conservation
and now it is time for our state to rip a page out of our Water
Department’s book,” continued Gordon.
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