Many of us know that Southern California is under increasing pressure to "rethink" its water use and allocation. From recent uprising plans for a new desalinization plants to water recycling the buzz is everywhere. It has become such a big problem that it is hitting the national spotlight. In a recent article of one of the most widely read and acknowledged engineering magazine, Engineering News Report, Southern California hit the inside cover. The article titled, "Tiny Endangered Fish Adds to Southern California Water Woes," highlights the endangered smelt and what the Department of Water Resources is doing to protect the San Francisco Bay Delta smelt. It also outlines what the DWR and the US Fish and Wildlife agency have been doing to protect the delta smelt. Southern California can expect more cuts in water supplied from this area and harsher fines for violating water restriction laws. This emphasizes the importance of activism and water conservation. Southern California is just one spot in a never-ending sea of areas that are running into this problem. As world population rises and people are moved into more remote and rural areas, the well may run dry much sooner than we expect. It is important that each and every one of us think about are current use, become involved with policy changes within our communities and teach our piers, friends and children the importance of conservation. The world and our children will thank you.
ENR Magazine July28/August 4, 2008 pg 7
