An Open Letter From Scientists To Governor Jerry Brown: “Make Water Conservation A California Way of Life”

On January 18th, 2017, 36 leading water and climate scientists sent an open letter to Governor Jerry Brown of California to express their support and make recommendations for comprehensive efforts to “make water conservation a California way of life.” These scientists note that even in a “wet” year, California’s water problems require smart, efficient management and use of water.

The letter compliments Governor Brown’s actions during the drought, especially associated with the Governor’s Executive Order B-37-16 and the state’s draft plan. It acknowledges the progress made on water efficiency and conservation and calls for a set of important next steps to improve water efficiency across the agriculture, residential, industrial, and commercial sectors. The letter notes: “business as usual is not an option; California simply does not have enough water to support our old ways.”

The scientists also state:

“Conservation and efficiency are key to creating a more resilient future for California. These no-regrets strategies also mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy used to pump, treat, and use water. Finally, maximizing conservation and developing accurate water demand forecasts can reduce the need for costly and energy-intensive infrastructure. We urge the following common sense steps to increase the reliability of California’s water supply:

· Prioritize water conservation and efficiency as the most cost-effective and energy efficient options to meet our long-term needs;

· Invest in leak repair to reduce water lost during distribution;

· Improve data collection to help us understand and manage water use in all sectors;

· Develop more accurate water demand forecasts that reflect increased conservation and efficiency; and

· Set local targets that reflect local conditions and a changing climate.”

The full letter (pdf available here) was signed by the following water experts (names listed alphabetically; organizations listed for identification purposes only):

Dr. Newsha Ajami, Stanford University

Dr. Richard F. Ambrose, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Roger Bales, University of California, Merced

Dr. Daniel Cayan, University of California, San Diego

Heather Cooley, Pacific Institute

Dr. Felicia Federico, University of California, Los Angeles

Amanda Fencl, University of California, Davis

Dr. Peter H. Gleick, Pacific Institute

Madelyn Glickfeld, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Mark Gold, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Alex Hall, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Michael Hanemann, UC Berkeley and Arizona State University

Dr. John Harte, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. John J. Helly, University of California, San Diego

Dr. B. Lynn Ingram, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Michael Kiparsky, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Dennis P. Lettenmaier, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Jeff Loux, University of California, Davis

Dr. Glen M. MacDonald, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Daniel Mazmanian, University of Southern California

Char Miller, Pomona College

Dr. Susanne C. Moser, Stanford University

Jonathan Parfrey, Climate Resolve

Dr. Doug Parker, California Institute of Water Resources

Dr. William Patzert, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Dr. Stephanie Pincetl, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Erik Porse, University of California, Los Angeles

Sandra L. Postel, Global Water Policy Project

Dr. Jonathan Rosenfield, The Bay Institute

Dr. Kelly T. Sanders, University of Southern California

Dr. David Sedlak, University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Christina Swanson, Natural Resources Defense Council

Dr. Henry J. Vaux, Jr., University of California, Berkeley

Dr. Peter Vorster, The Bay Institute

Dr. Robert C. Wilkinson, University of California, Santa Barbara

Dr. Sarah Yarnell, University of California, Davis